ELP Derby ($200.000 Purse)
ELP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile on the Dirt
August 14, 2022
For a while, it was looking like we might not have an ELP Derby this year. Two days before the nomination cutoff, there was only one horse entered. That eventually changed to three, and ultimately arriving at five as we got closer to the deadline. The ELP Derby was saved! Now, sometimes when this happens the field that results from it looks more like a glorified allowance, but I don’t think that’s the case here. We have a decent field of five going to post. Last year, Angelos Stable won the race with Electric in what was also a small field. He’s been decent since the race, but has not won another stake. Though he’s still active and wouldn’t rule out him winning another. Angelos will start two in this field, let’s take a look at them and the others!
#1- Proud And Fearless (Angelos Stable, ridden by J Gilligan)- Our first runner was picked up in the June auction for $22.050 after winning his second career race, and allowance against FL-breds. Angelos Stable had bigger aspirations for his purchase, and a few weeks later, he would enter him in the $160.000 Maxfield Stakes, where he would close well to finish third. With a little more distance, he’ll hope to build on that though he has not always used a come from behind style.
#2- Foreign Relation (Nakamura Stables, ridden by C Landeros)- Early in his career, Foreign Relation was entered some graded events, such as the Iroquois and the LA Futurity, but each were a disappointment. He would be gelded after that, but it has not paid dividends yet. That said, he hasn’t gotten a chance at stake level since then, either, and while he was productive in overnights, he didn’t really impress. Now, he gets that long awaited next chance at this level.
#3- Top Gun (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M Murrill)- There are two pretty good entries in this field from D J C Racing Stables. Top Gun was given a last chance shot at making the KYD field, but was unable to join his stablemate in the race despite finishing fifth in the AR Derby. He ran at CD in a $134.000 allowance there, but was only a disappointing fifth again. Though he did follow that up by winning the $100.000 Sir Barton. Then he struggled again. It’s been a roller coaster here, but this is an opportunity for a climb.
#4- Federation (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by G Corrales)- Three months ago, he had the chance to run in the KYD, and ended up finishing right in the middle of the field, tenth overall. To get there, he finished second in the Wood Memorial the race prior. He’s still only won once over his twelve career starts, but has been second four times. His last start was a $103.000 at SAR, and he managed fourth. I would have liked to have seen more there, but he might not have liked getting cut to six furlongs.
#5- The Good Dinosaur (Angelos Stable, ridden by C J Hernandez)- A horse that knows how to win, and he has five victories in eight starts since being claimed for $25.000 last October. His last three races have been sprints, but he has shown good versatility to be able to run well whether he is a sprint or a race like this. His last race was his stake debut, and it came right here in the $75.000 Hall Memorial three weeks ago, but he could only be fifth. I think he’ll like going back to a mile, and he can handle this field if he’s okay with the short but not unreasonable amount of time between races.
Prediction: 5-3-4-2
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
