LA Derby
LA Race #1 1 1/8m Dirt Stake
Purse $125.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Question Everything TwinTowersRacing Valdivia J Jr 120 —

This is a ‘why not have a go Derby’ as there are bigger prizes attached to other of the type and this one hasn’t drawn an overly strong field. The penalty system kept the best horses out and those that have achieved at this level carry extra weight which brings the others into it. This is one such horse as he has yet to really prove himself up to this grade but does have some decent overnight form and fairly good works, couple that with a decent draw and a trainer that can pull a performance out of the hat and he shouldn’t be ignored.

2 Mountain Top La Canada Racehorses Franco C 120 —

A fairly consistent type on a dry track he did have a go at this sort of level at the start of the year and ran pretty well without winning. Closing to be third in the CA Cup Derby he did the same in the Withers but could only manage eighth. The trainer clicked the various buttons that make this a computer game and came up with a front running performance to win a decent allowance at PIM last time from a wide gate, so it seems the tactic change has improved his chances of winning. Drawn two today of course the same instruction when drawn wide will probably have a different result with this race engine with an inside draw so we can’t be sure he will make the lead but if he gets into the stalk or midpack, I think he has a real chance of winning.

3 Rebel Agenda Night Rider Stables Hernandez J J 120 —

This is another deep closer which of course is not best suited by the new race engine, but I think it is his best running style so it may pay not to mess with it too much. I like the way he flew home in the Affirmed last time to be a close sixth and I have a feeling this is another one of those horses that the stable claims and miracles happen.

4 Next Gen Iolaus Racing Figueroa C 120 —

In a field with plenty of closer’s this one may be able to sneak a lead if the race engine lets it from gate four and he may just be the dark horse if he can get into a good rhythm. He has improved with each run and whilst at only 15.1hh he may not be at his peak, yet he is going in the right direction.

5 Fig Fuel Fractious Vazquez R A 122 —

This one ran well enough in the Lewis Stakes to attract a $50.000 claim last time out when he just scraped home in a CD mile race. His works are pretty sharp for a horse who has found it difficult to win although he did win his first three races as a two-year-old culminating in a good third in the Grey Stakes. Do not write him off just because he has a claimer to his name, he has every chance here although he does carry a penalty for a State bred stakes win as a juvenile.

6 Censored Mb Stables Maldonado E 120 —

It wouldn’t be a Derby without an Mb runner going to the gates and though this entry has only managed the one win he has done well enough in his last three races to give him a big chance as expected. He was very good in the Ruby Stakes on an off track and backed that up on a dry track with a third in the CA Derby. He was favorite for the Affirmed last time out but ran a little flat and that does give us a few questions to be answered in this race. Of course. as always, he is working better than most people’s best which goes without saying but whilst he may well start favorite, he isn’t the shoe in you would hope for.

7 Magical Sunset Riggins Racing Desormeaux K J 122 —

This is an interesting one and probably on the balance of his form you would have to say could be the winner on paper. A stakes winning two-year-old he came out at three and was only beaten a neck in the Sham Stakes causing the returning Riggins Racing to go deep into the wallet to secure him for $550.000. He is still a very long way from that being a good investment but has run in some good races and has run pretty well without troubling the judge. A close fifth in the HolyBull, he closed hard in the LA Derby from an impossible draw and then finished a close up fourth in the Lexington. A little frustrated, the trainer sent him to the turf for his last two but that was a failed experiment, so he is back to the dirt today. He is one of those that may leap into the top ten when his time comes and maybe gelding him could help but until he finds that little extra, we just have to wait.

SUMMARY

I feel Magical Sunset could run big here but that is a bit of a gamble with the wide draw and the penalty so it may pay to play safe and go for a better drawn horse. The trouble is this is a very even field so may not be the best to waste your Disney Dollars on, so I would be tempted to have a little bit on Next Gen if the odds are generous and leave it at that.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded