2017 Triple Crown

[Glimmerglass]

It’s worth putting this somewhere - the first round of nominees to the Triple Crown:

http://www.drf.com/2017TC

I’m partial to Maryland-based but New Jersey bred Irish War Cry. Trained by Graham Motion the colt is a homebred for Isabelle Haskell de Tomaso. Yes the Haskell is the same as the famed race at Monmouth Park (her father was Amory Haskell) but more impressively to me is the de Tomaso part.

Now 87-yrs old Isabelle (born Elizabeth) was head of her time as a globe trotting race car driver. Through that she met and raced with Argentine-born Alejandro de Tomaso. Together they built (her family funded much of it) the Italian car maker of the last name. Most noted for the Ford-Lincoln US imported and sold Pantera of the early to mid 1970’s. She clearly influenced the company when they named two models - the Deauville and Longchamp - were sourced from French racetracks.

Anyhow the Curlin-sired Irish War Cry (now 2-0) was shipped to FL last week and will likely make his 2017 start at Gulfstream Park.

[findeight]

Glimmer, I am so glad you are back and can resume your annual thread on the Derby trail. Missed it greatly the last few years.

[Glimmerglass]

We’ll see how much I can contribute.

Worth citing is that NYRA has a $1M bonus for the Belmont strictly applicable to Japan-bred shippers. This is the first year the Belmont Stakes signal is available in Japan and that is a HUGE deal. More money was wagered in Japan ($40M USD) on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last year than ALL the money wagered in France (on site & remote) for the entire day’s card of races.

TC nominations from Japan
ADIRATO (JPN)
CAUCUS (JPN)
EPICHARIS (JPN)
FOGGY NIGHT (JPN)
HIGHLAND PEAK (JPN)
MONT SAINT LEGAME (JPN)
MY BLUE HEAVEN (JPN)
TASK FORCE (JPN)

YOSHIDA (JPN) - trained by Bill Mott and is US based so likely won’t meet criteria **

The entire $1 million bonus would be awarded to the winning horse’s connections in addition to the $800,000 winner’s share of the purse for the 1 ½-mile “Test of the Champion.” In the event of a dead-heat for the win, the bonus will be $600,000.

** The criteria being a horse must have made at least three starts in Japan prior to starting in the Belmont

[vineyridge]

Let’s add the 3yo fillies to this thread as well.

Do youall think that the Juvenile Female Turf winner My Money Honey will stay on turf or will she convert to dirt? The dirt has way more big money races for fillies.

[findeight]

3yo fillies for sure. Ultimate Bella being my fav so far after two really good starts.

[Glimmerglass]

Blood-Horse’s Steve Haskin’s first “Derby Dozen” for this year’s Kentucky Derby: Jan 24, 2017

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentucky-derby-dozen/archive/2017/01/24/derby-dozen-january-24-2017-presented-by-shadwell-farm.aspx

Mr/Mrs Jerry Moss’ Gormley trained by John Shirreffs is at #6. If they had Mike Smith up they’d almost appear as if they’re getting the band back together.

Not on Haskin’s list and frankly may never even be aimed at the Derby - however an interesting TC nominee nonetheless is Downhill Racer (PA) who is now 2-0.

The Jonathan Sheppard trainee is a homebred for the very small and new “Buttonwood Farm”. Worth noting through the end of DEC 2016: never out of the money with their 1st 3 homebreds in 8 starts.

Replay of his win in the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery at PARX 12/3:
http://www.drf.com/news/downhill-racer-overcomes-shaky-start-traffic-trouble-take-pennsylvania-nursery

[Glimmerglass]

The 1/31/17 Haskin’s Derby Dozen
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentucky-derby-dozen/archive/2017/01/31/derby-dozen-january-31-2017-presented-by-shadwell-farm.aspx

The Mark Casse trained Classic Empire sits atop the list

Further remarks by Steve Haskin on the Graham Motion trained de Tomaso homebred Irish War Cry:

In his first two races [he] raced without Bute or Lasix and without blinkers or front bandages. His sire won the Preakness and placed in all three Triple Crown races, his trainer won the Kentucky Derby, and his female family traces to three legends of the Turf in Europe – Arc de Triomphe winner Saint Crespin, Irish Derby winner Tambourine, and English Derby runner-up and champion sire Aureole, as well as the great Hyperion, Nearco, and Princequillo.

“Irish” put in a work 1/28 at Palm Meadows (FL) of 5-furlongs at 1:01.00 which was good for 3 of 28 horses at that distance.

A horse of mention with a trainer who certainly has been on a rough road in recent years … BORSA VENTO for Nick Zito.

[Amyy]

I’m glad the Robert B. lewis didn’t attract a larger field. I bred and raised Sheer Flattery, so i’m hoping he can do something to help my mare!

Here’s the field:

                                    Jockey	 Wgt	Trainer	M/L

1 Royal Mo (KY) Victor Espinoza 120 John A. Shirreffs-
2 Irap (KY) Mario Gutierrez 120 Doug F. O’Neill -
3 Dangerfield (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 122 Doug F. O’Neill -
4 Term of Art (KY) Tyler Baze 124 Doug F. O’Neill -
5 Sheer Flattery (KY) Mike E. Smith 120 Jerry Hollendorfer -

[Amyy]

I’m glad the Robert B. lewis didn’t attract a larger field. I bred and raised Sheer Flattery, so i’m hoping he can do something to help my mare!

Here’s the field:

1 Royal Mo (KY) Victor Espinoza 120 Shirreffs
2 Irap (KY) Mario Gutierrez 120 O’Neill
3 Dangerfield (KY) Kent Desormeaux 122 O’Neill
4 Term of Art (KY) Tyler Baze 124 O’Neill
5 Sheer Flattery (KY) Mike Smith 120 Hollendorfer

[LaurieB]

I’m glad the Robert B. lewis didn’t attract a larger field. I bred and raised Sheer Flattery, so i’m hoping he can do something to help my mare!

Good luck! I hope your mare gets a great update.

[Glimmerglass]

Three Derby point races on Saturday Feb 4th this Super Bowl weekend. All carry the same weight in terms of all important points although they are far from equal races:

Derby points for 1-2-3-4 finish are 10–4–2–1, respectively

$350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park
Distance: 1 1/16m
Note all horses will have lasix - including Irish War Cry for the 1st time

PP…Horse <><> Jockey <><> Trainer
1…Gunnevera <><> Javier Castellano <><> Antonio Sano
2…Perro Rojo <><> Nik Juarez <><> Nicholas P. Zito
3…Classic Empire <><> Julien R. Leparoux <><> Mark E. Casse
4…Talk Logistics <><> Paco Lopez <><> Edward Plesa, Jr.
5…Irish War Cry <><> Joel Rosario <><> H. Graham Motion
6…Fact Finding <><> John R. Velazquez <><> Todd A. Pletcher
7…Shamsaan <><> Luis Saez <><> Kiaran P. McLaughlin
8…Cavil <><> Jose Lezcano <><> Kiaran P. McLaughlin
9…Fire for Effect <><> Corey J. Lanerie <><> Dale L. Romans

$250,000 Withers Stakes (G3)
Distance: 1 1/16m

PP…Horse <><> Jockey <><> Trainer
01…True Timber <><>Kendrick Carmouche<><>Kiaran McLaughlin
02…Apartfromthecrowd <><>Irad Ortiz, Jr <><>Chad C. Brown
03…Jaime’s Angel <><>Alan Garcia <><>Richard Metivier
04…El Areeb <><>Trevor McCarthy <><>Cathal A. Lynch
05…Bonus Points <><>Manuel Franco <><>Todd A. Pletcher
06…Fillet of Sole <><>Rajiv Maragh <><>Todd A. Pletcher 10/1
07…Always a Suspect <><>Antonio Gallardo <><>Kiaran McLaughlin
08…Small Bear <><>Dylan Davis <><>Gary Sciacca
09…Square Shooter <><>Frankie Pennington <><>Michael Lerman
10…J Boys Echo <><>Robby Albarad <><>Dale L. Romans

$150,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3)
Distance: 1 1/16m

PP…Horse <><> Jockey <><> Trainer
1…Royal Mo <><> Victor Espinoza <><> John A. Shirreffs
2…Irap <><> Mario Gutierrez <><> Doug F. O’Neill
3…Dangerfield <><> Kent J. Desormeaux <><> Doug F. O’Neill
4…Term of Art <><> Tyler Baze <><> Doug F. O’Neill
5…Sheer Flattery <><> Mike E. Smit <><> Jerry Hollendorfer

By the way, these were the closing odds for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager #2 ended (2/1) with approx $227k in win wagers

No… Wagering Interest …Wager 2 Odds
01 … American Anthem* … 15-1
02 … Battalion Runner* … 22-1
03 … Classic Empire … 5-1
04 … El Areeb* … 32-1
05 … Fact Finding … 39-1
06 … Faja* … 56-1
07 … Gormley … 19-1
08 … Guest Suite* (g) … 31-1
09 … Gunnevera … 24-1
10 … Irish War Cry … 26-1
11 … Lookin At Lee … 37-1
12 … Mastery … 9-1
13 … McCraken … 9-1
14 … Mo Town … 15-1
15 … Mont Saint Legame (JPN)* … 134-1
16 … No Dozing … 38-1
17 … Petrov* … 109-1
18 … Practical Joke … 20-1
19 … Sonic Mule* … 80-1
20 … State of Honor* … 175-1
21 … Uncontested … 25-1
22 … Untrapped*… 105-1
23*Wild Shot… 92-1
24 … “All Others”… 5-2

*Denotes New Wagering interest in Pool 2

[mommy_peanut]

El Areeb didn’t disappoint, easy win.
Irish War Cry ran away with the Holy Bull. Classic Empire was extremely washed out & balky before loading, didn’t fire at all.
Royal Mo was a surprise winner (for myself). One to keep an eye on.

[Glimmerglass]

Could not be happier for Mrs Isebelle Haskell deTomaso & Motion barn with the solid victory (& total control with honest race time winning every pole) by Irish War Cry in the Holy Bull Stakes. 10-points to a horse who was Maryland based and raced.

[Palm_Beach]

Thanks for the Superbowl reminder Glimmer!

[CVPeg]

Oops - now see the KD thread. Agree, Glimmer, it is nice to see Mrs. de Tommaso’s win.

And didn’t realize until now this was Irish War Cry’s first Lasix.

Amyy- Congrats on Sheery Flattery’s placing. And here’s to continued good fortune in his career!

[mommy_peanut]

I usually agree with most of the “placings” on his list, but this time I think he’s rather off on a lot of them. Not that it matters in the end, just good discussion material
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/kentucky-derby-dozen/archive/2017/02/07/derby-dozen-february-7-2017-presented-by-shadwell-farm.aspx

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=mommy peanut;9040206]
I usually agree with most of the “placings” on his list, but this time I think he’s rather off on a lot of them.[/QUOTE]

I have to concur. Yes I was a fan of Irish War Cry in advance but vaulting to #1 overall? Not sure. If the ranking was best effort for the week, then sure.

Classic Empire was washed out so maybe a throwaway poor effort although he’s been washy before a start and still had drive. In the Holy Bull there wasn’t much spark. We’ve certainly seen plenty of 2-yr olds sitting atop the rankings plummet at the start of 3 when others develop faster and stronger.

I’m surprised that True Timber - 2nd in the Jerome and 2nd in the Withers - didn’t even get a citation by Steve as “on the bubble”. Add to that El Areeb looked solid in his commanding Withers victory (and 4th consecutive win) yet is put only at #12 on this list?!

While winter racing at the Big A hasn’t been the playground of top leading Derby finishers in runners in recent years I wouldn’t be as dismissive as Haskin has been.

The list is too long to grab & paste but here is a clean resource showing current Derby points standings:

http://www.drf.com/news/kentucky-derby-2017-point-standings

Interestingly (and dispelling a perception for the moment) if you look at the top 18 horses [so as of 2/8/17] based upon points so 32pts to 5pts no trainer has two runners. Nice to see a diverse list for now as opposed to one barn stacked with many runners.

[cloudyandcallie]

Wait a minute, have I been missing Glimmerglass posts for the last few years? Glad he is back.
I wish DickHertz (yes I was told by a trainer who he is) and all the farriers were back also.

I want a filly to win one, two or all of the triple crown races in my lifetime.

[cloudyandcallie]

Well I can’t edit, and I know fillies have won, but I want a triple crown filly win. Although I’ll settle for a filly winning one of the 3 races this year.

[Glimmerglass]

Is it just me in that I cannot edit posts? More than a few typos and errors in them yet I can’t clean it up. I swear I went to skool and know my aye-bea-seas

As for a filly in the Kentucky Derby I think we all can universally say that Unique Bella is rather impressive with her runs so far. I’ve omitted her and she is left off any Derby poll based upon the remarks of her Chilean owner Don Alberto. However there seems to be a crack opening in remarks. That said unless she scores about 20+ Derby points (and that requires taking on the boys) she won’t be eligible for it.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/early-say-whether-unique-bella-will-contest-kentucky-derby/

“I’d like to keep (Unique Bella) in California, just like I did with Songbird last year,” said Hollendorfer after Unique Bella’s win. "There’s enough money to run out here and run against the girls, not the boys. I think we’ll try and run here and if we’d be fortunate enough, we’d point to the (Kentucky) Oaks.

“I really like to concentrate on the filly races. If an opportunity came to do something else we’d probably have to consider that, but I’d like to keep her against the fillies if I can.”