The PA Derby (Grade 1)- $1,000.000 Purse
PRX- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
September 25, 2021

The calendar has moved into fall, and with that we know that the BC Classic is getting even closer, now being just a little bit more than a month away. As that race approaches, we still have plenty of excitement in the build up, and part of that will be seen in the 17th running of the PA Derby. This is a race that has been pretty favorable for horses that had a lot of hype leading up to the KYD and then justified that in that race. Both Five Fives (2010) and Pretty Ferro (2018) are past winners of the race, so that could have been a good omen for Howl Of The Hound. Sadly, we will not be seeing him. Seeing his name in the race Tuesday morning, I had so much hype ready to go for him, so it was a letdown to see his name as a scratch as I started writing. Well, that doesn’t mean this is no longer a good race, as there is plenty to still be excited about. Let’s meet the runners now who will be running!

#1- Tequila Rise (Nakamura Stables, ridden by V R Carrasco)- Starting on the rail, this gelding has been known for hitting the board rather than for winning races. He’s won two of twelve, but otherwise has done well to cash checks in races like the Haskell and the Peter Pan. He also comes here off a fourth place finish in the WV Derby. If he can ever find out how to make up that nagging length on the winner each time, he’d be a much more well known name here.

#2- Grayte Cruise (Fractious, ridden by J R Velazquez)- We’ll have a handful of runners in here that were last seen at SAR for the Travers. That starts with the one that won the race, Grayte Cruise, as he topped the field that did include Howl Of The Hound. He’s won half his starts, four of eight overall, but the Travers was his first win for Fractious since the trainer picked him up in private sales. Lately has been looking to come from behind late.

#3- Shared Legacy (Witeout Stables, ridden by G Saez)- It took this horse a while to break his maiden, eventually coming in his seventh try, and his first race as a gelding. He has not been back to the winners circle, but a good run in the $120.000 Curlin in July got the trainer excited about doing much more. He would pull a no show in the CT Classic, but that bullring isn’t for everyone. A lot is being asked of him here.

#4- Proud Crown (Mb Stables, ridden by E Jaramillo) When you’re Mb Stables, you can scratch a star like Howl Of The Hound out of a race like this and not really miss all that much, because you still have Proud Crown involved. This horse knows how to get to the winners circle, finishing in the top spot in seven of his thirteen races, including the Grade 2 Dandy at SAR. He tried the Travers after that, and finished fifth, snapping his three race winning streak, but I would be confident in his ability to bounce back.

#5- Contradiction (Aer Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Haven’t seen Aer Stables in a race that I have covered in a while, it seems. The trainer has certainly slowed down his pace of entering horses, focusing likely on just his stars. It’s been a while since Contradiction won a race, that being in October, but finishing second in three of his last four races meant that he is able to continue to live. Was second here in a small, but strong field for Grade 3 Jones Stakes in his last go around.

#6- Sports Page (Fractious, ridden by S R Bahen)- After finishing second in the BC Juvenile and being sold for $700.000 right after, Sports Page has been inconsistent. He has had some great races, such as winning the BG Stakes in April and finishing third in the BEL. Then, he has others which make him a tough horse to put money on. His last two races saw him finish 6th in the Haskell and 8th in the Travers, missing by three lengths each time. It might be right to say he is due for a big one here. I always say in these articles that I avoid picking a horse like this. But, I’m feeling him here for some reason. Gut feeling pick!

#7- Rowdy Rb (Mb Stables, ridden by S Ryan)- There’s plenty of reason for Mb Stables to be howling about his chances to win the PA Derby with the two that he has left in the race. Rowdy Rb actually outperformed his stablemate, Proud Crown, in the Travers, finishing second in a tight photo for the win. That came after winning the WV Derby three weeks prior. Still feel that Proud Crown is the more known commodity in the game, but this Ginger Haggis gelding is on the better form.

#8- Just Wanna Blaze (Gdp Inc., ridden by T J Pereira)- Another horse that comes out of the Travers last month, but he was not able to be a factor, with a very disappointing finish. Perhaps, the ground he made up late can be encouraging and could lead to a tactical adjustment. He was a lot better in the Dandy right before it, a race where he was a little closer than he was in the Travers. As of right now, his claim to fame is winning the OH Derby.

#9- Electric (Angelos Stable, ridden by A Cedillo)- Will we soon be wondering if Smokey Stover let one slip through the cracks? This colt was claimed in July for $30.000 at SAR and followed that up two weeks later by running second in an allowance at SAR, then it was another two weeks to winning the ELP Derby. He’s had time to rest since then. With Smokey Stover, he was productive, but never seemed on a course to be running in the type of race he is in right now.

#10- Sunderland Til I Die (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by Ru Gonzalez)- On the outside, this horse has had sporadic success over his thirteen race career with two wins, but has hit the board a total of eight times. Neither of his wins are at the stake level, and his more exciting finish thus far was when he was third in the Grade 3 Withers. Last month, he ran in the Travers, and was in the middle of the field all race long, before settling for sixth. Worked very well on the 16th, so don’t write him off.

#11- Howl Of The Hound- Sadly, was scratched (unless you have a horse in the race)

Prediction: 6-7-2-5

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES