American Derby (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
AP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
July 11, 2015

It would have been a good day for Eastern Equine even if not for his talented flyer. Having just visited the winners circle with Aaliyahs Angel in the prior race, the trainer knew that he had another strong one being saddled for the next race on the schedule, the $150.000 American Derby. El Gran Jet is a budding star at this distance on the grass, taking three of his first four races while going longer, and there was nothing wrong with the race in which he placed second. Southern Time took slightly more money at the betting window, but El Gran Jet was our favorite, and he lived up to it today.   The El Gran Senor colt ran a great race, and will definitely be worth watching to see how much he can improve.   It is the second time that Eastern Equine has won the American Derby, having also done so in 2013 with No Deposit No Return, but he will be hoping El Gran Jet can follow a different trend then where that one went after the race (it never won again). J Graham won the race for the first time. It was the first time the race ran at 1 1/8 miles so we’ll have to see how the finishing time here of 1:45.69 stands up in the future. It’s 7/10ths off the track record. Congratulations to the connections! Here is how it went down:

1st- 5- El Gran Jet (5/2)– Our eventual race winner assumed a midpack position early. He had run three wide to the outside of Laffin Chino and Praetorian to start off. Began to inch slightly closer to the leaders as the backstretch run came to end, and then in a similar spot where he saw Eastern Equine’s entry in the prior race do it, J Graham urged El Gran Jet for more run as the run into the turn began. This would be a more difficult charge to the lead then Aaliyahs Angel had in the Stars & Stripes, as Sandor Game absolutely refused to roll over in the stretch.   While about four wide, he would gradually reel in the pacesetter, and complete the pass just as they were approaching the wire, to win by about a length. Congratulations again to all of the connections!  El Gran Jet is a three year old colt by El Gran Senor and out of the autogen Najette. She was bred in WV by Swaffordbarn was claimed by Eastern Equine for $30.000 in December of last year. It was after that race where this impressive run of turf routing began.

2nd- 4- Sandor Clegame (8/1)- The Smithtown Stables entry was the quickest of them all out of the gate, and was able to get to the rail pretty easily to lead the field around the first turn into the backstretch, setting the opening half mile in :46.43.    He was able to hold on to this lead without too much pressure from behind or from Southern Time beside him and continued to have the advantage into the final turn, taking the 3/4 time in 1:09.65.   Sandor Clegame never would tire out in this race from that pace, holding strong in the turn as well as in the stretch. He made El Gran Jet earn the pass and impressively kept a length between he and Southern Time.

3rd- 6- Southern Time (2/1)- Got off to a good start for Canning Vale Racing, and ran alongside Sandor Clegame for the run around the opening turn. Stayed with him about a half length back during the backstretch run and into the turn. The betting favorite held strong around the turn and into the stretch, but would not be able to hold off El Gran Jet, and perhaps more disappointingly for the trainer, he was never able to around Sandor Clegame, either.

4th- 1 (dh)- Panther Cat (3/1)- As is his normal running style, the Maxmillion Farm entry went right to the back at the start, and made no push forward during the backstretch run, or even within the turn. It was only at the top of the stretch did Panther Cat even show that he wanted to get involved in this field, and once he did he made a strong close. It turned into a pretty valiant closing bid which allowed him to dead heat with Spirited Intern for 4th. He’s going to have to start his run a little sooner next time, or be a little closer.

4th- 7 (dh)- Spirited Intern (17/1)- The Kinzys Spirit gelding began the race towards the back of the pack, running four to five lengths off the lead initially for Blushing Meadows. Maintained this position for most of the backstretch, then looked for some room to run along the outside of El Gran Jet just prior to the turn. Around the turn, he was strong, and seemed poised to advance several positions in the stretch. But after an additional wide move was made for an ambitious move to likely try to get by El Gran Jet if that one faded, Spirited Intern ran out of gas.

6th- 3- Praetorian (9/1)- Found himself midpack early, and running between Laffin Chino and El Gran Jet for Nakamura Stables around the first turn. Remained about two to three lengths back for the duration of the backstretch run.   He still continued to maintain this position around the turn, and also within the stretch. So the trainer is left with a consistent run from his horse, but not one that really amounted to anything.

7th- 2- Laffin Chino (16/1)- The Aml Racing entry started midpack in the early going, content to run along the rail. Remained content to run here during the backstretch, even when those who had been running beside him looked to advance. Began to fade in the turn, and while he was not awful in the stretch, he was unable to keep up with any of them.

Track: Firm
Time: :46²  1:09³  1:33³  1:45³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 4 Paid 27.30
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 4 – 6 Paid 87.50

Scratched: None

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade III