4/3/21

 14  SA      SA Derby (GI) [KYD]

     $750.000        3yo          1 1/18th  Dirt         122lbs

Cheesy and the Girls… no, it’s not a new show on Hulu… it’s the story of Saturday’s SA Derby (GI) and sewed up some of the KYD questions.  We almost, almost had another three-horse DH, and goodness knows you can’t have too many of those… but, Cheesy stuck his nose out at just the right nano-second and secured what Keikowin Racing could only describe as “…my biggest win here ever!”  The final running time for the mile and an eighth was 1:48¹ and the big horse has a three race win streak as he heads off to Louisville. 

We had a bang-bang-bang finish and the girls were the second and third finishers with Viral Breakdown edging Princess Jasmine by the narrowest of margins, and setting the table for Aer Stables to be the first trainer to qualify two fillies for the KYD.  Gdp Inc took the fourth spot with Just Wanna Blaze.   

Thirteen were saddled and sent to the post with the late withdraw of Fairly Lucky… the flag was raised, and away they go… Glorious And Free shows speed, Tormented chasing that one, both with speed from the outside, drop back down to the rail for Gilgo Beach and Just Wanna Blaze, Princess Jasmine and Cheesy just in behind that one.  Crack Danz from the extreme outside, Viral Breakdown and Elixir towards her inside, then back to the trailing quad of Clubhouse, High Crimes, Kailua and Plan To Wheel away slowest of all.

Under the wire the first time and now into the clubhouse turn with seven furlongs to run, Glorious And Free setting the pace and in front by two and a half lengths.  A trio giving chase that included Tormented in the four path, Gilgo Beach on the outside of rail skimmer Just Wanna Blaze, a gap back to Cheesy, Princess Jasmine next to him, Viral Breakdown saving ground and Crack Danz caught four wide. Elixir just in behind that group, then a gap back to Clubhouse, Plan To Wheel, Kailua and High Crimes was now the back marker.

As they made their way down the backside and were nearing the far turn with seven-sixteenths of a mile to run, Cheesy accelerated through from midpack and moved up to take the lead by a length.  Glorious And Free now second, Elixir followed Cheesy and was now third with Just Wanna Blaze to his inside.  Tormented four wide, Gilgo Beach between horses and Viral Breakdown continued to save ground.  Crack Danz wide, Princess Jasmine still in hand, a gap to Clubhouse, Kailua, Plan To Wheel and High Crimes still at the back of the pack.

Swing around the far turn and to the top of the lane with three-sixteenths to run, Cheesy had skipped off to lead by two lengths.  Viral Breakdown splitting horses and trying to press forward, Just Wanna Blaze on her outside, Glorious And Free tiring along the rail, Elixir still in striking position, Tormented in the six path, Gilgo Beach towards the inside of that one and Princess Jasmine back towards the inside looking for racing room.  Crack Danz and Kailua out wide, then back towards the inside for the trailing trio of Clubhouse, Plan To Wheel and High Crimes.

Deep stretch and to the finish, Cheesy was looking a bit weary as he began to drift out down the lane… and now the girls were hot on his trail… Viral Breakdown along the rail, Princess Jasmine finding a seam and closing quickly to join the run to the wire… the rest were running for minor money as this trio was doing battle to the end and as they hit the wire, it was just too close to call… and the PHOTO sign went up on the infield tote-board.  After viewing the photograph, Cheesy held on and took the victory by a nose. Viral Breakdown edged stable-mate Princess Jasmine with Just Wanna Blaze a length back in fourth.  Kailua closed late for the fifth spot, Tormented in sixth, Gilgo Beach seventh, Plan To Wheel eighth, Crack Danz ninth, Glorious And Free tiring to be tenth, Elixir and High Crimes dh’ed for eleventh and Clubhouse rounded out the field of thirteen. 

Cheesy is a 3yo chestnut gelded son of Exultant – Amazing Andrea, by Inspector Jacques, and he was bred by his owner, Keikowin Racing, in Cal.  This was his fifth win from ten starts, and as mentioned three of those are consecutive.  He now shows earnings of $855.600.  Congratulations and best of luck headed to KY!!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast          Time: :47³  1:11   1:35³  1:48¹
$1 Exacta: 6 – 5 Paid 85.10        $1 Trifecta: 6 – 5 – 7 Paid 1,276.60
Scratched: Need 4 Speed, Sensei, Fairly Lucky

Categories: FEATURED STORIES, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023