7/11/2020
5 BEL The BEL Derby Invitational (GI)
$1.000.000 3yo 1 1/4m Inner Turf 122lbs
Do we have enough Derbys? Mb Stables probably doesn’t think so because they mean big races, tons of purse money and his best come out to play. Immoral took The BEL Derby Invitational (GI) by a length, closing down a soggy, soft inner turf course, getting the classic mile and a quarter in 2:033. Longshot Dons Carry On, sent off at 43/1 made a good late bid to take the place, a length in front of Hammerfest in third.
Ohtani was away quickly from the far outside, Winchester after that one, Gordon Drive down along the hedge, Hollywood Estrella next to that one. Night Creature was next, Grandstand Jockey, then Hammerfest, Sweet Sweat, Dons Carry On and Immoral from the outside, along with Bobs Ticket, Bombay Diplomat and Black Horizon was the early trailer.
They made their way around the clubhouse turn and onto the backside with six and a half furlongs to run, Gordon Drive had opened up a three length lead. Hollywood Estrella on the inside of Winchester, then another gap of two to Ohtani three wide, Night Creature on the hedge and Grandstand Jockey just in between that pair. Another length to Hammerfest five wide, Sweet Sweat hugging the inside, then a gap to Dons Carry On, Bombay Diplomat out wide, Immoral to his inside, Bobs Ticket and Black Horizon continue to be the back marker.
They made their way down the backside and were now headed into the far turn with three furlongs left to run and Gordon Drive continued to show the way by three lengths. Winchester continued to track that one, Hollywood Estrella up the rail, Hammerfest moving up five wide, Sweet Sweat just in behind that trio, Ohtani on his outside, Night Creature to his inside, then a gap back to Immoral out wide, Dons Carry On along the hedge, Grandstand Jockey between that pair, Bobs Ticket tucked in behind that group and hugging the inside, then a gap to Bombay Diplomat and Black Horizon could still see them all.
Around the sweeping turn and into the lane, they were nearing the furlong marker and we had a horse race on our hands… five across the track as Gordon Drive was looking Hammerfest in the eye, Sweet Sweat in the three path and Immoral from the extreme outside and Winchester making it five across… Ohtani just in behind that group, another length to the trio of Dons Carry On, Night Creature between horses and Hollywood Estrella along the hedge. Another gap to Bobs Ticket, Bombay Diplomat, Black Horizon and Grandstand Jockey drifted back to last.
Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, this was a fight to the end… Immoral was widest of all but beginning to get away from them, even as he drifted out a bit, Dons Carry On emerging from the pack to move up and Hammerfest, also wide moving up… but as they hid the wire, this was all about Immoral as he got to the wire in front by a length. Long-shot Dons Carry On was a length back in second, then another length to Hammerfest in third. Ohtani nosed out Sweet Sweat for fourth, Bobs Ticket in sixth, Winchester tiring late to be seventh, as did Gordon Drive in eighth, Night Creature in ninth, Hollywood Estrella tenth, Black Horizon eleventh, Bombay Diplomat was twelfth, and Grandstand Jockey closed this one out.
Immoral is a bay 3yo altered son of No Doubt About It – Noble Moment, by Moment Of Madness, and he was bred in Cal by his owner, Mb Stables. Now showing five wins from tens starts, this being his second wind of the year, the other coming in the TAM Derby (GII), he has earnings of $1,327.260.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 10 – Immoral | 20.60 | 10.10 | 6.70 |
| 9 – Dons Carry On | 89.40 | 50.20 | |
| 8 – Hammerfest | 5.60 |
Track: Soft Time: :49 1:132 1:383 2:033
$1 Exacta: 10 – 9 Paid 3,680.60 $1 Trifecta: 10 – 9 – 8 Paid 1,903.30
Scratched: Iron Nation, Lucky Storm
Immoral lacked early pace while allowed to settle, pushed forward through the far turn, fanned out for the drive, widest of all, drifted out late while kicking clear. Dons Carry On taken back after the start, lacked room into the lane, emerged from the pack, best foot late. Hammerfest raced mid-pack early, up to stalk the pace, finished evenly. Ohtani gave an even effort while no threat to the winner. Sweet Sweat raced mid-pack for six furlong, up to press into the lane, flattened out. Bobs Ticket taken back after the start, no speed, some late foot passing tiring rivals. Winchester broke well, just in behind the pack, up to join the leader into the lane, nothing left for the drive. Gordon Drive rushed up shortly after the start to take command, extended his lead through the far turn, headed at the top of the lane, tired from there. Night Creature showed some early speed, tired. Hollywood Estrella pressed the pace for six furlongs, folded. Black Horizon gave a dull effort. Bombay Diplomat was never involved. Grandstand Jockey raced mid-pack, tired.
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