The BEL Derby Invitational (Grade 1)- $1,200.000 Purse
BEL- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Quarter on the Inner Turf
July 7, 2018
In a strong field for the BEL Derby Invitational, Early Retirement was made the post-time favorite. He was strongly chosen in the pick ‘em, and he would not disappoint his supporters as he pulls out the win. This has become a good race for Mb Stables, as he won it last year with Clockwork Chai, and has won the race three out of the last four years as well when factoring in the 2015 co-win with Desolation Island. Each of them ending up having success in the BC Turf as well, with Clockwork Chai winning the race last year, and Desolation Island running second in 2015. The winning trainer is A A Gallardo, who had a good day today as he also was the winning jockey in the Suburban earlier in the card, prior to picking up his first BEL Derby. Congratulations to the winners! The time of the win was 1:58.43, the second quickest edition of the race when conditions were the same. Let’s take a look!
(½ Mile- :46.85)- As the race begins, there is no one in the field that looks to be in a particular hurry to get to the front. Most of the horses on the outer half of the field are the ones holding the advantage as the race moves into the opening turn, but none of them really have a clear advantage. Eventually, it is Regret Nothing, with the great F Pennington aboard for Estero Farms, taking the lead. Nitemare, from D J C Racing Stables, will run beside him as they head into the backstretch. Also in the mix early will be Call Me Spanish, from Maxmillion Farm, and People Doubted, out of Aml Racing. They are a length and a half back, and People Doubted seems to have a desirable lane at this point. Ifitsfreeitsforme, from Maxmillion Farm, races along the inside with the eventual winner, Mb Stables’ Early Retirement. They are two lengths back. After them, we get into the pack, with Grayte King (Lemax Farms) on the rail with Nowhere Man (Smokey Stover) to his outside, and Cyclonic Master (Team 7 Illusions) in the three-wide position. No Chill was then to the outside of his Team 7 Illusions stablemate. Next came Gene Chandler in his debut for John Henry. Great Bounty (Drabfantasy) and Name Drop (Mb Stables) were the trailers.
(3/4 Mile- 1:10.13)- During the backstretch run, Nitemare begins to outpace Regret Nothing, and pulls out to nearly a full length of an advantage as they approach the turn. Regret Nothing is still second for now, but a graceful and steady run on the outside from People Doubted saw that one be about to take the position away. Call Me Spanish continued to hang around with the leaders as well. All the while, Early Retirement had clear room on the rail, and used this chance to got into the deficit a little. He seemed poised to have a good lane, especially if Regret Nothing began to tire. Ifitsfreeitsforme was still three lengths back. There was then a length and a half gap to the rest of the field, as some prepared to start their late bids while in the turn.
(Top Of Stretch- 1.7F To Go)- While moving around the turn, Nitemare looked good, but even better at this point was People Doubted. His run around the turn was impressive, and he would emerge at the top of the stretch, after running a mile in 1:34.02, with a length advantage. Nitemare was second, but about to lose that position to Early Retirement. Things played out the way A A Gallardo was hoping at the top of the turn as Regret Nothing tired out, allowing him to position Early Retirement to the outside of Nitemare without having to break stride. Call Me Spanish was fourth, though not really making a bid. Regret Nothing was still fifth, but going the wrong way now. Looming from the back was our pre-race pick from Mb Stables, Name Drop, who passed several in the turn, and was up to sixth with four lengths to make up. That might be just a little too much to ask, but we’ll see what he can do. Gene Chandler was also advancing, and following Name Drop through. These two were good in the stretch, they just gave themselves too much ground to have to make up. Cyclonie Master and No Chill were running steady, but not making a bid, and Ifitsfreeforme started dropping back. Nowhere Man had a nice lane ahead of him, if for nothing else, to advance his position nicely, and Great Bounty could follow him through if he wanted. On the inside, though, Grayte King was not looking too grayte here.
(Finish- 1:58.43)- People Doubted was looking good early in the stretch, but when Name Drop began a hard closing bid, its as if Early Retirement saw his stablemate and was more concerned with him instead of methodically passing his former stablemate. Early Retirement found an additional gear, and completed the pass of People Doubted soundly, and while holding off the charge of Name Drop. People Doubted did get second, ahead of his former stablemate. Nitemare ran well enough in the stretch to hang on for fourth, completing a good run for himself. Gene Chandler ran very well in the stretch, but ran out of race track in a fifth place effort. Nowhere Man, as anticipated, took the seam that was opening up in front of him to be able to advance his position, but it was not quite enough to get a check for his trainer, as he is sixth. Great Bounty actually swung to the outside, and gets up for seventh, ahead of the Team 7 stablemates, Cyclonic Master, and No Chill. Rounding out the finishing order is Regret Nothing, Call Me Spanish, Ifitsfreeitsforme, and Grayte King.
About The Winner: Early Retirement, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by A A Gallardo, is a four year old gelding by Decima, and is out of Dirty Dawg. He was bred in Ontario by Mb Stables as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in nine starts, his second stake win, and his first graded win. His career earnings are now $987.60.
Track: Firm
Time: :464 1:10 1:34 1:582
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 5 – 10 Paid 40.40
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 10 – 9 Paid 337.40
Scratched: Lone Shadow, Siberian Prince(L)
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
