The DMR Derby- GII (P3)
                         DMR Race 6 1 1/8M- Turf
                                 Purse $250.000
                                 Three Year Olds

A field of six three year olds will be up for this years Del Mar Derby. Most of them do have stakes experience so it’s nothing new for most of the field to be in a big race like this. Nitemare and Xmas Snow and Balsamic Moon look pretty tough in here to me. Let’s take a look at the field for the Del Mar Derby.

1. Plucky Ben (9-3-0-0 $141.200), trained by Gdp Inc

This horse here has been switching in between statebred races and open races in doesn’t really matter what company he is in because he usually runs just about the same race. He’s coming off of a fourth place finish in a statebred optional claimer. He is going to have to run the race of his life to win.

2. Lucky Phooey (12-2-3-2 $248.180), trained by Estero Farms

Here is a horse who has been trying the stakes company for a long time and he has won a stake before in his career. He ran second in a grade two at Woodbine two races back and then ran fourth last out in another grade two at Saratoga. If he runs like he did two back that gives him a really good shot.

3. Balsamic Moon (10-5-1-2 $204.280), trained by John Henry

Here is a graded stakes winner in the field and that win came in the American Derby at Arlington Park in a four horse field in July. He ran fifth last out in a grade two at Saratoga against the horses to his inside and outside. He needs to run a big race to even have a shot at getting the money.

4. Nitemare (13-4-5-2 $401.950), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Here’s a horse who looks like he will be pretty damn tough in this race. He is coming off of a second place finish in that grade two race at Saratoga and before that he ran fourth in the grade one Belmont Derby. If he runs like he did in the Belmont Derby he can definitely win this race.

5. Xmas Snow (8-3-0-0 $135.660), trained by Maxmillion Farm

Here is another graded stakes winner and that just happened in his last start in the grade three La Jolla Handicap. That was over this same surface and he has the same jockey on him in this spot. He won by two lengths that day and if he runs that same race that can definitely put him in the winners circle.

6. Return On Investment (9-2-1-0 $56.700), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Here’s a horse who finally broke his maiden two races ago and then came back in his last start to win again in a statebred allowance race. Maybe the light bulb went off in his head after the maiden breaking win and now he is improving. Maybe he has improved so much it gives him a good shot.

Summary

Well this is a small field but there are some pretty nice horses that are in here. The top three are Balsamic Moon, Nitemare and Xmas Snow. Those three are my top three and then Lucky Phooey right there behind those three. Good luck to all in the race and let’s hope for an exciting race.

4-5-3-2

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES