The WV Derby – Grade III
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st          Rowdy Rb          Mb Stables          Hernandez R M

Well the new race engine once again showed that on pace is the way to be and no trainer has got to grips with it better than our very own champion Mb Stables. This son of the great Ginger Haggis may not have been achieving as much on the track as a couple of his rivals or his illustrious stable mates but with this draw, a fast start and a comfortable lead he managed to take this very nice purse by a neck after leading all the way. He has been very consistent and very often these types that consistently do well without producing a big turn of foot can benefit from finding the front on the new race engine. A gutsy win, the perfect tactical race and this one just goes into the pile of talent available to the trainer.

2nd        Penalty Shot          Maxmillion Farm         Pyfer J

Off a very similar pace last time this one made all in the IND Derby only to be collared in the final furlong by Proud Crown. Today he chose to stalk an MB runner but this time he gave the winner too much leeway and couldn’t pull it back going down by a neck. Clearly this one is a difficult read when it comes to tactics but the talent is there if the trainer can find the magic formula.

3rd          Evergreen          Mb Stables          Cedillo A

I thought this one would be the main chance from the stable but as his stable mate dictated the pace this one got a little too far off and couldn’t produce a strong enough finish. On the old race engine he may have found more but they don’t seem to close as fast on this new one and he never looked like reaching the winner. Like the runner up he seems to be difficult to assess for the trainer on the tactics front.

4th      Tequila Rise         Nakamura Stables        Hernandez C J

This is just the sort of consistent one pacer that i feel would do well if he could get out on front in tactical races like this. Today however though he found a good stalk he just didn’t have the pace of his rivals down the stretch and once again plodded into a minor paying slot.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES