The OH Derby – Grade III
TDN Race #1 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.
This is a race that sneaks under the radar a bit as on the face of it a grade three at TDN isn’t normally a target race for the big names. However this one carries a huge purse of $500, way more than many more popular races and certainly a few of the big names recognized its value as we see Aer Stables and Mb Stables renew their TC rivalry.
Here is how they line up:
1 Top Of The Crop Maxmillion Farm Bocachica A
On the face of it this looks a speculative entry having only won a maiden n three attempts on a muddy track. However, that maiden was at CD and was a big ticket race so it shouldn’t be overlooked especially as his dry track works have looked pretty good since then. Certainly not at a disadvantage if it rains he gets a nice draw to get a decent trip and will stay every yard of this nine furlongs.
2 Viral Breakdown Aer Stables Beschizza A
It is a reflection of how the year has been that there is three fillies in this field of seven and this is the one that has come out with the best draw. She was the ship that launched a fleet when she started the year by winning the Smarty Jones and then just getting beat in the Risen Star. It didn’t stop there though as she finished second in both the Gotham and the SA Derby to secure her spot in the KYD. In the Derby itself she ran very creditably finishing fifth just two lengths off Howl To The Hound but then got stuck with a wide draw in the Preakness and ran a poor twelfth. She has had a decent break since then and if she is back to her pre-preakness form will be very hard to beat.
3 Just Wanna Blaze Gdp Inc Stein J
Fourth in the Rebel and then a length behind Viral Breakdown in the SA Derby he missed the TC and went to have a go at turf instead. He ran with merit but didn’t really excel so is back to the dirt here. His works are strong but i do wonder whether he is just a few pounds behind the top flight and he may again find one or two too strong for him here. A decent draw puts him in it though.
4 Anivia BomBay Stables Contreras L
Another filly but a different proposition than the others with just the three starts to her name. She won a big ticket maiden at WO pretty easily and then went to run in the Black Eyed Susan in just her third career start. Running a very strong race she ended up second there which was a great result considering her inexperience. Her public works since have been a little disappointing so she needs to pick herself up and improve again today but she certainly has something there.
5 Illusive Motives Smokey Stover Mejias R
The last of the three fillies this one is onto a hatrick after wining a couple of overnights. Her work of 1.36 and 4 says she will be dangerous in this grade but there is a question mark as to whether she will make the step up.
6 Smokin Luka Mb Stables Saez L
The winner of the Rebel may felt that this one would be a big TC contender but in the end he didn’t participate after a poor run from a wide draw in the Wood Memorial. Given a beak he has come out and won the Sexton Mile since beating a solid field of older horses and has been working very good six furlong work times suggesting he may well be ready for a step back into the limelight. He1 will probably start favorite on the basis of being owned by Mb Stables and running some of the fastest work times but he will feel the attention of the ladies drawn inside him and will have to be at his very best.
7 Fauci D J C Racing Stables Espinoza V
Looked a real TC prospect at the end of last year when taking the grade two KY Jockey Club after winning his maiden the race before. Since however, he has been a shade disappointing and really comes here with plenty to prove. Once again the stable has to put up with a wide draw and this horse has had his fair share of them but his works have been strong and he is fresher than some of these so may just be the dark horse in the race.
SUMMARY
This looks like another battle Royale between Aer Stables and Mb Stables with two very different horses. Aer Stables races a home bred whilst Mb Stables relies on brought in talent, the filly contested two TC races whilst the colt was rested in favor of his now very famous stable mate and one of course has a five pound weight break.
The question mark here is really around the rest as Smokin Luka is by far the fresher of the two but their works are pretty close so it does still suggest the filly can take advantage of the weight break. Is there anything else in the race, well to be honest the other five all have claims of their own but on paper at least it does look between those two.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
