The 18th Running of the G1 PA Derby
Saturday, September 24, 2022
PRX Race #19 $1,000.000
3YOs 122 Lbs 11/8
Course/Stakes Record-1:47.43 (Heretowinthisfight-2020)
Individuation is having himself a helluva year, but if/when he is rewarded with division and, possibly, HOY honors, his three races this summer will have played a major role in his ascension to the throne. After narrowly missing in the G1 KYD and throwing a dud in the G1 PRK, the Mb Stables-trainee has now won three straight marquee events: G2 Dandy, G1 Travers, and, most recently, G1 PA Derby. On Saturday, after coming from 4-5 lengths back in each of his three prior graded wins, Individuation switched up his tactics and took the race to his foes. Breaking from stall two, the gelding clicked-off fractions of :47.40, 1:10.86, and 1:35.15 before stopping the clock at 1:47.96 for the nine furlongs.
Securing the rail after a handful of jumps from the gate, Individuation gave the lead up for s few strides as they passed the wire for the first time. Not content seeing Hand Cannon in front of him, Individuation retook the lead as they entered the first turn. Racing inside of Stolen Thunder and Hand Cannon, the eventual winner didn’t get much of a breather through the opening half mile.
He entered the backstretch on a half-length lead as a trio of rivals applied pressure from his outside. Gradually, Idividuation was able to put a length between himself and his pursuers as he readied to take the final turn. First it was Hand Cannon that looked to be the main rival, but Individuation kept him a full length behind. Next, it was Positive Id as that runner tried to sneak up on his inside, but Individuation refused to allow him to gain much ground either.
When they entered the stretch, Individuation was keeping Hand Cannon and Positive Id at bay, but All Take was starting to reduce his two length deficit, in earnest. With just under a furlong to go, Individuation appeared to have discouraged Hand Cannon and Positive Id enough that they might begin to fade as All Take made his move between the latter and Individuation. In the final sixteenth, maybe feeling the effects of taking all of that pressure, Individuation was asked for all that he had as All Take moved closer on his inside and, somehow, Hand Cannon and Positive Id came back for more. In the end, Individuation did enough to register the second G1 victory of his season as he held a neck advantage over All Take at the wire. It was just another neck back to Hand Cannon as that runner nosed out Positive Id for the show honors. The top four were separated by only a half-length in total and Ideal Info finished well to be just over a length back from the winner as he came home fifth. Completing the order of finish were Croton Road, Lions Reward, Stolen Thunder, Ey Mon, America First, and General Tsao.
Individuation now stands 10-6-2-0 with earnings of $2,860.640. His resume boasts two G1s, a G2, and a G3 this year as well as his massive runner-up effort in the G1 KYD. He appears to be the leader of his division and is squarely in the conversation for HOY honors as we approach the BC. That’s the great thing about our game, everything gets decided on the track and no one’s work is ever complete. Congratulations to Individuation and Mb Stables on their G1 PA Derby victory and good luck to them as they prepare for the BC.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
