Mr Cat Summers Is KYD Bound After AR Derby Win

By Nynl Stables on April 14, 2019

The AR Derby (Grade 1) (KYD) – $1,000.000 Purse
OP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
April 13, 2019

In the final 100 point race of the year, there were many last ditch efforts to get into the KYD field. Rain showers would make the task a little bit harder, as they would be enough to downgrade the track to be listed as good for the race. Mr Cat Summers had a decent prep race season, but it was not going to be good enough to allow First Street Stables to be a part of the field. Perhaps the trainer was happy when he saw the weather report, as Mr Cat Summers was two-for-two in his career on off tracks. He had worked nicely heading into the race, and on Saturday, he would deliver. Congratulations to First Street Stables on the big win! Even more impressive is that this is the trainer’s first career graded stake victory. What an incredible way to pick that up! The winning jockey is P Husbands, and the time of the win was 1:49.81. Let’s take a look!

(½ Mile- :47.92)- Two of them burst out of the start gate with authority, including our eventual winner, Mr Cat Summers, from Nolespan Racing, as well as Weak Sheik, for John Henry. However, as the field gets near the first turn, P Husbands restrains Mr Cat Summers, as he does not want him to be running on the lead early. While he takes a new position in the field, Roglic Special, for Saratoga Stud, and one who drew into the field due to the late scratch of Be One, would push to the front and take the lead, and eventually Ardetha, from Aer Stables, emerged from the pack to be second with Weak Sheik on the rail in third. Burning Approval advanced to be fourth for Mb Stables, while Mr Cat Summers settled into the fifth spot, two lengths from the lead. False Command was nearby with a good lane for Estero Farms, as well. Next came Aml Racing’s filly, who once again started on the rail in this race, with Opus Force (Mb Stables) right beside her, and Gun Down (LionKing Stables) one over. Another length back, its Final Verse (Mb Stables), Commanding Bee (John Henry), and Sport Guide (Estero Farms) running three wide. Trailing are Shake It Up And Go (John Henry) and Liberty Valance (D J C Racing Stables). I want to take this moment to apologize for glossing over, and not catching the fact that More Sport and Sport Guide are full siblings in the preview. Very impressive feat!

(3/4 Mile- 1:12.09)- Most of the field ran down the backstretch without much changeover in running position. It was still Roglic Special and Ardetha in front, with latter getting credit for leading at this point. However, it would be Mr Cat Summers making a move just as we moved into the turn, that advanced him ahead of the two he had been running with, and into the third spot, but looking to position himself three wide around the two front runners during the turn. It might not have seemed like much, but this is the type of move we often see become successful in our game. Other then this, there is not much else to report as horses maintain their position. Further back in the field, Shake It Up And Go was also making a move to position himself for an outside run.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- While rounding the turn, Mr Cat Summers runs really well but soon finds out that Ardetha has no plans to go anywhere, either. As Ardetha holds his own very well, and Mr Cat Summers goes at him hard, we see quite a bit of separation developing between them at the top of the stretch, as it is almost three lengths back to the third place filly, More Sport. At this point, Roglic Special was nearby, but clearly about to drop through the pack. The field fans out at this point, as horses looked to make that late bid, but it was going to take a lot to get the two leaders. However, those third place KYD points made this push very much worth it. While we knew there were would be challengers emerging, we didn’t really know who it would be at this point.

(Finish- 1:49.81)- In the stretch, Mr Cat Summers and Ardetha had a good battle between them, and it is Mr Cat Summers that prevails and gets the 100 points for the KYD. A strong effort by Ardetha will not got unrewarded, either, as he too will be KYD-bound following his second place. These two horse both like to run early, as we saw here, so that will be something to watch in the KYD when we get there. For third, Sport Guide was not about to let his sister beat him, and looked good in the stretch to be third while lil sis, More Sport, is fourth. Shake It Up And Go ran well to be fifth, but all of the extra race track that he had to cover really did him in here. Liberty Valance closed decently to be sixth, ahead of Commanding Bee, Opus Force, Burning Approval, Gun Down, Roglic Special, False Command, Final Verse, and Weak Sheik.

About The Winner- Mr Cat Summers, trained by First Street Stables, and ridden to victory by P Husbands, is a three year old colt by Happy Cat, and is out of Summers Melody. He was bred in Ontario by First Street Stables, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in nine starts, and is his first graded win. His career earnings are now $784.700.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Mr Cat Summers

First Street Stables

Husbands P

11.75

1^1/2