8/7/21

  6   SAR     SAR Derby (GI)

$1,000.000    3yo     1 3/16m  Turf    122lbs

Lucky thirteen… that’s the menu for the SAR Derby (GI) to be run at a mile and three-sixteenths on Saturday, and it’s a hefty $1,000.000 purse for this turf race.  I’m going to give Max the edge here today and put Devil Made Me Doit on top.  That was a heck of a run in the BEL Derby (GI) so he moves from uptown to upstate looking for another big win.  This lightly raced gelding looks to be the real deal, and this being his seventh lifetime start, I think he still has room to grow.  Let’s go right next door and put King Of Swords in the second spot.  He was second vs. graded horses at BEL and then came back to win an overnight stakes, so this is a great spot for him to make a huge splash.  I’ll put Promised Prince in the third spot, hoping he can bounce back from that horrid race in the BEL Derby (GI) where he beat one horse -or- is he a one dimensional wet surface runner?  I guess we find out today.  There are five or six others that deserve a big consideration, but we can’t pick ’em all. 

Here’s The Field –

He’s still looking for his first win of the ’21 season and only has a maiden win to his name, but he has been close in a number of other races and if you believe in a horse being “due”, this may be your pick.  Since changing hands (most recently) he has a fifth and a pair of thirds, including a good effort to be a length back in the BEL Derby (GI) in his most recent.  he faces both horses that were in front of him, so can he flip the script?

Part of a three-horse entry from the big barn and he looked good taking the Kent Stakes at DEL last out, and that was on a wet lawn.  That was the second stakes score for this one since being acquired by Mb Stables, and he is certainly a horse that needs to be given a big chance here today. 

The second part of the Mb Stables three-headed monster and he’s having a very good season thus far.  Won the Transylvania (GIII) at KEE and just missed last out in the BEL Derby (GI) and he’s been on the board in five of six starts.  I think you have to give him a big chance to cause a stir here as well.

Had back to back wins including the PEN Mile (GII) but threw a dud last out when he only beat one in the BEL Derby (GI) and there’s a few of those horses in this race.  Can he bounce back from that or does he need a wet surface to be a factor?  They may be hoping for rain. 

He’s still a maiden and changed hands prior to this race.  The barn has another in here, so is it time to yell Hasenpfeffer three times?  That would be French style rabbit… right?  I’ll have to look at some others.

Was running fairly consistently but his last two have been just that… last.  He hasn’t beaten a horse and both of those were vs. stakes company, but nothing like what he sees here today.  So, it’s either get back on track or it will be a long day at the race track. 

He’s still looking for his first win of the ’21 season but has been second in his last two, missing by a length vs. Ont-bred stakes horses at WO, then missing by a neck in the American Derby at AP in his most recent.  Can he find just a bit more and get a piece of this one?

He’s been a very consistent type and was third beaten a length in the Woodhaven, but he’s never been with graded horses yet.  He’s only had eight starts, so there is room to improve.  His best could put him in position to get a share of this. 

He’s run some big races, a second in the Transylvania (GIII) at KEE and a nice win in the Pennie Ridge (GII) at BEL, but he’s also pitched some real duds.  He was last in the American Derby (GII) at CD and was ninth in the BEL Derby (GI) in his most recent.  I guess it’s just a matter of which horse shows up today.

His lone seasonal win came vs Alw horses at GP back in March, but he has been close in a number of starts including a trio of fourth place finishes and a second vs Alw horses at PRX.  He’s going to need his best vs this group today.

Four wins from his last five starts and a big win last out taking the BEL Derby (GI) in his most recent.  He’s a horse that has tactical speed and is able to carry it over a distance.  He is certainly a horse that needs to be feared in this race and you just can’t leave him off of your tickets. 

The third part of the Mb entry and he has three wins from his five ’21 starts.  He won the Black And Gold at FG back in Feb and last out he took the Singletary Stakes at LS.  His last pair were on wet tracks, so he’s run big on just about any type of sod, and you have to give him a serious look today, as well.

Another that deserves a look as he ran big in the Dixie (GII) to be third, and was a close up fourth in both the MTH Stakes (GIII) and the BEL Derby (GI) in his most recent.  He shortens up a bit today, and that may be enough for him to make some noise. 

COZMAN    11 / 12 / 4                Willie’s Green Card      7 / 3 / 11 

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES