2/16/2025

  8  SUN    SUN Derby (GIII) [KYD]         

   $400.000     1^1/16th  Mile   Dirt        3yo      120lbs

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Per usual, the gate will be full as we send a big group of sophomore’s to the gate for the SUN Derby (GIII), a nice purse and valuable KYD points, so absolutely no surprise that the gate needs a shoe-horn.  Add to the full gate, I really don’t see a clear choice to jump on, and I think we have the potential to light up the tote board, if you know what I’m saying. 

I went towards the outside post and gave Siri S Acid the slight edge to get the job done.  Although he’s only showing that maiden win, he has been close in a number of stakes races, including a runner-up effort in the Hope Stakes (GIII) to close out his 2yo campaign, then kicked-off this year with a fourth over this track in the Allison Derby.  I think this one can turn a corner today.

Let’s head down to the rail and give the undefeated Kara France a big shot today.  He broke maiden at TUP then won the Leonatus Stakes at TP, both of those with big closing efforts.  The extra distance looks to be right down his alley, and I think he’s going to be a horse that goes on making noise on the TC Trail.  If he continues to progress the way things have gone up to this point, this race could be his “next step” to the big time. 

Let’s round out the top three with Darrow.  It’s hard to ignore the Big Barn in these prep races, and I think this is the best from the Mb Stables three-horse entry.  His only flaw was that tiring effort in the BC Juv Turf (GI), and therein lies the hitch… turf.  All three of his wins, and that bomb, have all come on the green stuff… so how does he take the move to the main oval?  We will find out, won’t we?

It’s as wide open as an Alabama front door on a hot August afternoon… now, who can slam the door shut?

Here’s the Field –  

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1		Kara France		Royalty Stables		Moore R L		120		7/2
2		Inoue		Royalty Stables		Franco M		120		8/1
3		Darrow		Mb Stables		Velazquez J R		120		6/1
4		Remonstrator		Sccj Stables		Rodriguez A R		120		10/1
5		Loyalist		Mb Stables		Ortiz I Jr		120		8/1
6		Hes A Runner		LionKing Stables		Smith M E		120		12/1
7		Michael Jordan		Nakamura Stables		Gallardo A A		120		7/1
8		Monetary Goal		Mb Stables		Prat F		120		10/1
9		Nonchalant		Mo Mentum Farm		Conner T		120		10/1
10		Criminal Law		D J C Racing Stables		Lopez P		120		7/1
11		Siri S Acid		TwinTowersRacing		Lezcano J		120		9/2
12		Whatever Will Be		Asgar		Geroux F		120		8/1
13		Grand Chief		Nakamura Stables		No Rider		120		AE
14		Spirit Day		Nakamura Stables		No Rider		120		AE

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COZMAN  11 / 1 / 3       Willie’s Green Card   3 / 1 / 10 

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