07/13 The IND Derby – Grade III
IND Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Smugglers Blues John Henry Saenz D
This race gives a good opportunity to some of the lesser lights of this generation to pick up a really good purse. This horse is exactly the sort of having run fourth in the Smarty Jones and second in the Coolmore Lexington but with just the one win in his career he is unlikely to be featuring in the run up to the BC. However working at 1.36 and 1 he is as quick on the gallops as any BC contender and with an inside draw for once he may just find this opportunity for the high flying owner.
2 Pxg Mb Stables Maragh Ro
Another just below the best who wouldnt normally be running for a $500.000 purse he was bought for just $35.000 back in February and in taking the grade three Winn last time become another in the very long line of stakes winning horses for Mb Stables. It was a small field that day and he dictated the pace beautifully and despite the perfect draw to do it from again today he may find it harder with the wide gates no doubt pushing him for that position.
3 Ardetha Aer Stables Gallardo A A
One of the more accomplished three year olds he isnt working as fast recently as Smugglers Blues who hasnt won a race this year but does have some useful form on the board and a decent ally to do some damage from. With a game win in the El Camino, a third in the Rebel and then a close second in the AR Derby he gained entry to the KYD and didnt do badly at all on the wet track to end up seventh although he never looked a danger. In his last start in the Preakness he was drawn wide and couldnt really find a comfortable position ending up eighth but beaten just two lengths. He has been given a good rest since then so if he comes back to his pre Derby form he could be a live hope.
4 Chai Bay Serenity Stables Ortiz I Jr
A similar form line to Ardetha he won the Withers and was a close fourth in the FL Derby but couldnt make the KYD field and went instead for the BEL. He was pretty disappointing in that race ending up eleventh and i must admit just looking at his wors i feel he may be happier with some turf under his hooves today. His run in the prep races gives him a chance and a decent draw will certainly help that.
5 Downwind Revenge Royalty Racing Wilson E J
There’s no doubt this former maiden claimer is improving and with two easy wins in good non graded races in his last two but i just wonder whether this level is going to be a bit soon for him. I liked the way he dictated the pace to win The Pegasus Stakes last time but there’s no doubt that the opposition wasnt as good as this. An interesting sort that it will pay to keep an eye on but maybe not today.
6 Devilish Details Mb Stables Sanchez M J
Nine races, five wins including the grade two Wise Dan this for all intents and purposes looked like a horse that would march on to the BC Turf for the Champion Trainer. But then in good old HRP style he throws a 1.36 flat turf work the fourth fastest by a three year old this year and suddenly we see him lining up for this race rather than fleecing the older turf generation in some other race. Surface preference doesnt work at HRP like it does in real life so i fully expect this one to go and win this as well and give his owner an enviable choice to make heading to the BC.
7 War Command Estero Farms Van Dyke D
A solid type who is working in the low 1.36’s he is probably the best ten bucks Estero has spent for a while. Having said that for such a strong worker he still only has a maiden win to his name and was beaten in an ungraded stakes last time. I thought he ran well from bad draws in the San Felipe and the Peter Pan but with a sticky gate again he will have to do something different to beat the best of these today.
9 Star Kommander Kingelleinc Hernandez R M
He has won his last three in a row starting with a maiden and ending with a comfortable win in the grade three Marine last time. An improving sort who deserves this crack but may find one or two too good from this nasty draw. Having said that he seems to naturally stalk and if he can negate the negative effects of the draw he may run a big race.
10 Delaware Warrior Nakamura Stables Elliott S
The trainer is always competitive in these races but this sort of draw has given this horse problems before and a drastic instruction choice may be needed to give him a decent chance today. Just a head behind Ardetha in the El Camino so he has proved he can live with good horses and his works are slick enough so who knows.
SUMMARY
I hate to be as boring and predictable as Mb Stables having a turf and dirt superstar all wrapped up in the same horse but i have to go for Devilish Details to prevail today. As for second and third box the rest and you may have a chance of being right.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
