The OH Derby (Grade 3)- $500.000 Purse
TDN- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
June 24, 2017

Coming into the race, Hidden Slew Laff has been perfect when going a mile or more, taking all three of those prior races. Those wins, however, were not against the strongest competition, so it was enough to raise some doubts as to his chances in a Grade 3. This was his first graded race, but he had an ungraded stake under his belt, though a shorter distance. Hidden Slew Laff also came into the race having won three of his last four, and remains still a lightly raced horse. In this race, he methodically ran his race in the middle of the pack before taking control in the stretch to get the victory! The proud winning trainer is Gdp Inc, scoring his first win the stake! Aboard the winner was I Ortiz Jr, who left the bigger name tracks in country to come to TDN and ride this horse. It is his first win in the race as well! Congratulations! The time of the victory was 1:47.96. As this was only the second time the race has been run at this distance, and first since 2008, there is not any other time to compare it too other then to say it was faster then the 2008 race by over a second. Here’s a look at the race!

(½ Mile- :47.52)- Out of the gate, the two the emerge to be the quickest are Tragic from Canadian Racing, and Hotwheel from Team 7 Illusions. The two of them clear the rest of the field during the front stretch, and as we move into the opening turn. A gap of approximately two lengths is opened up while around the turn, and as they prepare to run down the backstretch. Sitting just behind these two in the third position was Mb Stables’ Red Broomstick, who would also break well but was content to hold his ground and not pressure the leaders. You have to go back another two lengths to see three of them running three wide. Major Weiner (Night Rider Stables) was the one with the rail amongst this group, with D J C Racing Stables’ Que Cosa to his outside. In the three wide spot was our eventual winner, Hidden Slew Laff, from Gdp Inc. Trailing the field were the two we picked to finish first and second. Farley On Wheels (Tiratzo) and Slither (John Henry) saw it all unfold in front of them.

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.13)- There was not much movement during the portion of the race which took us down the backstretch, and moving into the turn. Tragic and Hotwheel continued to lead the field, but the pack was starting to close in on them now. Red Broomstick was now just a length out of second, but was not really the one looming as the biggest threat. That honor would belong to Hidden Slew Laff, who was still just under three lengths from the lead, but his three wide position meant that he would have the ideal lane while rounding the turn. Que Cosa, who he had been running with most of the way, also showed a lot more interested and looked to have a big run coming as well. Major Weiner did not have the same push. At the back, Farley On Wheels and Slither still had a lot of ground to make up.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- As he rounded the turn, Tragic seemed to be in good shape. This looked like a horse that still had plenty left and may be able to hold off the challenges from behind, but it would take a lot of work. Red Broomstick had moved into second now, mainly by keeping himself out of trouble and riding the rail to perfection. He was less then a length back here, and would have nothing in his way. Hotwheel was still in the mix, though seemed to be fading a bit. As for Hidden Slew Laff, he had to move another lane to the outside, so while it was clear in front of him, having to be outside like this meant that he still had a length and a half to make up. However, he was in a great spot now once the stretch began, and he was still a length ahead of Que Cosa, who could not stick with him as well. Major Weiner was very good in the turn, and would actually have Que Cosa passed for a moment as they hit the stretch. Those looking for a move from Slither or Farley On Wheels were shaking their heads in disappointment.

Finish (1:47.86)- In the stretch, Hidden Slew Laff would take over. For a short moment it looked like Red Broomstick might be able to hang with him, but midway into the stretch, there was absolutely no one better in this field then Hidden Slew Laff, who pulled away more and more from the field with every stride in the late moments. It ends up being an impressive victory for him, and has him now a perfect four-for-four running over a mile, and now he can say that one of them was in a graded second. Interestingly, running second would be Que Cosa, so that length that Hidden Slew Laff put on his while rounding the turn that may have seemed subtle at the time proved to be critical. Red Broomstick ran a steady race, and finishes third, doing so by a neck over Tragic. Major Weiner was fifth. Running sixth was Slither, leaving many disappointed, and Hotwheel fell to seventh. Finishing last, was the post time favorite Farley On Wheels.

About The Winner: Hidden Slew Laff, trained by Gdp Inc and ridden by I Ortiz Jr., is a three year old gelding by Not Laffin Now, and out of Shot Laffin. Looking at all that Laffin more, it’s Laffin Stormtrooper on the top, and Laffin Snowflake/Laffin Policeman on the dam side. He was bred in the great state of PA by Gdp Inc as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. The win is by far the biggest of his career, and now has four wins in seven career starts, putting his career earnings at $350.340. Keep on eye on this one!

Track: Fast
Time: :47²  1:11   1:35²  1:47⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 8 – 2 Paid 76.60
$1 Trifecta: 8 – 2 – 3 Paid 1,057.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES