4/9/22

 18  SA       SA Derby (GI) [KYD]   

     $750.000              3yo   1 1/8m    Dirt       122lbs        

The rain on the east coast caused a bit of a ruckus for the horses on the TC Trail… the west coast?  Nah, they don’t need rain… the ruckus can happen in bright sunshine.  Gdp Inc’s Pluckzy, sent off at 33/1 odds off of a single maiden win, closed from a mid-pack position and got up in the late stages to take the SA Derby (GI) and added a few wrinkles to the storyline.  It didn’t stop there as Ideal Info, sent off at 10/1 odds, was second, while the filly Venezia, sent off a similar odd, was third.  White Sunshine was nearly 9/1 and took the minor money.  The final running time was 1.48.38 for the mile and and eighth distance over the Fast SA oval. 

The gate was loaded mid-way down the lane, the flag went up, and off in the 2022 SA Derby…  from the outside, White Sunshine showing good early speed and getting down to the inside, the filly, Venezia giving chase, Suspect  was next, then down the the rail for Pluckzy, Proxy on his flank, then a line that included Dwindle, Schmidt, Killer Instinct from the far outside and Ideal Info.  A gap to Party Wagon, then another gap to the trailing foursome of Menacing Ghost, Hot Dog, Baltic Dragon and Croton Road.

The field made their way around the clubhouse turn and White Sunshine continued to show the way by a half-length.  Ideal Info up to apply some pressure, Suspect in between that pair, down to the rail for Venezia, out widest of all was Schmidt, a gap of a length and a half to Dwindle, down to the rail for Pluckzy saving ground.  Another length, Party Wagon on the outside of Hot Dog, then four wide for Killer Instinct, proxy to the inside of that one, then a length to Menacing Ghost, then Croton Road and Baltic Dragon was now the trailer.

Down the backside and into the far turn, just three furlongs to run and we had a three-way battle for the lead…  Ideal Info up on the outside to stick a nose in front, Suspect between horses and White Sunshine from the rail.  A length and a half back to Venezia skimming the paint, four wide to Schmidt, Dwindle to the inside of that one and drop down to Pluckzy now starting to move forward.  A gap back to Killer Instinct, Hot Dog on the rail and Party Wagon between those, another gap to Proxy, Menacing Ghost on the rail, Croton Road between them and Baltic Dragon continued to trail.

Now into the lane and nearing the furlong marker, White Sunshine back up to re-take the lead, but Ideal Info was still looking him right in the eye… the filly Venezia was now moving forward with every stride, and Pluckzy flying down the middle of the track.  Suspect now headed in the wrong direction, Dwindle in the middle of the track but seemed to be in one gear, Killer Instinct out widest of all… they were running out of race track and the run to the wire was on.

Deep stretch and to the finish, Pluckzy was clearly moving fastest of all and went right on buy everyone and under the wire first to take the win by a half length.  A great battle continued for the minor money with Ideal Info grabbing the runner-up spot by a neck over the filly Venezia, then a head to the game White Sunshine in fourth.  Killer Instinct was fifth, then Dwindle in sixth, suspect seventh, Schmidt eighth, Proxy ninth, Baltic Dragon tenth, Hot Dog eleventh, Party Wagon twelfth, Croton Road thirteenth, and Menacing Ghost closed this one out. 

Pluckzy is a 3yo chestnut colt by Z Grayle One – Pluck Around, by Plucky Mach, and he was bred in Cal by his owner, Gdp Inc.  This was his second win from six starts and he now has lifetime earnings of $506.640.  Congrats to the connections!.     

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast         Time: :47¹  1:10⁴  1:35³  1:48¹
$1 Exacta: 1 – 11 Paid 1,677.00          $1 Trifecta: 1 – 11 – 6 Paid 1,533.50
Scratched: None

Pluckzy raced mid-pack while saving ground, moved to 2p into the far turn while accelerating, 5p for the drive while closing fastest of all, up late, won driving.  Ideal Info broke in hand moving over to 3p, moved to 4p mid-way on the first turn while passing foes, engaged leader on the second turn while taking the lead, battled down the lane, caught, good effort.  Venezia broke alertly to press the early lead, allowed to settle while racing just behind the lead group, moved to 4p while re-engaging lead pack, continued on well.  White Sunshine sharp break to lead early while crossing over to secure a rail position, up to engage the lead trio and re-take a short lead in the lane, out-kicked late.  Killer Instinct good late effort, wide trip cost a better finish.  Dwindle mid-pack early, raced evenly throughout.  Suspect forced/set the pace to the lane, tired.  Schmidt showed interest to the top of the lane, tired.  Proxy was not a factor.  Baltic Dragon was never involved.  Hot Dog outrun.  Party Wagon no factor.  Croton Road outrun.  Menacing Ghost outrun. 

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023, THE TRIPLE CROWN