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
This Saturday, the first 100-point KYD prep race takes place in the 14th running of the LA Derby at FG. Time is beginning to wind down now, and this race goes a long way in determine who will be, and who won’t be running in the KYD. Last year, the race was won by Blindfold for Mb Stables, and it would be the last race that he would win for his career. Second place runner that day, Zombie City, has gone on to much better, and the 40-points for second in this race is likely enough to get a horse in, as well. There have been some scratches since the early draw of the race, and there will be just twelve going to post. Let’s meet our field!
#1- Sport Guide (Estero Farms, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Had the looks of a good contender for the KYD before his last race, but is going to need to pick up some points here to stay that way. He only has 10 this far, and as good as Estero Farms may have been looking a couple months ago for the KYD, this is presently his highest point getter on the leaderboard. A very flat run here last month for the Risen Star is something that must be rectified. A lot was spent on this one to begin with.
#2- Leghorn (Oquinn Farm, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Enters the TC Chase for a trainer that would love to have an entry in the big race. He has spent much of his career running in ungraded stakes, some with the LA-bred condition on them. I would have liked to have seen a win in such a race that was not a sprint, even though his mile works do suggest he can go long. He definitely deserves the chance here.
#3- Hollywood Latte (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- I bet you thought this was a Chai Latte foal. Well, he’s not! He’s a bit of a late bloomer for this chase, with two wins in four starts. Ran sixth in the Smarty Jones, which is really the only past race to look at. Otherwise, I am more intrigued by his work times, especially an effort here on February 23rd. That’s what got him here, and if he runs to that, then the trainers of top contenders might be rooting against him here. Could be worth watching for the PRK is he does well here, but not enough to get into the KYD. However, I think he will do enough to get into the KYD, and am making him my pick to win.
#4- Hymnal (Williams9, ridden by F Geroux)- I doubt there is anyone in the game who would not be happy to see Williams9 have a horse in the KYD. Hymnal has proven to be a quality horse, but he has not shown me that he is quite good enough for the TC hunt. He’s been given chances, and in none of those races has shown the potential that he was about to break through. Work times tell a similar story. They’re solid, but not quite KYD ready. Still, you never know, and this is a great post.
#5- Cherra Grans- Scratched
#6- Brief And Wonderous (Fractious, ridden by F Pennington)- Here is another late entrant to the chase, as the Grandeur colt is still lightly raced. Only has made four starts, with just a maiden win. His last start, the CA Cup Derby, was a flat effort, so if he is here, then the trainer has certainly found out what went wrong there. Fractious spent a lot of money to bring him in, so now its time for Brief And Wonderous to show that faith was correctly placed.
#7- Commanding Bee (John Henry, ridden by E J Wilson)- Had a great two year old season for former trainer, Serenity Stables, but was sold on New Years Even to John Henry for $500.000. Since then, there has been only one start, coming in the Grade 3 Southwest at OP last month, and he faded to finish off the board. He has three points right now for the KYD chance. John Henry has several good contenders for the race, but he’d certainly like one of them to step it up and seem to be the leader of the group.
#8- Burning Approval (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- One of two entries for Mb in the race, and not the one with the most name recognition. In fact, he’s an unknown commodity at this level, with just two starts, with his last race being his maiden win at sloppy GP. He’s put forth some good works, so he’s no different then the other horses in here that are being given a chance to show that they belong.
#9- Roglic Special (Saratoga Stud, ridden by D E Centeno)- This time of year, it always seems as though Saratoga Stud shows up with at least one good contender for the KYD. He’s unproven, with just one win in four starts, and has never raced at the stake level. He was purchased for $75.000 from The American, and really doesn’t have much to go by in the form of public works. So without that, it’s tough to pick him, but if you want to take a shot, go for it.
#10- Opus Force (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- All horses, well most of them, that end up in the KYD and become great horses have that one bad race on the road to get there. For Opus Force, that race needs to be the Risen Star. He was a considerable disappointment there, but all can be forgiven with a great race here. Let us not forget how well we were all thinking about him prior to that race. Mb Stables has had time to figure him out, and now it’s time to unleash his good side again.
#11- Sharp Azteca (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M Franco)- After some decent races, trainer D J C Racing Stables felt that Sharp Azteca was capable of better, and went for the geld. He also moved him off the turf, and onto the mud. Well, the dirt anyway, he couldn’t control that it was muddy on each of those days. The results are a pair of wins, but neither are at the stake level. Here, he has his chance to prove he can do it against the best, and I think he could be a sneaky option to pick in this field.
#12- Golden (Smokey Stover, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This Good Authority colt seems to be getting better with every start. Recently, he has been running in PA-bred races, and picked up back to back wins, including a rout in an allowance. Works are fine, but I believe that Golden has proven himself to be the type with a lot of heart and desire on the race track. He will have to overcome a tough post, but should not be overlooked.
#13- Final Verse- Scratched
#14- Beach Dandy- Scratched
#15- Beaver Wars (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by A Beschizza)- Starting on the outside, Beaver Wars is looking to break his maiden here today. He’s been unable to do that in the traditional way, so let’s see if he can do that from an outside post at the LA Derby.
Prediction: 3-10-1-7
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
