The 17th Running of The LA Derby-G3
July 3, 2021 16:20
LA Race #2 $150.000
3YO C/G 120 F 115 Lbs (+penalties)
1 1/8 Dirt
Stakes/Track Record-1:47.67 (Port On The Horizon-2015)
Among the bevy of Saturday graded stakes action is the $150.000 G3 LA Derby. The 1 1/8 dirt race is strictly for three year-olds carrying 120 lbs (fillies 115) plus penalties. Saturday’s will be the 17th such edition here at HRP. The first nine renewals were held at old HOL park before moving to LA in 2014. A trio of conditioners have claimed two editions of this race (Fairy Tale Ranch, D J C Racing Stables, Mb Stables) and two jockeys have accomplished the same feat (M. Smith, J.I. Velez).
This year’s group is a little light on graded success as only one of the eight entrants has tasted graded glory; however, all appear as though the belong in this one on paper. Here is the field for the 2021 LA Derby-G3:
#1 Cross The Stars (Mo Mentum Farm/G. Franco): Cross the Stars comes in here off of a sharp WO ALW score on May 29 and will break from the rail. This Crossing The Rubicon gelding utilized his closing kick in N1X contest and that looks like his preferred running style. That tactic can be tricky from a rail draw, but he should be able to save a lot of ground and, if he can handle the traffic issues that are sure to pop up, he should be coming after them down the lane.
#2 Intercontinental (Smokey Stover/E. A. Ellingwood): The only filly in the group, Intercontinental comes in here with a stalking victory in the January 30 Martha Washington (OP) to her credit. After that race, Smokey Stover paid $700.000 for her and sent back to OP for the G3 Honeybee on March 6. She had to settle for 5th that day, beaten only a length. Last seen in an ALW at SA on May 30, the Cherokee Sunset filly faded to 6th after setting the pace for the early stages. Being a filly, she does get a five pound weight break here and she got an advantageous draw, but she will need a bit of improvement as well if she is to make her presence felt.
#3 Plan To Wheel (Fractious/J. Pyfer): The only graded winner in the field, Plan To Wheel enters this spot off of a 9th place finish in the G1 PRK on May 15. The Strategic Command gelding snagged his graded win in the 1-mile G3 Gotham on March 6 while he was on the TC trail. Since that victory, his best finish is 8th (beaten three lengths) in the G1 SA Derby. Needs a reversal of form to get back on track in here and has never won going more than 1-mile so he could be dismissed by the punters. Hard to endorse this one, but he has beaten graded foes before and none of the rest in here can say that.
#4 Two Buck Chuck (Nakamura Stables/E. Maldonado): After being claimed for $35.000 back in December, Two Buck Chuck returned in the $100.000 El Camino Real on February 13 where he utilized front-running tactics to claim the only stakes victory of his career (DH with Turbocharged also in here today). Has faced graded company in his last two with the G3 Peter Pan on May 8 being his best finish, 5th beaten two-lengths. Probably better than his last two efforts as that February 13 win was from post 12, so maybe he gets back to being that guy in here. Another who is hard to endorse based on current form, but may be able to go back to a prior performance and make a splash here.
#5 Elixir (Mb Stables/M. Gutierrez): A home bred son of Centerpiece, Elixir, will break from gate five. After scoring victories in his first two races, this one was thrust on the TC trail throughout the Winter and early Spring. Those foes proved to be a bit too tough in three attempts, so Mb Stables sent this one to the NY-bred ranks on May 31; that move paid off, as Elixir secured his first stakes win in the $125.000 Lee Stakes at BEL. That Lee victory was his 3rd win from three starts at distances of 7 furlongs or less, so maybe there are some distance limitations here? Hard to argue against anything this conditioner does, so expect him to be a part of this from start to finish. The top selection in a highly competitive renewal.
#6 Turbocharged (John Henry/J.J. Hernandez): Purchased for $225.000 on March 25, Turbocharged will be making his second start for John Henry. In his latest appearance, the Lil King Devil gelding finished 10th at OP in the G1 Arkansas Derby on April 10. Prior to that, Aer Stables guided this guy to a DH (Two Buck Chuck) win in the $100.000 El Camino Real before a 5th place finish in the G2 Louisiana Derby at FG. This one comes in here fresh and that may work to his benefit as the conditioner has had plenty of time to get him figured out. Could very easily see this one turn in a career-best performance today. Fills out the exacta.
#7 Papa Nature (Night Rider Stables/A. Centeno): Papa Nature has done the majority of his running in one-turn races as this will be his 2nd attempt in a two-turn event. In his previous attempt at a route, he lost all chance at the start when he was left at the gate, rushed up no less than 7-wide in the first turn to get into stalking position before fading throughout the latter stages of the race. If nothing else, the son of Dial It In is better-positioned to compete here from gate 7. Has been sprinting in his last three outings where he took down the $200.000 Times Square for NY-breds at 6.5 furlongs before posting off-the-board efforts in the G3 Barrera and G1 Stephens, both at seven panels. Has a lot to prove in here off of that first attempt routing, but there are enough positives as well that say he belongs. Expect a much better effort in this one, but a board placing may be his ceiling.
#8 Gilgo Beach (D J C Racing Stables/U. Rispoli): Gilgo Beach returns here after a third-place finish in the $200.000 Commentator Stakes for NY-breds. That was his first race after a Winter/Spring campaign that saw him on the TC trail for four consecutive races. While he wasn’t able to beat those horses for the top prize, he did have a couple of placings in the G2 KY Jockey Club, 3rd, and G3 Holy Bull, DH for 2nd. The Zone Out gelding has several performances on his resume that would make him a factor here and, if he can work out a trip from this widest of eight gate, may be the main threat to the top two.
Final Analysis: No real conviction in this one, but tentatively going 5-6-8-7. Good luck to all in the 2021 G3 LA Derby!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
