In just his second event over the grass in his past two starts, this three year old chestnut by Braveheart has definitely found what he has been looking for, and trainer Nakamura Stables could not be happier.
- American Derby – Gr. III – Purse $150.000
- Arlington Park – For Three Year olds
- Mile an one sixteenth- Turf Course
After seven failed attempts since last August at trying to bring home a stakes title, Brazen Deception found the soft footing here at Arlington Park heaven. With opening fractions of just 25, 51 and one and 1:15 and one, he was able to control the pace and out come of the event, leading by two lengths early on and then stretching that out to some five lengths as he reached the wire. Its obvious that the betting public liked how he performed in an Alw24 race on the grass at Lone Star, as he would only fetch 2-1 odds come race time. I doubt we will see him back on the dirt track at all this season, I would be shocked.
Hoping that the front runner would falter somewhere down the stretch, Diablo Diablo’s Concert Party was never able to close up ground down the lane and would settle for the runner up purse. Has just one victory since making the switch to the sod up at Woodbine, and hopefully he doesn’t get too disappointed with his efforts here.
Third went to Blushing Meadows Homme de Guerre who the betting public made the three to two favorite. Having faced a soft surface three starts ago at Churchill to which he closed and won by three, given all the pluses on the day I was quite surprised he didn’t do better then he did. Only answer I can give is the fractions were much quicker two starts ago, an this event gave him nothing to run at as far as speed early.
The final two runners with the scratch of My Niche would be Charleys Glance ( Maxmillion Farm ) who made up some ground late in this first asking for his new interest, and Shake It Up And Go ( John Henry ) who just has not been keen with off track conditions in his past three starts. Hopefully things will turn around for both these runners.
Duffer
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
