September 26, 2016

The skies opened up at RP on Sunday afternoon and that led to a muddy track for the Grade III OK Derby, haltering the chances of some of the favourites but playing right into the hands of Moment Of Madness, who came from dead-last in the field to score his third Graded Stakes win of the season. On the TC trail almost the entire way, he failed to get the distance in the Travers but was up to the task going shorter here, earning a career-best 102-speed rating in his fourth straight race where that figure has increased.

A muddy track saw a change of tactics for many in the OK Derby field and Scott The Great (5.60) took the advantage into the first turn as the widest runners dropped back off the pace, including Lucky Sexxyflex (15.65) and Copper Beast (2.35). Champagne Supernova (*2.20) came in through the inside to run second with Lord Byron (12.50) just in back but the complexion changed quickly as the favourite moved up into the lead with a very compact field running into the backstretch, separated by only four-lengths. The first half-mile was posted in a moderate 49.73 as Champagne Supernova inched away from a struggling Scott The Great and that left the door open for Copper Beast, who came three-wide into the far turn to make a race of it once again. Lord Byron got down to the rail as Lucky Sexxyflex came outside and all the while, Moment Of Madness (2.50) sat nicely between horses looking for room. With three-furlongs to go, through the first six in 1:14.33, almost everyone in the field had a chance but the big run was coming from Copper Beast as Scott The Great gave way and Champagne Supernova started to flounder. At the head of the lane, the race was down to two runners and as Copper Beast tried to hold on, it was Moment Of Madness who got up in time to score by 3/4’s of a length, racing on the better part of the track versus the boggy inside. Lucky Sexxyflex also raced wide into the stretch to finish third while Champagne Supernova and Lord Byron backed up to finish near the back with Scott The Great, who clearly is better over a fast main track.

The two-year-old champion and the co-Travers winner were made the favourites in the Grade III OK Derby but Moment Of Madness came away with his third stakes victory of the year, as a nice set-up for a start in either the Dirt Mile or the Classic. His huge speed rating was both a product of a nice set-up and the track conditions so look for a big effort next time out but an even bigger one if the rains come in California.

Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their three-year-old colt Moment Of Madness, a going-away winner of the Grade III OK Derby at RP!

Prediction                            Copper Beast / Champagne Supernova / Scott The Great

Winner                                 Moment Of Madness

                                                Three-year-old bay colt

                                                Zero Return-Tartan Steel (Steel Ball)

Owner                                   Mb Stables

Time                                       49.73, 1:14.33, 1:39.01, 1:51.49

Overall

Moment Of Madness         2.50 slow into stride, between runners, just up

Copper Beast                         2.35 three-wide into lane, clear, caught by winner

Lucky Sexxyflex                   15.65 wide run both turns

Champagne Supernova      *2.20 pressed to lead inside, weakened

Lord Byron                             12.50 no late gains

Scott The Great                     5.60 stalked, faded badly

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES