LA Derby (Grade 2) (KYD)- $1,000.000 Purse
FG- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
March 23, 2019
Hollywood Latte picked up the win in the LA Derby, just as we picked, and with it the 100 KYD points that comes with it. That makes him a lock for the big race. To get the win, and thwarted what would have been a stunning upset as Beaver Wars, the maiden, and from the far outside, nearly shocked us all and finished second. That should get him to the KYD as well, so maybe he can just break his maiden there. It’s the first win in the stake for both trainer Nakamura Stables, and the jockey J Talamo. Congratulations to them! The time fo the win was 1:48.34. Let’s take a look!
(½ Mile- :46.99) The quickest horse out of the gate would be Burning Approval, for Mb Stables, but he somewhat quickly concedes the advantage to Smokey Stover’s Golden as the field approaches the first turn. Sharp Azteca looks interested in the early pace as well, for D J C Racing Stables, though also backs off just a tad. Meanwhile, Roglic Special comes up strong along the outside for Saratoga Stud, and takes second as the backstretch runs begins. Also making a push here would be Hymnal, splitting Burning Approval and Sharp Azteca and taking over third. In the middle of the field, both Sport Guide (Estero Farms) and Brief and Wonderous (Fractious) patiently wait for their time. Behind them is the eventual winner, Hollywood Latte, who has just over four lengths to make up. Then, its Leghorn (Oquinn Farm), Commanding Bee (John Henry), Beaver Wars (Team 7 Illusions), and Opus Force (Mb Stables).
(3/4 Mile- 1:10.72)- During the backstretch, the field seems to be content with holding their positions. Golden leads Roglic Special at the front, and everyone seems to follow along. It looked like there would be some potential for excitement in the turn, so let’s just move on.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Roglic Special has now poked a head in front of Golden as they move into the stretch. Behind them, Burning Approval was getting ready for his run, first looking as though he was thinking about splitting the two leaders, before realizing that there was plenty of room for him on the rail. Hollywood Latte looked really good in the turn as well, getting by a couple who weren’t showing much quite yet, and pulling to the inside of Hymnal for fourth. He now just had two lengths to make up. Brief and Wonderous pulled up to the outside of Hymnal here. They were five wide behind him with Leghorn, Sport Guide, Beaver Wars, Sharp Azteca, and Commanding Bee all ahead of Opus Force.
(Finish- 1:48.34)- Hollywood Latte splits to the two early leaders with a good stretch run, and looks as though his battle is going to be with Burning Approval, who is looking pretty good on the rail. But wait! Who’s this coming on out of nowhere? That would be Beaver Wars, the maiden who showed strong closing kick with a valiant run, and nearly pulled off the upset. Don’t laugh when I say he could break it in the KYD, as after all he will like having just a little more distance. Burning Approval was outkicked to the line and ends up third, ahead of Roglic Special, who hung in there decently enough, as did fifth place Golden. Commanding Bee, on the far outside, made a late move for sixth, topping Opus Force and Leghorn who were on the inside. Next came Brief and Wonderous. Rounding out the order were the three disappointments, Sport Guide, Hymnal, and Sharp Azteca.
About The Winner- Hollywood Latte, trailed by Nakamura Stables and ridden to victory by J Talamo is a three year old colt by Peppermint Moon, and is out of Tequila Mockingbird (there’s some Chai Latte on that side, it had to be somewhere, after all). He was bred in Louisiana by Allinthegate as a second quarter two year old and was acquired by Nakamura Stables unraced in the June 2018 auction for $30.010. The win is his third in five starts, and his first stake win. His career earnings are now $644.040.
Track: Fast
Time: :464 1:103 1:353 1:481
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 3 – 15 Paid 32.30
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 15 – 8 Paid 641.70
Scratched: Beach Dandy, Cherra Grans, Final Verse
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
