The BEL Derby Invitational – Grade I

1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $750.00 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st        Gaelic Commander   High Voltage   Velazquez J R                1:45.05

Well, if ever there was an advert for the importance of early speed on this race engine, then it is the record of this gelding. Third in the American Turf after being taken back, his last two have both seen him turned into a front runner and he has looked unbeatable. Today he went to the lead in what looked like a suicidal speed but once he had the all-important break on the field, he was allowed to slow it up just a little and though he still went through the mile in 1.33 and 1 the lead he had built up proved to be unassailable. This was a freakish performance against the best three-year-old turfers in the game and sets him up as the major three-year-old chance in the BC Turf.

Congratulations to the owner/trainer who went to $400.00 to get this one out of Barcelona Farms’ powerful yard after he won the BC Juvenile Sprint which was remarkable on its own considering this one’s conformation points solidly to longer trips.

2nd       Bold Intruder The Sidley Stud            Bridgmohan S X           1:45.43

Stalked the fast pace and kept on with bravely for second. This is a pretty remarkable run from this brilliant three-year-old in his first turf race mainly because he had run in all three TC races and was close to winning two of them and anyone would have given him the chance to be feeling fatigue today.

The question now for the owner/trainer will be dirt or turf in the future and to be honest I think he could push them in the BC on either surface.  

3rd        Reign Supreme            Mb Stables      Lopez P                            1:45.50             

Won the American Turf beating today’s winner after similar early splits so you can’t help but wonder what was different today. The speed held and maybe the race engine or instructions or something completely different was the reason.

This was still a good effort, and I am sure on a different day the result could well be completely different so I wouldn’t be writing him off just yet.

4th        Blooming Attack          Mb Stables      Prat F                                 1:45.53            

Maybe the faster surface left him a bit flat footed today as he didn’t get as prominent as perhaps, I was expecting. Like most of the chasing pack he made ground at the end but today like most days the speed didn’t fall apart, and he had to settle for fourth.

After a busy campaign that saw him taking on the Preakness this was a fair enough effort and on a different day he may have got closer at the end.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES