ELP Derby

1 Mile Stake Purse $400.00 Three-Year-Olds. At ELP

1st      Reciprocal Rubber          Maxmillion Farm                  5-2 (HRP) *3-1 (SRF)

Reciprocal Rubber was the well-earned morning line favourite until I dumped every Disney Dollar I had on Olden Times which was the stunning 5-2 second favourite (my handicap had him at 20-1); but I mean, Reciprocal Rubber was a valid competitor all the way through the KYD qualifying process, then stumbled through the Derby. He looked like he was getting better in the Winn, and this was exactly the sort of race he would excel at… and he did as he forced the pace from the start to the stretch where he moved into the race-long two-horse battle to create a finish of necks from first to fourth

 2nd      Angel In Command           Mb Stables                      14-1 (HRP) 10-1 (SRF)

Angel In Command has been placing in the money in every other race since Dan picked him up, and he was scheduled to finish in the money in this one by that rule… and so he did. He opened on the lead in a battle with Olden Times. As they approached the far turn, he began to draw clear as appeared he had put Olden Times away, but that one rallied and the battle resumed into the stretch only to be joined by Reciprocal Rubber and the three fought to the wire with Reciprocal Rubber just barely scoring over Angel In Command by a neck.  

3rd      Olden Times                 Paradise Stable                    *9-5 (HRP) 20-1 (SRF)

Olden Times has been chasing the brass ring from the day he was born and failing to live up to the hype. Recently his works and races improved to the level that his trainer felt he could take a chance back in the bigs and he performed well. From the opening of the gate, he found himself in a battle with Angel In Command. As they headed down the backstretch, he began to lose touch with Angel In Command, and it appeared he may be done, as they turned into the stretch Olden Times found his second breath and returned to the fray along with Reciprocal Rubber and actually gained ground through the stretch to  be beaten two necks (one half length).

4th      Sweet N Spicy                            Mb Stables                     6-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

Sweet N Spicy came into this race on a string of two wins, and I always respect a horse on a string. They can accomplish great things This lad laid back in a deep stalk in sixth through the entire race until the stretch. He was in aa pretty good position only three-lengths back, but I don’t the speed battle was fast enough to slow the front three down enough for Sweet N Spicy get the last three necks.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded