IL Derby – Grade III
1 1/8m Dirt
Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Tragic, trained by Canadian Racing
Bought for $350.000 as one of Mb Stables KYD cast offs he is unbeaten in three and looked pretty good when taking the Allison Derby last time out. He could easily have taken the KYD qualifier route but his new trainer is now looking for a way to the later TC races and this is an interesting first step.
2 Creepy Weekend, trained by D J C Racing Stables
Took a competitive Batt Memorial before running pretty well in the LA Derby in his one shot at KYD qualification. finishing sixth beaten just a couple of lengths he should be right in this race.
3 Formato Gigante, trained by Jerry Garcia Racing
An impressive maiden winner he did pretty well to be fourth in the TAM Derby and is another that couldve easily been involved in the KYD had timings and luck been a bit different. A decent mile work puts him into this race and i wouldnt be writing off his chances.
4 Psychic Ability, trained by Mb Stables
Ran on well to be a close seventh in the SUN Derby this is the stables third or fourth string three year old but he should still prove good enough to get involved.
5 King Riggo, trained by Jackrussell Farms
There werent too many excuses for his eighth in the Spiral but he is working well enough to get into this.
6 State Senator, trained by Mb Stables
Another one of Mb Stables third stringers he ran well enough from a wide gate in the Gotham to be part of the finish.
7 Key To Success, trained by Smokey Stover
Was taken back to sprinting after winning over a mile and did pretty well in a couple of ungraded stakes races. His mile work a week ago suggests he will welcome this step back up in trip and as long as the wide draw doesnt kill his chances should be right in this too.
8 Master Sly, trained by Night Rider Stables
A good sixth in the Juvenile turf last year he ran well enough in the CA Cup Derby to suggest he wont be inconvenienced by this surface. Its probably his unimpressive works that kept him out of the KYD qualifiers but he has shown enough on the track to be a live chance despite the wide draw.
SUMMARY.
I could’ve written ditto for most of these runners as they are pretty much all working the same and all just below the top 30 or so three year olds at the moment. Its an impossible task to pick a winner but i liked Master Sly’s effort in his first dirt route and he may be worth risking from a wide gate. Of the others, well throw a blanket over them at the end because there is little between them.
Of the failed KYD hopes Creepy Weekend, Formato Gigante and Psychic Ability all have a chance to atone whilst Tragic is a very interesting entry. So box those up behind Master Sly and you stand to win a good few HRP dollars.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
