Prepping for The Kentucky Derby: Four Races on Tap
By GREG MELIKOV
Winners of Saturday’s 4 preps on the Road to the Roses have triumphed seven times in the Kentucky Derby at Louisville the past 3 decades.
Thirteen won at least one of 19 Triple Crown events starting with Affirmed in 1978 when the son of Exclusive Native swept all three legs.
You might be surprised which preps, all staged at 1 1/16 miles, produced the most successful 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown Trail.
In addition to Affirmed, Sunday Silence won the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in ’89, plus the Kentucky Derby and Preakness while Fusaichi Pegasus took the ’00 Derby. After faltering in the ’01 Derby, Point Given won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes en route to Horse of the Year honors.
Pioneer of the Nile heads the field in the 74th running of the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II). The son of Empire Maker, who scored in the Belmont, is coming off a half-length victory in the Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 7.
The colt posted a bullet 58 4/5 for five furlongs on Sunday, the best of 85 works.
His challengers include Chocolate Candy, victorious in the El Camino Real and California derbies at Golden Gate Fields.
Six horses that won the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park triumphed in seven Triple Crown events, including Smarty Jones, 2004 Kentucky Derby winner as well as that year’s Preakness Stakes winner.
Old Fashioned, impressive 3 1/4-length winner of the Southwest Stakes on Feb. 16, will be odds-on favorite in the 49th running of the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) race.
The son of Unbridled’s Song posted a bullet work of 59 second for five furlongs on Sunday, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12. Chalk up another victory for the No. 1 Kentucky Derby contender.
Old Fashioned faces Southwest runner-up Silver City and Wise Kid, who has visited the Oaklawn winner’s circle twice since race horse trainer Tim Ritchey added blinkers and changed the bit on the son of Lemon Drop Kid.
“I think it was a race where he kind of turned the corner,” a happy Ritchey said.
The 96th Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds attracted the most competitive field, headed by Friesan Fire, going for the first sweep of the Louisiana Derby series since ’93 by Dixieland Heat. However, the son of Dixieland Band ran 12th at Louisville.
Grindstone won in ’96 en route to his Kentucky Derby triumph. Risen Star didn’t capture the ’88 Kentucky Derby, but did prevail in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Friesan Fire followed his 1 1/2-length victory in the Lecomte with a two-length triumph in the Risen Star. The son of A.P. Indy, 1992 Belmont Stakes winner, has been working well and looks like the winner.
The colt Friesan Fire will face several challengers in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II) that includes three he defeated earlier in the year:
Flying Pegasus — Runner-up in the Risen Star is the son of Fusaichi Pegasus. He’s one for three.
Giant Oak — The son of Giant’s Causeway endured a troubled trip, finishing fifth in that race. The maiden missed several days of training in late February because of a mouth injury, either an abscess or a puncture.
Patena: Trainer Rick Dutrow has been working with the son of Seeking Gold through various ailments since December. He ran second in the Lecomte, but won his first two.
The Louisiana Derby field also includes Papa Clem, runner-up in the Richard B. Lewis after breaking his maiden in his 2-year-old debut, and Terrain, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and second in the Breeders’ Futurity, making his 3-year-old debut.
Street Sense outgunned Any Given Saturday to win the ’07 Tampa Bay Derby by a nose and went on to capture the 133rd Kentucky Derby.
The 29th running of the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) contest features General Quarters, the 3 1/2-length victor in the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 14. Runner-up Sumo and third-place finisher Musket Man are among the challengers.
A pair of runners-up in Gulfstream Park stakes is shipping to Tampa Bay Downs: Bear’s Rocket in the Holy Bull Jan. 31 and Hello Broadway in the Hutcheson Jan. 30.
Tags: Bear's Rocket, Chocolate Candy, Flying Pegasus, Friesan Fire, General Quarters, Giant Oak, Hello Broadway, Musket Man, Old Fashioned, Papa Clem, Patena, Pioneer of the Nile, Silver City, Sumo, Terrain, Wise Kid
"Prepping for The Kentucky Derby: Four Races on Tap" was posted on 11 March 2009 12:02 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Racing Picks & Betting Tips, Triple Crown
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