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THE KENTUCKY DERBY
AND By Sarah Whitelaw |
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The Kentucky Derby is very open this year. All of the main fancies have question marks surrounding them. The favourite is Harlan’s Holiday. The son of ill fated Harlan won the Florida Derby in impressive fashion and followed it up with a solid rather than spectacular win in the Blue Grass Stakes. The colt, who comes from the family of Cryptoclearance, is trained by Kenny McPeek. McPeek’s Tejano Run finished second in 1995. The negatives against the favourite is his slow time in the Blue Grass Stakes but his solid form in a weak year may enable him to win. Essence of Dubai is the latest horse sent over by Godolphin. The well bred colt won the UAE Derby well after coming from well back and is the richest horse in the field. The son of Pulpit also won the UAE Guineas. Essence of Dubai won the Norfolk Stakes last year. The fact that stable jockey, Frankie Dettori, isn’t riding him suggests a lack of confidence, however. Buddha is talented but lacks experience. The son of Derby flop Unbridled’s Song won the Wood Memorial over a strong field. The gray colt beat San Felipe winner Medaglia D’oro with Sunday Break in third. His trainer, James Bond, is having his first Derby starter but has trained numerous top horses such as Behrens, Will’s Way and Mongoose. To be ridden by Hall of Famer, Pat Day, Buddha’s front running style may count against him. There should be little between him and Medaglia D’oro again. El Prado is the best sire son of Sadler’s Wells in America and has two strong candidates in this year’s race. His son Lusty Latin made up a lot of ground to finish third in the Santa Anita Derby and could well improve off his last effort. Medaglia D’oro was impressive when winning the San Felipe where he defeated early Derby favourite Siphonic comfortably. His running style may be a disadvantage in the Derby however and the Bobby Frankel trainee may be better over shorter. His trainer is still looking for his first Triple Crown win, Laffit Pincay, who won in 1984 on ill fated Swale, has the ride. Came Home is an extremely talented colt who was a game winner of traditional Derby prep, the Santa Anita Derby. The son of Gone West, who has three runners in the Derby, has been beaten once, in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, and has been most impressive at three. The biggest doubt surronding Came Home is whether or not he will stay. A half brother to sprinter A.P. Assay, who is by Belmont winner A.P. Indy, out of Nice Assay was a talented sprinter by Clever Trick. Trainer Paco Gomez has had two starters in the Run for the Roses, Mane Minister and Free House, both of whom were third. Personal Ensign was one of the greatest mares of all time in North America, who went on to be Broodmare of the Year and her son Our Emblem has two runners with chances. War Emblem was an impressive winner of the Ilinois Derby when thrashing one time Derby favourite Repent by seven lengths. Bought after this race by the Thoroughbred Corporation, the colt’s trainer, Bob Baffert has won the Derby twice in 1997 and 1998. War Emblem’s running style, winning the Ilinois Derby by going to the front, may make it difficult for him. The other Our Emblem colt is the Arkansas Derby winner Private Emblem who trounced the useful Saint Ballado colt Wild Horses by over four lengths. He is stepping up in class but seems to be on the upgrade. D. Wayne Lukas, who won six Triple Crown races from 1994 to 1996, has another Gone West colt in Proud Citizen. The colt won the Lexington with the minimum of fuss from useful Capote colt, Crimson Hero. That field was considerably weaker than the one he takes on Saturday. Lukas has the ability to win the Derby with outsiders and only one of his four runners, Winning Colors, was fancied. Proud Citizen is from the family of 1964 winner Northern Dancer. Aiden O’Brien has two runners - last season’s champion two year old Johannesburg and the promising Castle Gandolfo. Johannesburg will be bidding to become the first champion two year old to win the Roses since 1979, when Spectacular Bid won. He is also trying to be the first Breeders Cup Juvenile winner to win. The Hennessy colt was defeated on his three year old debut and his stamina is suspect. Castle Gandolfo has run the mile and a quarter when second to talented Ballingarry in the Criterium de Saint Cloud but how good the Gone West colt is, remains to be seen. His form received a boost when Dupont, whom he defeated in the Fosters Trial, won the Italian 2000 Guineas. Shug McGaughy is looking for his Derby win and his
beautifully bred Saarland has the pedigree for the job. By 1990 winner
Unbridled, out of multiple Grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty, he comes
from the family of 1999 winner Charismatic. He won the Remsen at two (as
did recent Derby heroes Go For Gin and Thunder Gulch) but has been
slightly disappointing at three. Easy Grades finished a good second in the Santa Anita Derby and the son of the late Honor Grades could finish in the money here. The same can be said for Florida Derby runner up Blue Burner, a son of hot sire French Deputy out of the Alydar mare Haiati. SELECTION: 1. Private Emblem The Kentucky Oaks is a fascinating race with several standout fillies. Kenny McPeek, who has Harlan’s Holiday, has the hot favourite here in Take Charge Lady. The daughter of Dehere has been sensational as a three year old and won the Ashland Stakes by an easy four lengths on her last start. She is unbeaten as a three year old with easy wins coming in the Davona Dale and Fair Ground Oaks. Take Charge Lady is meeting stronger opposition even without champion Tempera. Bob Baffert won the Kentucky Oaks in 1999 with the outstanding filly, Silverbulletday and has the talented Habibti here. A dual Grade 1 winner, the daughter of dual classic winner, Tabasco Cat is related to 1995 Oaks heroine Gal In A Ruckus. She has been defeated by You in their last meetings but should be suited to the trip here and the Thoroughbred Corporation’s colour bearer should be in the finishing line. Her nemesis, You, is trained by Bobby Frankel, successful with Flute last year and before that with Keepers Hill in 1998. Unbeaten as a three year old, You won the Santa Anita Oaks defeating Habibti on her last start and must be a major fancy. The granddaughter of recently retired Kris S. looks likely to give Take Charge Lady a run for her money. Godolphin sent over Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies runner up, Imperial Gesture, who is a half sister to 1994 winner Sardula. The daughter of champion sprinter, Langfuhr, has been dazzling in her last two starts in Dubai including her facile triumph in the UAE Oaks. She will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, who flies back to ride in the English 2000 Guineas, and has been strongly supported. SELECTION: 1. Take Charge Lady |