The KYD – Grade I
1 1/4 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $2,000.000 Open 3 Year Olds.
The race was the quickest ever off track Derby, but if we compare it to Ghost Walkers Derby (closest conditions), I think we get an idea of why the late closers won the day. A second quicker to the halfway mark that faster pace was maintained to the mile mark when things started to slow down on the front. This gave the closers a chance, and it was the clearest runs which took the race. Estero Farms may be thanking Mb Stables for making the pace quick through to the mile with Dream Controlled, but the winner was once again dominant here, and I am beginning to think we are seeing the best three year old to ever grace HRP’s digital downs.
Here is where they all finished:
1st – 20 Pretty Ferro Estero Farms Pennington F
The question for this gelding was never was he good enough, it was more to do with how the wide gate would beat him. The key to his subsequent win came after two furlongs when, rather than take him all the way to the back of the field and find the rail, his jockey decided to keep him wide, and although a fair way off the pace, he always had a clear look at the leaders, albeit from a fair way out. He started to make stealthy ground at the halfway mark and looked the winner from a long way out, eventually hitting the front down the stretch and forging clear by two lengths. This was one of the most impressive Derby wins I have seen at HRP and makes his record five from five this year with well over $2,000.000 in prize money.
At only 15.2hh with a sprinters breeding and a very heavy frame that is more akin to a five furlong horse it is pretty safe to call this one a freak now, and after 14 years the TC bonus looks like it may at last have someone to claim it.
2nd – 14 Centerpiece Mb Stables Velazquez J R
He was taken even further back than the winner and flew home through gaps to be an excellent second. If you look at his SA Derby run and then this performance, you would have to say the ground seem to help him, but a performance like this is no wet trackers success, as we must remember he is a dual grade one winner and the runner up in last years BC Juvenile. It will be interesting to see how he goes for the rest of the season, now he seems to be back in form.
3rd – 3 Zombie City Pan Farms Gallardo A A
Used his draw well and stayed pretty close to the pace without getting into the early hustle for the lead. He closed up coming round the home turn, and for a moment looked the winner, but the closers overhauled him, and he couldn’t match their finishing kick. An excellent run, and with a better track in the next TC leg, who knows.
4th – 12 People Doubted Aml Racing Hernandez B J Jr
It was great to see Aml get something out of their $800.000 ticket for this race, as this colt flew home from the back to end up fourth beaten four lengths. This run was pretty similar to his FL Derby run, so I am not sure he can improve on this, but nonetheless, it takes a good one to cash in in the KYD, and that can’t be taken away from him.
5th – 9 Liverpool Rocket Estero Farms Colon L H
Got into his favoured position just in behind the speed and ran a cracker to be fifth to his stable companion. I was very glad to see he wasn’t used as a rabbit as I expected a good effort, but I do think his future will be over the mile.
6th – 18 Motor City First Class Stable Rocco J S Jr
Made ground from the back to be a close sixth. He didn’t get the run that some did and ran pretty well from a difficult draw, with more luck he could be the improver in the race.
7th – 11 Dream Controlled Mb Stables Bejarano R
It was clear, after two races that saw him get lost out the back, that his owner wanted a more on speed position in this race, but he found the front early on with no-one to stalk, and that may have found him out in the end. Not a bad effort, but one still feels his owner hasn’t quite got to the bottom of him yet.
8th – 1 Performance Artist Serenity Stables Maldonado E
Did all he could from the dreaded one gate getting into a stalk early on. This is the third time he has been a bit weak at the end of his races though, and I think he is going to benefit from a drop back in trip.
9th – 19 Regret Nothing Estero Farms Chirinos R
Given the giddyup from the wide draw and got up into the stalk pretty quickly, but it was going to be very tough for him after the hard work, and so it proved in the end. Not a bad effort, but he may appreciate a return to slightly shorter trips.
10th – 2 Local Hero D J C Racing Stables Centeno D E
Closed up at the bend, but found very little when put under pressure.
11th – 17 Simple Request Saratoga Stud Garcia Alan
Never really in it, and found some traffic when making ground.
12th – 15 Fox News D J C Racing Stables Lanerie C J
Made ground, but was in the bunch and never really emerged
13th – 6 Lane Frost Sanny Village Ortiz I Jr
No fairytale win for Sanny Village. He was close enough, but just didn’t quicken up as the closers swooped.
14th – 5 Handsome D J C Racing Stables Talamo J
Fell away pretty tamely in the end after holding a great position from a great draw. I think the ground really found him out today.
15th – 7 Flying Around Aml Racing Lopez P
Got a little bit closer coming into the turn, but just whacked away in the end.
16th – 4 Gumshoe EasyMoney Stables Hernandez R M
I guess this was on the cards for the BC Juvenile winner as the voodoo of the champion two year old goes on. I really think a go on turf may rejuvenate him, but his trainer may be tempted by the breeding shed now.
17th – 16 Ride Or Die Delta Farms Albarado R J
Never really got into it, and we will have to wait and see if the Wood Memorial run was a one off.
18th – 8 Blindfold Mb Stables Ortiz J L
The biggest disappointment in the race, he was pretty terrible, and we will have to wait to see if it was just the wet track.
19th – 13 Gene Chandler Double Cross Ranch Desormeaux K J
Up onto the speed early on, he weakened badly in the end causing a few traffic problems in the process.
20th -10 Commands Fate Eastern Equine Castellano J J
The second up curse struck as this horse ran poorly to end up last.
Categories: TC 2015-2020
