Super Derby – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st Mercedes Benz First Class Stable Juarez N

On a day when rabbits ruled we saw a race that whilst the pace wasnt suicidal it certainly favoured closers. This colt who underwent a transformation in July when he went from a consistent overnighter to a serious stakes horse was ridden perfectly to score a decent win for trainer First Class Stable. Nothing much seemed to change between his allowance second and his grade one Haskell second so we can only assume it was the hidden improvement we hear so much about or proof that the grade of race doesnt really matter, but after this win we can now safely say this is an effective stakes horse.

2nd Glitter Diety Mb Stables Franco M

He went a little further back than the winner and was made to go around the field to make his run, a fact that ultimately made it very hard for him to reach the winner. Out of the two stable companions his trainer chose this one to go back but i wonder on reflection he wouldve done better to have him closer to the pace. Someone has to get beat though and he ran a good race in defeat and i am sure he will find some more black type before the season is over.

3rd No Doubting You Mb Stables Maragh Ro

He was sent forward by a combination of trainer and draw and set a very strong pace which he did well to keep up until very close to the finish. In the end he floundered under the effort to be third just behind his stable companion. nevertheless this was only the horses third career start so i think we can safely say a race like this will be firmly on the radar when he hasnt got a higher regraded stable companion in the same race.

4th Golden Smokey Stover Alvarado J

When you look at his form and teh winners form it is very hard to see why one wins and one finishes fourth because certainly up to early July they were almost identical on form. Today even though he ran on very well to be fourth he never really looked like the winner and at the end of the day didnt have the trip and the breaks the winner got. Whatever that is down to he lives to fight another day and he is good enough to win a race like this eventually.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES