The FL Derby (Grade 1) (KYD)- $750.000 Purse
GP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
March 27, 2021
One of the things that I enjoy the most when covering big races like the FL Derby is when a smaller stable picks up the big win. That’s not meant to discredit the great work that people like Mb Stables put into their runners, but as a smaller stable myself, I can feel the excitement that they get when they pull off such a win. Alabarda Stable is one of those stables, and he has been doing this for a long time, running his first race in February 2004. He’s been able to win big races in the past, but I have to wonder if this was the biggest win that he has ever experienced. This victory makes me feel even more excited, because of everything that Alabarda does here with the SRF. We would not be here if not for all of that work. It is great now that he has a horse that will give the chance to read about one of his own pursuing the big time. Added Value, getting into the race off the also eligible list, found his way to the winners circle in the FL Derby. What a feeling that must be, and let’s not overlook that he won this race by about two lengths! Congratulations, boss! This is his first win in the race, first of hopefully many more! The winning rider was J L Ortiz, doing so for the second time. The time of the victory was 1:48.18, Let’s take a look!
(½ Mile- :47.88)- Breath Of The Wild is quite ambitious out of the starting gate for Smokey Stover, pulling out to a length lead quite quickly. He is able to carry this around the opening turn and then added another length to that advantage early in the backstretch. In the second position, it is Settle The Score Vr, as the Estero Farms entry broke in the group of four behind the race winner. Resident Fox, from Fractious, was next and right to his outside. Hint Of Sugar was in the fourth lane here, for Arindel, and the post time favorite, Proud Crown, was part of this mix as well, for Mb Stables. Arindel’s Ptyrannical was next, though he did not break quite as well and actually made a backstretch push to get into this position. Accountant ran right beside him, for D J C Racing Stables. About a half length further back, and running in the fourth lane, is where we would win our eventual winner, Added Value, from Alabarda Stable. Cossack (Patterson Stable) and Stress Free (Mb Stables) were next, and to his inside. The trailers would be Heffalump Hanny (Jive Inc), Brave Companion (Nakamura Stables), and Tiger Claw (Mo Mentum Farm).
(¾ Mile- 1:11.50)- Breath Of The Wild continues to have an uncontested lead down the backstretch, and moving into the turn. His advantage is about two lengths over Hint Of Sugar, Settle The Score Vr, and Resident Fox, but none of them are making a push for the lead right now. Meanwhile, further back in the field, we begin to see Added Value making a move. This began at the top of the turn, making the most of running in the fourth line to pull even with the next group of three, and then to be able to pass them without anyone getting in his way. He had about 3-4 lengths to make up on the race leader at this point. Proud Crown, Ptyrannical, and Accountant were those that were still running to his inside here. Further back, there was not much else going on.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Breath Of The Wild is still in front and maintaining a good stride, those others are beginning to close in. Hint Of Sugar seemed to be in the best spot, as he had a good stalking trip going, and now it was time to move as he prepared to pull to the outside of the pacesetter, and getting some ground on Resident Fox. Added Value continued to make his outside push as this was going on, continuing to run wide, but also gaining ground on the leader. He was a length behind second place Hint Of Sugar right now, so as long as he could carry his speed in the turn, Alabarda Stable had to be thrilled with the race that he was having here. Settle The Score Vr and Ptyrannical maintained their position, but were needing to show more. Cossack was moving up a little bit but had a lot of work to do still. Proud Crown seemed stuck in the middle of the field without being able to make progress.
(Finish- 1:48.18)- He was well to the outside, but that did not matter for Added Value, as he carried his speed well into the stretch. Early on, it looked like a good stretch battle would emerge between he and Hint Of Sugar, but even that rival would be well out run in the late moments. Added Value, despite starting from the outside, and despite running at least four wide for the entire race would be much the best here, and would go on to win this race by almost two lengths. This may not be the last time we are talking about him winning a race like this. Give Hint Of Sugar second, narrowly over Breath Of The Wild, who settles for third. I thought Hint Of Sugar would show more in the stretch then he ended up doing here. Resident Fox takes fourth, over Ptyrannical and the late running Cossack. Proud Crown comes up empty today, but that was still better than Settle The Score Vr, Accountant, Brave Companion, Tiger Claw, Stress Free, and Heffalump Hanny.
About The Winner- Added Value, trained by Alabarda Stable, and ridden to victory by J L Ortiz, is a three year old gelding by Dollar Quarters, and is out of Osobaya. He was bred in Florida by Alabarda Stable as a third quarter two year old, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in five starts, and his first stake win of any sort. His career earnings are now $463.600.
Track: Fast
Time: :474 1:112 1:354 1:48
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 15 – 8 Paid 54.30
$1 Trifecta: 15 – 8 – 11 Paid 407.10
Scratched: Elixir, Sports Page
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
