03/26/2022

 8    FG      LA Derby (GI)    [KYD]

   $1,000.000         3yo        1 3/16m         122lbs

I was more surprised by the odds of the top finishers, rather than who they were… when the dust settled in the 2022 LA Derby (GI) Nakamura Stables solidified his place in the KYD as Ocean Of Wisdom overcame an outside post position and lacking racing room into the lane to get the job done, winning this prestigious stepping stone by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:54.77 (just a tick off of my .78 prediction) while pocketing the majority of the $1,000.000 purse.  It was a bang-bang-bang finish for the minor spots as Everymanforhimself just nosed out Changing Times for the runner-up position, and I Want More was just a head back in fourth.  Eleven lengths covered the field.

The field of thirteen loaded into the gate at the top of the lane, the flag went up… off and running in the 2022 LA Derby!!  Right out of the gate, Everymanforhimself jumping out to take the lead, the trio of Wiggling Road, I Want More and Suspect giving chase, Drilldownfortruth just in behind that group, then the trio of Good Guy on the rail, Changing Times between horses and Neoconserviative caught three wide.  Ocean Of Wisdom moved to the rail to save ground, then a gap to Loquacious Luka, War All The Time, Boardwalk Empire and Grande Foire was the early trailer.

Around the clubhouse turn and on to the back stretch, six furlongs to run and Everymanforhimself made every step on the lead so far, Suspect moving up three wide, Wiggling Road between horses, I Want More on the inside of that trio, then a gap to Drilldownfortruth on the inside of Changing Times.  Two more lengths to the foursome of Neoconserviative, Grande Foire on the outside, Good Guy on the rail and Ocean Of Wisdom next to that one.  Another gap back to the trailing trio of Loquacious Luka, War All The Time and Boardwalk Empire.

They made their way down the backside and into the far turn with three and a half furlongs to the wire, Everymanforhimself showing the way by two lengths, I Want More continued to give chase with Wiggling Road and Suspect by his side, a gap of two to Changing Times, out wide for Grande Foire, down to the rail for Drilldownfortruth, then a length to Neoconservative, Ocean Of Wisdom just to the inside of that one, another length to Good Guy on the rail, then Boardwalk Empire and War All The Time was the back marker.

Now moving around the far turn and into the lane, they flew past the three-sixteenths pole and Everymanforhimself had made every call about him, in front by a length.  I Want More trying to close the gap, a length and a half to Wiggling Road down the center of the track, Changing Times moving up from the inside, then to the outside for Suspect, Neoconservative on his flank, Ocean Of Wisdom now begining to pickup horses and looking for racing room, Drilldownfortruth on the rail, Good Guy next to that one, then the trailers, Loquacious Luka, Boardwalk Empire, Grande Foire and War All The Time.

Down to the final sixteenth, it looked like a five horse run to the wire… Everymanforhimself still in front by three-quarters of a length, I Want More digging in, Changing Times between that pair and gaining, Ocean Of Wisdom found racing room and was moving forward with every jump, Neoconservative down the far outside as the rest needed to find more in short order… the run to the finish was on.

Deep stretch and to the wire, Everymanforhimself continuing to show the way, but Ocean Of Wisdom was obviously moving fastest of all… was their enough ground?  Absolutely… the Nakamura Stables conditioned gelding went right on by in the final seventy-five yards and it was Ocean Of Wisdom going under the wire in front by three-quarters of a length.  Everymanforhimself continued on well and nosed out Changing Times for the place.  Another head to I Want More in fourth Neoconserviative a tough-luck fifth, Good Guy sixth, Wiggling Road seventh, Drilldownforthruth eighth, Suspect ninth, Boardwalk Empire tenth, Loquacious Luka eleventh, War All the Time twelfth and Grande Foire closed this one out. 

Ocean of Wisdom is a 3yo bay gelded son of Hogshead – Pocono Junction, by Pocono General, and he was bred in ON by his owner, Nakamura Stables.  This was his fourth win from seven starts, two of those wins coming this season, and he now has lifetime earnings of $1,228.000.  His ticket is stamped for Louisville!  Congrats to the connections!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast             Time: :47⁴  1:11²  1:35⁴  1:54³
$1 Exacta: 13 – 10 Paid 60.90             $1 Trifecta: 13 – 10 – 7 Paid 617.50
Scratched: Great State, Individuation

Ocean Of Wisdom taken back early while securing an inside position, move to 2p for the run down the back stretch, remained 2p through the turn and into the lane moving to 4p for the drive, up in the final seventy-five yards to win driving.  Everymanforhimself broke sharply, set the pace to the shadow of the wire, caught, settled.  Changing Times raced mid-pack 2p to the lane, closed well on the inside.  I Want More tracked the pace throughout, outfinished.  Neoconserviative rated off of the pace 3p, move to 5p for the drive, evenly.  Good Guy early action, lost ground down the back stretch, re-fired, some late interest.  Wiggling Road pressed the pace to the furlong marker, tired.  Drilldownfortruth early interest, tired.  Suspect pressed the early pace while wide, continued wide, faltered.  Boardwalk Empire was not a factor.  Loquacious Luka was outrun.  War All The Time was not involved.  Grande Foire off a step slow, moved up wide down the back stretch, tired. 

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023, THE TRIPLE CROWN