Grade 1 $1M Florida Derby - wow! Union who?
UR had no excuses I could see for the effort as Julien wasn’t that bottled up by traffic. And we see Calvin Bo-RAIL with his Derby horses - congrats to him aboard Take Charge Indy for the victory!!!
1st - Take Charge Indy (@ 7-1) - wire to wire
2nd - Bartolome (@ 30-1)
3rd - Union Rags (@ 2-5 final)
4th - El Padrino
Yea thats a $252 exacta!
Well, Borel won the Florida Derby and Union Rags was 3rd with El Padrino 4th.
Video replay here (DRF) of Florida Derby 3-31-12
Runner up in the FL Derby is pointed to Churchill for the Derby next but will his earnings be sufficient?
Trainer Agustin C. Bezara of Reveron: Where will you go from here?
“The Kentucky Derby. The race was very good, and that’s good. It was the first time we ran with the rest of these horses and (showed we) can (run with them). Like this we’re going for the other (race). He’s a great horse.”
Note: Bezara will train the horse at Calder leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
Regarding Union Rags: Per Matz: “He sprung his right hind shoe in the paddock, but I don’t think it was a big deal. We had to tack it back on.”
Note - as of Saturday evening (9pm EST) - the odds drop as expected of Take Charge Indy and now the floundering El Pradrino!
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/contenders/future-wager/live-odds
Julien had no excuse? HE is the excuse! He totally got the horse trapped near the rail, and then waited til past the turn to do anything about it! Union Rags never had room to fire!
AGGGGHHHHHHH!!! How frustrating!!!
Once UR got space, he got rolling but it was too late!!!
ugh…
I still think UR is the horse to beat going 10f.
He is a quirky horse though and I think they still need to get inside his head a bit and figure him out. Just seems to me like there’s a lot of horse there they haven’t tapped yet.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6228488]
Grade 1 $1M Florida Derby - wow! Union who?
UR had no excuses I could see for the effort as Julien wasn’t that bottled up by traffic. And we see Calvin Bo-RAIL with his Derby horses - congrats to him aboard Take Charge Indy for the victory!!! … [/QUOTE]
I know this isn’t probably right, but what if …
What if UR was entered in as “win if you can, but use it as a training race and keep him in the pack (which is likely in the KD) to get him used to running in a crowd for most of the race. Don’t push him too much, etc. etc.”
I didn’t see - was he galloped out? (Breezed?) I can’t recall what it is that they call it to use an extra furlong after the wire in prep for the 1 1/4.
I didn’t see the jock really getting after him - a couple taps with whip and urging him on with his hands.
If the KD is what they are aiming for, this looks like a good strategy: get the colt used to switching in and out, being in middle of pack, on rail/off rail. Yet saving the horse for the Big Race.
I mean; it’s not like they need the money to get into the KD.
Just a thought … 
[QUOTE=nasalberry;6229692]
What if UR was entered in as “win if you can, but use it as a training race and keep him in the pack (which is likely in the KD) to get him used to running in a crowd for most of the race. Don’t push him too much, etc. etc.” [/QUOTE]
True that MM was very clear in the days prior that he didn’t have to win the race. That does suggest the instructions were simply to get as much out of the race but no “win at all cost” type of stuff. A victory for the owner of course goes a long way and the betting public - sending him off at asinine odds - can be a bitter group when things don’t go to their plans.
It is very dissappointing that Julien is suddenly getting a wave of crticism on his riding. He is a top notch patient, adept and skillful jockey. Period. It takes two to tango in any race. If UR was mentally wired to be the top of the pack it wouldn’t have mattered if Julien was in the irons or a sack of flower - he would’ve rushed up.
While very talented I think UR hasn’t figured out this sport yet and only has a modest desire to win. By comparison Hansen just won’t put up with losing or the internal perception of being second to any horse.
[QUOTE=nasalberry;6229692]
I know this isn’t probably right, but what if …
What if UR was entered in as “win if you can, but use it as a training race and keep him in the pack (which is likely in the KD) to get him used to running in a crowd for most of the race. Don’t push him too much, etc. etc.”
I didn’t see - was he galloped out? (Breezed?) I can’t recall what it is that they call it to use an extra furlong after the wire in prep for the 1 1/4.
I didn’t see the jock really getting after him - a couple taps with whip and urging him on with his hands.
If the KD is what they are aiming for, this looks like a good strategy: get the colt used to switching in and out, being in middle of pack, on rail/off rail. Yet saving the horse for the Big Race.
I mean; it’s not like they need the money to get into the KD.
Just a thought … :)[/QUOTE]
I would think this scenario likely, and if during the race itself, Julian felt like he would have to ask too much of Union Rags (especially once realizing he was already in quite a pickle) - wouldn’t it be far better to just get him home safe & sound instead of the alternative? I also think he might have been a little too focused on what Javiar and El Padrino were doing, and just let the others get too far out of hand. Once he realized EP wasn’t firing, it was too late. Not a good time to have an “Oh $hit” moment, is it? Maybe this will take a little spotlight off the team - which could be a good thing 
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6229776]
While very talented I think UR hasn’t figured out this sport yet and only has a modest desire to win. By comparison Hansen just won’t put up with losing or the internal perception of being second to any horse.[/QUOTE]
I agree. Also I think some Thoroughbred competitors (Sunday Silence/Easy Goer & Affirmed/Alydar to name a couple) are such that I believed that one was the “better/faster - but eh!” of the pair and the other to have the “you are not going pass me, ever!” attitude.
Wow the ‘Mother of all upsets’ this year on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
The 99th Running of the Grade 2 $1M Louisiana Derby was: (at odds of 109-1!) Hero of Order. Eddie Martin Jr. aboard for trainer Gennadi Dorochenko.
Video replay - April 1, 2012 at Fair Grounds
Not an April Fools joke. $2 exacta (12-1) paid $491.80. And that’s why horses races are run!
Mark Valeski and jockey Rosie Napravnik coming up about a half-length short. Rousing Sermon was third.
Alas for those hoping the cinderella story with “Hero of Order” will go into Churhcill Downs it won’t - he’s not nominated to the Triple Crown. Per the Derby folks - the connections need to write a $200k check and then hope as that assures the entry of nothing.
Tweet from Marcus Hersh/DRF post LA Derby
Larry Jones reports Mark Valeski blew shoe during La. Derby. MV was lame when leaving track, shoe loss found back at barn.
Money, money, money! April 2, 2012, Triple Crown niminated and total graded earnings rank:
Rank Horse Trainer Earnings
1 Hansen Michael Maker $1,400,000
2 Daddy Long Legs Aidan O’Brien $1,294,030
3 Union Rags Michael Matz $1,170,000
4 Wrote (IRE) Aidan O’Brien $756,630
5 Take Charge Indy Patrick Byrne $698,400
6 Creative Cause Mike Harrington $686,000
7 Sabercat Steve Asmussen $601,429
8 Daddy Nose Best Steve Asmussen $545,558
9 Secret Circle Bob Baffert $470,000
10 Yang Tse Kiang (FR) Richard Chotard $422,211
11 Dullahan Dale Romans $405,000
12 Liaison Bob Baffert $393,000
13 Prospective Mark Casse $365,452
14 Drill Bob Baffert $300,000
15 On Fire Baby (f) Gary Hartlage $286,729
16 Went the Day Well Graham Motion $282,000
17 El Padrino Todd Pletcher $250,000
18 Reveron Agustin Bezara $220,000
19 Isn’t He Clever Henry Dominguez $188,000
20 Optimizer D. Wayne Lukas $181,375
21 Alpha Kiaran McLaughlin $180,000
22 Trinniberg Bisnath Parboo $174,500
23 Rousing Sermon Jerry Hollendorfer $170,000
24 Castaway Bob Baffert $162,000
25 I’ll Have Another Doug O’Neill $151,000
(f) filly
Per an article from the DRF today (Sun 4/1) #17 El Padrino WILL go to the Derby, if he has enough graded money.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6230296]
Tweet from Marcus Hersh/DRF post LA Derby[/QUOTE]
…which includes a link to a fascinating DRF article (from Sept) about Dorochenko
http://www.drf.com/news/arlington-trainer-dorochenko-two-decade-overnight-success
[QUOTE=CVPeg;6230829]
…which includes a link to a fascinating DRF article (from Sept) about Dorochenko
http://www.drf.com/news/arlington-trainer-dorochenko-two-decade-overnight-success[/QUOTE]
That is some read!
Next weekend’s Grade 2 $500,000 Illinois Derby at 1-1/8 miles is capped at 14-runners, but purportedly there are 20-would-be entries.
That race is a bit of an odd man out in regards to television coverage. While TVG and national ‘Super Station’ WGN will air the race, it is not being included as part of NBC’s Derby Road coverage.
Other Derby implicated action on tap next weekend- all for April 7th:
Wood Memorial (G1) @ 1 1/8 mile
Bay Shore (G3) @ 7 furlongs
Santa Anita Derby (G1) @ 1 1/8 mile
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6231986]
Next weekend’s Grade 2 $500,000 Illinois Derby at 1-1/8 miles is capped at 14-runners, but purportedly there are 20-would-be entries.
That race is a bit of an odd man out in regards to television coverage. While TVG and national ‘Super Station’ WGN will air the race, it is not being included as part of NBC’s Derby Road coverage. [/QUOTE]
Yup, Hopeful winner Currency Swap is entered for this race - trained by Saratoga’s Terri Pompay. Hope he prevails and adds enough funds to make it to the big dance…:yes:
http://www.horseracingnation.com/race/2012_Illinois_Derby_G3
Correction on the Illinois Derby as being a Grade 2 race - it was downgraded a couple years ago to G3 and despite the inflated purse it was not restored as a G2 race
With the April 14th Grade 1 $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland not only do we all expect Hansen to be running (yea!) but also perhaps 10 others: under consideration for the Toyota Blue Grass are Adirondack King, Drill, Ever So Lucky, Gung Ho, Holy Candy, Howe Great, Politicallycorrect, Prospective and Raconteur.
Interesting to see the Sheppard / Augustin Stables runner in there too as I assumed he was done with being entertained as a KD runner.
Bits and pieces regarding Union Rags and Julien’s ride:
Michael Matz, trainer of Union Rags, said jockey Julien Leparoux likely learned a lot about Union Rags in the race, and Matz said he had no problems with the tactics employed by jockey Javier Castellano – the former rider of Union Rags – aboard El Padrino.
“Javier was doing his job, race riding,” Matz said. "He knew [Union Rags] was the horse to beat. I’m sure Julien would have done the same thing if he was in his shoes.
“Hopefully, Julien learned a lot from it. That part of it is good. The rest was disappointing. He wasn’t able to run until he got to the eighth pole. Next time, maybe he’ll let him run away from the gate a little more. You just have to view it as a good lesson. The good thing is he came out of it okay, and we have five weeks to prepare for his next race.”
Matz said the re-shoeing incident with Union Rags prior to the race was a non-factor.
Rosie Napravnik may not have a Derby mount as trainer Larry Jones said Mark Valeski would run in the Derby if he has the earnings to get in, but he will not run in another prep to try and boost his bank account. He has “just” $260k in graded money which in this particular year really is tough to be assured of anything.
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