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April 29th, 2006
Derby Trial Stakes - Churchill Downs - One mile
Once an actual prep for the Kentucky Derby, the Derby Trial is now more of a prep for second-tier horses hoping to run in the Preakness Stakes (G1) two weeks after the Derby.
RECORD, yet another Bob Baffert three-year-old, tracked just outside the lead pack, moved smartly between horses in the stretch and was all out to catch SPOTSGONE at the wire.
Withers Stakes (G3) - Aqueduct - One mile
Despite its' Grade 3 status and $150,000 purse, the Withers seems to have fallen out of favor - only four horses entered the starting gate.
Jockey Javier Castellano placed BERNARDINI just off pacesetter LUXEMBOURG, tracked him until the top of the stretch, then quickly dispatched him to draw away to a four length victory.
April 22nd, 2006
Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) - Keeneland - One mile and one sixteenth
Following a troubled start, SHOWING UP settled midpack along the rail, continued to save ground around the far turn, smoothly moved outside entering the stretch and battled BEAR CHARACTER and LIKE NOW down the stretch before getting up to win by just over a length at the wire.
LIKE NOW also ran a strong race, dueling with FAST PARADE early, then losing the lead in the stretch to BEAR CHARACTER before battling back gamely to nip that one at the wire for the place.
Both SHOWING UP and LIKE NOW earned enough graded stakes money to enable them to run in the Kentucky Derby in two weeks.
Frederico Tesio Stakes - Pimlico - One mile and one eighth
AH DAY, winner of the Horatius Stakes at Laurel last month, raced off the rail early, moved up to take a clear lead entering the far turn and turned it up in the stretch to win by five and a half in the slop.
Maryland Stallion Station Stakes - Pimlico - Six furlongs
PAGAN MOON tracked RAINBOW INTHESTORM from the start, challenged for the lead mid-stretch and took command leaving the sixteenth pole to win by a length and a half.
April 20th, 2006
Forerunner Stakes - Keeneland - One mile and one eighth on the turf
In what can only be described as a pyrrhic victory, even-money favorite UP AN OCTAVE battled front-runner TAHOE WARRIOR the length of the stretch to prevail at the wire. Sadly, a sixteenth past the wire, UP AN OCTAVE's left front foreleg shattered, throwing jockey John Velazquez to the ground with UP AN OCTAVE rolling over him. UP AN OCTAVE's injuries were catastrophic and he was euthanized on the turf course. Jockey John Velazquez was hospitalized with a fractured right shoulder blade and two cracked ribs and is not expected to return to riding for several months.
April 15th, 2006
Blue Grass Stakes (G1) - Keeneland - One mile and one eighth
SINISTER MINISTER quickly assumed a clear lead, lengthened the lead throughout the race while setting fast fractions and never looked back to win by nearly thirteen lengths.
BLUEGRASS CAT and FIRST SAMURAI, leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby earlier this year, showed little and have no reason to continue on to Louisville.
Lightly raced STRONG CONTENDER may well move forward off this race, but probably needed to finished second to have enough graded stakes earnings for the Kentucky Derby.
Arkansas Derby (G2) - Oaklawn Park - One mile and one eighth
LAWYER RON broke awkwardly, settled briefly in fourth before insisting on moving up the inside to take the lead and was never seriously challenged to the wire.
Northern Spur Breeders' Cup Stakes - Oaklawn Park - One mile
ADMIRAL'S ARCH was shuffled back early, caught in traffic mid-race, weaved through the field on the far turn and was all out to just catch front-running longshot SWEETENING at the wire.
La Puente Stakes - Santa Anita - One mile on the turf
STRATHAM (IRE) saved ground mid-pack, waited patiently until mid-stretch, and was able to get clear late.
April 9th, 2006
San Pedro Stakes (G3) - Santa Anita - Six and one half furlongs
ARSON SQUAD broke slowly, trailed the field for the first half mile, then closed well to catch race favorite DA STOOPS in deep stretch.
Lafayette Stakes - Keeneland - Six furlongs
LIKELY raced close to the pace for a half mile, took the lead from race favorite LAPTOP COMPUTER at the top of the stretch and drew away for a nine length victory.
April 8th, 2006
Bay Shore Stakes (G3) - Aqueduct - Seven furlongs
Winner of two stakes races this year at Santa Anita, TOO MUCH BLING had no trouble switching to the East Coast. The Baffert trainee won with ease over a sloppy race course under jockey Garrett Gomez.
Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) - Aqueduct - Mile and one eighth
BOB AND JOHN, another Baffert/Gomez West Coast invader, broke well, was content to sit third behind front runner KEYED ENTRY in the early going, responded well in the stretch and was able to draw clear at the wire over a sloppy race course.
Kiaran McLaughlin trainee JAZIL, flying late under jockey Fernando Jara, was able to steal second place money from Pletcher/Prado runner KEYED ENTRY in the final strides. Even though BOB AND JOHN's final furlong was quite slow, JAZIL's six length gain in the stretch is bound to get him plenty of attention from the wiseguys if he continues on to the Kentucky Derby.
Illinois Derby (G2) - Hawthorne - Mile and one eighth
SWEETNORTHERNSAINT broke from the ten hole under jockey Kent Desormeaux and was quickly put into a stalking position outside of front runner MISTER TRIESTER. Content to rate off the leader for the first six furlongs, SWEETNORTHERNSAINT took the lead on the final turn without urging and finished strong for an easy victory.
Santa Anita Derby (G1) - Santa Anita - Mile and one eighth
BROTHER DEREK broke well, was unchallenged for the early lead, set his own pace and was never seriously threatened by the other four runners as he cruised down the stretch to an easy three length victory. This was the third graded stakes victory of the year for BROTHER DEREK.
As dominating as BROTHER DEREK looked, keep in mind that he will be facing a field of 20 in the Kentucky Derby, several of whom will be able to battle him for the early lead. Stay tuned.
April 7th, 2006
Transylvania Stakes (G3) - Keeneland - One Mile on the turf
CHIN HIGH saved ground at the back of the pack early, closed through the stretch, and was able to prevail at the wire for a whopping $139 win mutuel. Odds-on favorite TO SENDER (GB) pressed the pace for the first half mile before fading to finish last.
April 1st, 2006
Florida Derby (G1) - Gulfstream Park - Mile and one eighth
In January, BARBARO won a graded stakes race on turf. In February, BARBARO won a graded stakes on a sloppy track. Today, BARBARO won a graded stakes on a fast track and stamped his ticket to Louisville for the first Saturday in May.
After a troubled start, jockey Edgar Prado was able to position BARBARO just off pace setter SHARP HUMOR, winner of last month's seven furlong Swale Stakes (G2). Drawing even with his rival turning for home, BARBARO and SHARP HUMOR engaged in a protracted duel the length of the stretch with BARBARO prevailing by only half a length.
The final time of the race compares favorably with the prior race on the Gulfstream card - the mile and one eighth Skip Away Handicap (G3) won by four-year-old BANDINI - and both runners should benefit from the race and move forward to be factors in the Kentucky Derby.
WinStar Derby - Sunland Park - Mile and one eighth
Despite not being a graded stakes race, the WinStar Derby's $600,00 purse was attractive enough for Bob Baffert to enter two runners - first and second place finishers WANNA RUNNER and SKY DIVING.
Given the financial commitment by track ownership to the WinStar Derby, it would be nice to see this race receive graded status next year. A Grade 3 WinStar Derby would be a valuable alternative for West Coast trainers trying to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. If the race had been graded this year, the $300,000 first place money would be more than enough to get WANNA RUNNER into the Kentucky Derby starting gate. (Whether he should be in the starting gate is a different matter).
Spectacular Bid Stakes - Gulfstream Park - Six and one half furlongs
Pletcher/Velazquez runner EXCLUSIVE QUALITY was all out to defeat Klesaris/Velasquez runner DIABOLICAL by half a length.
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Bob Baffert had a great month, winning five stakes races for three-year-olds. Todd Pletcher was the only other trainer to win more than one stakes races on the Derby trail this month.
Three jockeys won more than one stakes race for three-year-olds this month: Garrett Gomez (3), John Velazquez (2), and Ryan Fogelsanger (2).
--- Thoroughbred Report Triple Crown Trail Awards - April 2006 ---
HORSE OF THE MONTH: SINISTER MINISTER
TRAINER OF THE MONTH: Bob Baffert
JOCKEY OF THE MONTH: Garrett Gomez
Posted by Greg Brandow at April 29, 2006 10:00 PM