PA Derby (Grade 2)- $1,000.000 Purse
PRX- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
September 19, 2015

D J C Racing Stables had to enjoy the ending of the PA Derby and not only because of who won.  Sure, he was thrilled that Port On The Horizon was able to get up to win the PA Derby just in time, but he likely enjoyed the horse that he ended up catching to do it, as well.  The winning trainer had some great moments with today’s second place horse, Unsuited, too.  D J C Racing Stables also trained him for a significant amount of time before selling him to Hawaiian Shirt Guy.  Fast forward to today and the waning moments of the PA Derby.   There’s likely no one in this field that the trainer wanted to see finish second to Port On The Horizon then Unsuited, and the victory was accomplished in a thrilling manner.   For Port On The Horizon, today’s victory was the fifth of his career and second in his last three races.   Jockey J L Ortiz, who the trainer put on the Unsuited instead of Port On The Horizon for the KYD, was glad to be on the right horse today.   It is the first time that either jockey or trainer has won the PA Derby, which was the second fastest in the history of the stake.  The winning time of 1:47.82 was bettered by only Party Talk in 2007.  Today, the Party is at D J C Racing Stables.  Here is how it unfolded!

1st- 3- Port On The Horizon (8/1)- Our eventual race winner might not have been up with the top three right out of the gate, but he too started well for D J C Racing Stables.   He would get about a length and a half from the leaders, running fourth in the opening the turn, before assuming a comfortable position just off the lead at the top of the backstretch.  Port On The Horizon was just fine with running here throughout the backstretch and as they approached the turn.  Once in the turn, J L Ortiz asked his horse for a little more run, and he was ready to oblige.  While he did advance, neither Unsuited or Have A Seat were going to make it easy on him, and he still remained about a length and a half back at the top of the stretch.  His progress in catching the leaders was only gradual until the final furlong, where he then made greater gains and look like he had a chance.  Very late, he poured it on, and his former stablemate appeared startled to see him go on by.  The end result is a very well run race by both the horse and the jockey.  As mentioned, the time of the win was 1:47.82.   Port On The Horizon is a three year old gelding by Risen Ruler and out of Officer Portia (Creative Officer).  He was bred in New York by D J C Racing Stables, the only trainer in which he has ever known.   Congratulations to all of the connections!

2nd- 4- Unsuited (5/1)- Looked good right from the start for Hawaiian Shirt Guy.  He was the first one to get to the opening turn, and led the field around it and into the backstretch.  He would set the opening ½ mile time in :47.30.  He would maintain the lead throughout the back stretch, and would actually open up by about a length and a half as they entered the final turn.  3/4 time went in 1:10.77.  During the turn, he continued to lead the field and seemed to be in great stride, and he emerged into the stretch still with his length advantage, even with Port On The Horizon looking to make a bid.  Seemed as though he was going to hold on, but late in the stretch, in the final half furlong, it’s almost as if he threw in the towel.  Port On The Horizon breezed on by and he almost got caught by a couple others.

3rd- 5- Have A Seat (9/2)- The Mb Stables entry was pretty good out of the gate.  Jockey J R Leparoux seemed to make a point of wanting to have Have a Seat up with the leaders by the time they got to the first turn, and this would be accomplished with a three wide trip.  Continued this steady run during the backstretch, completing a pass of Roxys Triple Crown as they made their way into the turn.  Hung in there gamely with Unsuited, but he would never be able to make up that length that he had trailed behind him for much of the way.  The end result is a solid effort, especially in hanging on to third.

4th- 2- Generals Companion (10/1)- The Maxmillion Farm entry got off to average start, leading the second group of four, a group that had about two lengths separating them from the top four in the early stages of the race.   He looked for some room during the turn, and perhaps thought about a three wide move, but instead elected to stay to the outside of Roxys Triple Crown and made that pass.  Only late in the stretch did he look like he could make a bid to catch those who had been in front of him much of the way, but he would come up just short of catching Have A Seat.

5th- 7- Valparaiso Harbor (35/1)- Content to trail the field early for Barcelona Farms.  This is often the case with him, so there was no reason to rule out the longest shot on the board yet.  He continued to stay near the back of the pack for the backstretch run, and throughout the turn.  At the top of the stretch, he showed some interest in advancing and would be able to make a couple passes, but there was never any true closing bid out of him.

6th- 6- Roxys Triple Crown (8/1)- Initially the quickest of them all out of the gate for Aer Stables, though would end up being second to the outside of Unsuited for the run around the first turn.  Stayed with Unsuited for a little while in the backstretch, but started to lose touch with him by the end of the run and appeared to be about to drift out of contention at this point.     He would back up into the 6th position by races end.

7th- 8- Citizens Union (17/1)- Didn’t show much early for Saratoga Stud, beating only Valparaiso Harbor for the run around the first turn.  Stayed at the back throughout the backstretch, and it seemed as though R Bejarano wanted to advance his position as the run around the turn began, moving three wide to the outside of Valparaiso Harbor.  Unfortunately for the trainer, he was unable to do anything more then that and could not advance in the stretch.

8th- 1- Dominant Speed (6/5)- Our pick and the post time favorite was unhurried out of the gate, starting near the back for Rockitpad.   The fans waited for their favorite to kick it in gear, but Dominant Speed continued to hang at the back at pack.  He would have no stretch response, and leaves us with a very disappointing outing.

Track: Fast
Time: :47¹  1:10³  1:35   1:47⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 4 Paid 27.50
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 4 – 5 Paid 1,369.30

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II