Kentucky Derby 2011

[Glimmerglass]

Three notable graded stakes prep races this weekend. What you’ll notice below is “Comma To The Top” and “Anthony’s Cross” are cross entered between the Robert Lewis and the El Camino. It will be interesting who ultimately picks which race to run in. Final scratches aren’t available yet.

All on Saturday Feb 12th - East Coast and West Coast action; TVG airs the Sam F. Davis and then HRTV the other two.

$225,000 Sam F. Davis (Grade 3) at Tampa Bay Downs
Race 10 @ 4:25 p.m. EST (TVG)
3YO, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Reprized Halo (FL),F Z Maysonett, 120, M J Azpurua
2. Adulare (KY), A O Solis, 116, G R Arnold, II
3. Washington’s Rules (KY), K J Desormeaux, 116, K G McPeek
4. Too Experience (FL), D Centeno, 120, M Passley
5. Watch Me Go (FL), L Garcia, 116, K O’Connell
6. Litigate (NY), J Valdivia Jr., 116, D P Duggan
7. Beamer (KY), L R Goncalves, 116, C A Nafzger
8. Monzon (MD), E S Prado, 116, I Correas, IV
9. Ribo Bobo (FL), D Coa, 116, M J Azpurua
10. Brethren (KY), R A Dominguez, 116, T A Pletcher

$250,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Grade 2) at Santa Anita
Race 6 @ 3:05 p.m. PST (HRTV)
3-Year-Olds, 1 1/8 Miles

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Wegner (KY), R Bejarano, 118, B Baffert
2. Anthony’s Cross (PA), J Rosario, 118, E G Harty
3. Comma to the Top (FL), C S Nakatani, 123, P Miller
4. Tapizar (KY), G K Gomez, 120, S M Asmussen
5. Ten Devils (KY), J Talamo, 118, R E Mandella
6. Riveting Reason (KY), V Espinoza, 118, M K Cho
7. Quail Hill (KY), M A Pedroza, 118, D E Hofmans
8. Thirtyfirststreet (CA), P A Valenzuela, 118, D F O’Neill

$200,000 El Camino Real Derby (Grade 3) at Golden Gate Fields
Race 8 @ 4:15 p.m. PST (HRTV)
3-Year-Olds, 1 1/8 Miles (synthetic)

PP. Horse - Jockey - all 121 lbs

1. Comma To the Top - Corey S. Nakatani
2. Bluegrass Reward - Juan J. Hernandez
3. Formula Gold - Hector Romero
4. Silver Medallion -Russell A. Baze
5. Positive Response - Julien Couton
6. Anthony’s Cross*- Aaron T. Gryder
7. Jakesam - Frank T. Alvarado

*Interestingly Anthony’s Cross is a George Strawbridge-bred horse but not owned by him (Augustin)

[Glimmerglass]

Boys At Tosconova off the Derby Trail

Trainer Rick Dutrow said Saturday that Boys At Tosconova has been sent to the farm in Kentucky and will not be back in training for a while.

I liked Beamer’s fast finish for 4th in the Sam F. Davis today at Tampa Bay Downs. While Todd Pletcher’s Brethren took the win with Ramon D. up and crushing the field.

What the heck was up with the absolutely insane (19.1!!! 1st 1/4 mi) run by Tapizar in the Robert Lewis Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita. Rank and insane. Finished off the board. The winner in a fast duel was the George Strawbridge Jr bred (but not owned) Anthony’s Cross.

Comma to the Top scratched out of the Santa Anita race for the “easier” race up north at GGF in the next 30 minutes.

[CVPeg]

I saw that :19 as well, and thought I was seeing things… the final time posted turned out to be 3 seconds faster than the actual time of the race, according to the guys at
HRTV, so something was off with the clock - in spite of all of Tapizar’s head throwing.

Alotta bridge jumpers!

[Glimmerglass]

The other Saturday graded race - and qualifier for the Magna 5.5 bonus - Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields was won in an upset by Silver Medallion with GGF’s big dog jock - Russell Baze aboard. (This is his third straight El Camino Real victory)

The expected favorite Comma To The Top, a Derby trail top 10 on many lists, failed to hit the board.

Silver Medallion is owned by Michael J. Ryan and was bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones. Trained by Steve Asmussen

Finally release is the TC nomination list - and here they are with their best Beyer Speed Figure. 364 horses were nominated thus far.

Per trainer Pete Miller, Comma to the Top will start in the San Felipe next. Miller explained the poor performance was due to him having no raced for 2 months. As I’ve said before that’s why I will wager that Uncle Mo will not win his next race back and is overhyped.

[Galileo1998]

Ari C runs again at Gulfstream on Wednesday, I think that horse is a bit special. :yes:

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Galileo1998;5426915]
Ari C runs again at Gulfstream on Wednesday, I think that horse is a bit special. :yes:[/QUOTE]

Yep worth keeping an eye on for certain as he won his maiden with ease for Pletcher with Johnny V up.

Ari C (KY) entered 2-16-11 Gulfstream $51,500 allowance race - PP #9

The more seasoned Bill Mott horse, Film Making (4 1-0-1) is listed as the ML favorite

[WhiteCamry]

1-5 fave Tapizar lays an egg in the Robert Lewis S.

:eek:

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=WhiteCamry;5427333]
1-5 fave Tapizar lays an egg in the Robert Lewis S.[/QUOTE]

Yep and as noted before by CV Peg I was incorrect (and Santa Anita’s timer, too) with the 1st quarter mile time. They originally showed 19.11 on screen but it was corrected to being: 22.48 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 45.64 seconds for a half-mile, and 1:09.92 for six furlongs

Tapizar was a problem loading and was rank from the word go with fighting his jockey with his head immediately. To his credit I was surprised he even held on for 4th.

Interestingly in regards to winner Anthony’s Cross: he’s owned by ADK Racing stable which is Arianne de Kwiatkowski (Calumet Farm) and he wore the familiar white and red silks carried by her father, Henryk de Kwiatkowski’s, runners during the 1980s. Although I don’t believe these are the same devil red and white silks of Calumet as the colors (and rights to them) were sold off during Calumet’s bankruptcy sale.

Youtube: Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) 2-12-11 Santa Anita

[Third_Glance]

Field is set for the G2 Risen Star Stakes (8.5F, $300K, #10) at the FG on Saturday:

PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Rogue Romance (KY) 3/C L J R Leparoux 120 K G McPeek
2 Liondrive (LA) 3/C L C Sutherland 116 T A Ice
3 Decisive Moment (FL) 3/C L K D Clark 120 J D Arias
4 Pants On Fire (KY) 3/C L J Bravo 116 K J Breen
5 Mucho Macho Man (FL) 3/C L E Coa 116 K Ritvo
6 Machen (KY) 3/C L J Theriot 116 N J Howard
7 Santiva (KY) 3/C L M E Smith 122 E Kenneally
8 Action Ready (KY) 3/C L A R Napravnik 116 W B Calhoun
9 Justin Phillip (KY) 3/C L S Bridgmohan 116 S M Asmussen
10 Sorgho (KY) 3/C L E Martin, Jr. 116 W D Bennett

http://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG021911USA-EQB.html#RACE10

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Third Glance;5427923]
Field is set for the G2 Risen Star Stakes (8.5F, $300K, #10) at the FG on Saturday[/QUOTE]

Looks like a very loaded race. Justin Phillip looks like he’s over his head to even be in this field. Rogue Romance vs. Machen will be a nice test.

Completely off topic, but it’s one of the few KY Derby implication races where Chantal will race against her on again/off again love Mike Smith and all the more unusual by both being head to head at Fair Grounds and not Santa Anita.

[Glimmerglass]

From the weekend’s races:

Brethren is doing just fine post race although as speculated there is the awkwardness for Pletcher with him and Uncle Mo both at Tampa. Almost zero chances both will face off at the Tampa Bay Derby in March.

Pletcher said if the decision is ultimately made to run Brethren just once more before the Kentucky Derby, the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby here on April 3 could end up being that choice. Brethren received a Beyer Speed Figure of 83 for his 3-year-old debut, a point lower than he had earned in each of his two wins at 2.

To Honor and Serve (trained by Bill Mott) continues to prepare for his 3-year-old debut later this month in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Bob Baffert trainee, The Factor, who holds the track-record holder for six furlongs at Santa Anita, is scheduled to start in Sunday’s (Feb 20th) Grade 2, $150,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. Likely joining him will be Jaycito, the winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes last fall who has not started since finishing 6th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in November.

Comma to the Top who flopped at Golden Gate Fields in the El Camino Real Derby will go out next in the Grade 2 $250k San Felipe Stakes on March 12 at Santa Anita. Dirt vs. the tapeta surface could bring him back to form.

Anthony’s Cross will likely appear next in the the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 9 per trainer Eoin Harty. Winning that is a requirement for the 5.5 Magna bonus.

Plans for Tapizar, who finished fifth as the 1-5 favorite in the Lewis, have not been finalized, trainer Steve Asmussen said.

Asmussen was concerned about Tapizar’s behavior in the gate and early in the race.

“I’ve got to find out why he was so mad,” Asmussen said. “I don’t think [it] matches a good description of who he is.”

Jockey Garrett Gomez described the colt as “antsy” and “a little more than a handful” during the race.

3rd place runner in the Robert Lewis (at 68-1) Quail Hill, who was making just his first stakes debut, is now pointed towards either will be considered for the Grade 2 $250k San Felipe Stakes on March 12 (like Comma To The Top) or the $800,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico on March 27.

[Third_Glance]

Shortly after the race, Gomez said Tapizar got really mad when one of the ass’t starters “eared” him to get him into the gate.

My explanation is that he’s by Tapit which means Pulpit is his granddaddy. LOL.

[Glimmerglass]

And one less runner on the trail

2-15-11 “Tapizar injured, off the Triple Crown trail”

The colt will be sent to the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., where veterinarian Larry Bramlage will remove the chip.

“We’ll do right by the horse, of course,” said Asmussen, “and hope that he can come back prove what a great horse he is.”

A knee chip typically requires at least six weeks, and often more, of convalescence. That means Tapizar is off the Triple Crown trail.

Asmussen blamed the injury on the horse’s attitude. Tapizar was rank during the early running of Saturday’s race, insisting that he have the early lead and eagerly straining to run faster even when clear.

[Flashy_Gray_VA]

“I’ve got to find out why he was so mad,” Asmussen said. “I don’t think [it] matches a good description of who he is.”

Jockey Garrett Gomez described the colt as “antsy” and “a little more than a handful” during the race.

“Mad”? “Antsy”? “More than a handful”? :eek:

4 days later I’m watching the replay again and it’s still freaky to watch him bolting bolting BOLTING.

Hope Tapizar has a quick and complete recovery from the chip surgery.

[Glimmerglass]

Looks like Martin Garcia, back from Mexico, will get aboard a potential Derby mount for Bob Baffert.

The Factor makes his 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s (Feb 20th) Grade 2 $150,000 San Vicente Stakes with Martin Garcia. He’s replacing Rafael Bejarano who replaced Joel Rosario on the horse.

Not running in the San Vicente will be Jaycito who now will be shelved for his 3rd old debut until the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on March 12.

Will NBC get the Triple Crown tv airing rights again? It looks to be - thankfully!

Per Sports Business Daily (2-15) ESPN/ABC dropped out of bidding for NYRA’s Belmont Stakes

The Belmont enjoyed its best tv ratings in the last 15 years when in 2004 (with NBC giving coverage) Smarty Jones was knocked off by Birdstone. It garnered a 13.1 rating good for 21.9 million television viewers. By comparison in 2010 only 4.7 million folks watched on ABC Drosselmeyer win the Belmont Stakes.

The Preakness has also yet to be awarded to a television broadcast network. However the chances of it going to a network besides NBC are slim to none.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5427329]
Yep worth keeping an eye on for certain as he won his maiden with ease for Pletcher with Johnny V up.

Ari C (KY) entered 2-16-11 Gulfstream $51,500 allowance race - PP #9[/QUOTE]

The UK import (but Kentucky born) Crimson China took it into high gear in the stretch and swallowed up Ari C the Pletcher/Zayat/Velazquez runner in the final jumps. With 2 UK starts on synthetic and now a US debut he looks like a very nice turf runner. Ari C took 2nd.

[Third_Glance]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5433097]
The UK import (but Kentucky born) Crimson China took it into high gear in the stretch and swallowed up Ari C the Pletcher/Zayat/Velazquez runner in the final jumps. With 2 UK starts on synthetic and now a US debut he looks like a very nice turf runner. Ari C took 2nd.[/QUOTE]

Graham Motion’s stable is really on a roll (he won another race with Peb Hughes at GP today) – and I am thrilled to see it. He truly is one of the good guys.

[Glimmerglass]

Looking ahead to next weekend with the Fountain of Youth ($400,000 Grade 2 on Feb 26) it too looks like a highly loaded race not unlike this weekends Southwest. The potential starters are an all star cast!

The strong list of possible starters for the Fountain of Youth include probable favorite To Honor and Serve, Gourmet Dinner, Dialed In, Soldat, Bowman’s Causeway, Casper’s Touch, and Shackleford.

Man, Gourmet Dinner again! He’s certainly not being treated like heirloom China brought out only on the most special of events if that! He’s already #2 in the graded earnings list with $700,000.

[Glimmerglass]

I’m not big on Uncle Mo at all but his connections entertaining the idea of this dog and pony paid workout (below) suggests they don’t want to take on an assault of rapidly developing peers. If they could get even two horses with prior stakes appearances in this race it would impressive

DRF 2-16 “Pletcher considering new Gulfstream race for Uncle Mo debut”

Gulfstream Park racing secretary Dan Bork has written a one-mile overnight handicap for 3-year-olds to be run here March 12. The race, called the Timely Writer, will offer a $100,000 purse and will carry no conditions, which makes it open to all 3-year-olds, including reigning division leader and Eclipse Award champion Uncle Mo.

March 12 also is the date of the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.

“It’s an interesting race, and one we’ll certainly take a look at,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Uncle Mo for owner Mike Repole. “The fact that it’s on the same day as the Tampa Derby obviously works into our timing, and at the moment, I’d say he’ll run in one of the two races on the twelfth. I’ll talk to Mike over the next couple of days and discuss our options.”

[Glimmerglass]

This weekend’s graded stakes races with immediate Derby implications with both earnings and maturity in action:youtube videos

Feb 20: San Vicente Stakes, Grade 2, $150k @ 7 furlongs

Feb 19: Risen Star Stakes, Grade 2, $300k @ 1 and 1/16th mi

The Risen Star resulted in some redemption for a Derby candidate who flopped in his last effort but also did no favors for a couple of favorites going into the race.

Today for Presidents Day will be at Oaklawn Park the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes for $250k at 1 mile (Race 9, approx 5 pm CST)

Look for Calvin Borel on the Afleet Alex sired Elite Alex a horse he remarked to the press in Dubai as being “potentially something special”. Also look for J P’s Gusto with Ramon Dominguez up and also the D. Wayne Lukas trained Derivative and Mike Maker horse Ghost Is Clear.

The Ghost Is Clear won an impressive maiden six furlong race at Fair Grounds on Jan 27th - taking the race by 7 1/4 lengths. His connections has remarked that if he does well in the Southwest they’ll go back to Fair Grounds for the $1 million Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 26.