Note: As you will soon see, this “Triple Crown Countdown” is different from past posts. The reason is that I am a bit behind in my posting and wanted to get caught up quickly. Therefore, rather than writing a full-blown recap of all the notable races from the past two weeks, I shall instead conduct a rather brief mention of each race. I will resume my usual style of writing soon, unless you read this post and think “I like this better!” If that it is the case, then feel free to comment and tell me so! I value your thoughts!
RACE RECAPS
January 29th
• J W Blue showed a potent late kick in an allowance race at Oaklawn Park, rallying from last to win by 1 ½ lengths while completing the mile and a sixteenth in 1:46.80. Commander, who was coming off of a close third to the highly-regarded Alternation and Elite Alex, finished a distant sixth.
• In the fifth race at Gulfstream Park—a seven furlong allowance race—narrow favorite Crossbow eked out a narrow victory over second choice Sovereign Default. The two were never more than a half-length apart until deep in the stretch, when Crossbow pulled away ever so slightly to win by three-quarters of a length. The final time was 1:22.86.
• Runflatout ran flat out in his first race, a six furlong maiden special weight race. Sent off as the second choice in a six horse field, he tracked the pace set by Tokubetsu before inching away to score by 2 ½ lengths while stopping the clock in a brilliant 1:07.70. There is no doubt in my mind that this colt will win a stakes race someday!
January 30th
• Dialed In launched himself toward the top of everyone’s Kentucky Derby watch lists with his brilliant last-to-first victory in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III). When one considers that it was only his second start, the very thought of what this colt might do after gaining some more experience is exciting. Favored Mucho Macho Man ran fourth after helping set a fast pace.
• Machen showed just how talented he is in a one-mile and seventy yards allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds. Despite being rank early and racing greenly in the stretch, the colt split horses like a pro and drew off to an overwhelmingly easy five length victory. The Risen Star Stakes may be next.
• In a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park, first-time starter Nacho Business pulled off a mild upset, running down pacesetter Bowman’s Causeway in the lane to win by 1 ¼ lengths. Sinorice finished fourth.
• Dancinginherdreams and R Heat Lightning were both the favorites at 1.30-1 in the seven furlong grade II Forward Gal Stakes, but both were beaten. Pomeroy’s Pistol, who had finished second to Final Mesa in the Old Hat Stakes (gr. III), pulled off a 9-1 upset when she held off Dancinginherdreams to win by three-quarters of a length. R Heat Lightning finished a disappointing fourth.
February 4th
• In a one-mile and seventy yards allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct, Congo overcame a trouble-filled trip to win by three-quarters of a length. Trapped behind horses with nowhere to go in the stretch, he waited . . .and waited . . .and waited before finding an opening. With sudden acceleration, he roared passed horses on the far outside to win the race in 1:43.02. Perhaps the Gotham Stakes in March will be his next start.
February 5th
• In the Premier Night Prince Stakes at Delta Downs, favored Su Casa G Casa held on desperately to win by a neck over the late-charging Loranger Native, completing the seven-furlong event in 1:25.02. Su Casa G Casa had previously finished second to Decisive Moment in the Jean Lafitte Stakes.
• At Turfway Park, the WEBN Stakes yielded interesting, if not uninspiring, results. Twinspired, the favorite despite the fact that he had failed to hit the board in his three most recent starts, won the one-mile race by 4 ¼ lengths. The final time was a tepid 1:41.57, and Twinspired closed his final quarter in :28.15 seconds and his final eighth in :14.40. Granted, he didn’t receive the best of trips, but I find it hard to picture this colt as a Triple Crown contender.
• I had the suspicion that Trubs would become a stakes winner someday, but I hardly expected him to do so in the Black Gold Stakes. Faced with the task of defeating promising allowance optional claiming winner Divine Music, he passed the test with flying colors. With Jesse Campbell in the saddle, Trubs battled with Divine Music throughout the stretch, gamely holding off his more fancied rival to win by a neck. The final time was 1:11.18.
• Prior to the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I), I never would have believed that Zazu could beat Turbulent Descent. After all, the latter had twice beaten Zazu with ease when they were two-year-olds and I found it hard to believe that Zazu would come close. But the—what do I know? Zazu turned in a remarkable performance in the Las Virgenes, sneaking through along the inside under Joel Rosario and outdueling Turbulent Descent in the stretch to pull off a major upset, stopping the clock in 1:34.86. It was apparent that Turbulent Descent needed the race, so an expected rematch between the two in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) next month should prove quite fascinating.
• The Tiffany Lass Stakes at Fair Grounds proved that Wicked Deed is indeed something special. Although not favored in the four-horse field, she took the lead approaching the homestretch and drew off to a five length victory, stopping the clock in 1:11.75 for the six furlongs.
• In the eighth race at Tampa Bay Downs, a mile and a sixteenth maiden special weight for three-year-olds, Striding Ahead turned in a remarkable performance. He literally strode ahead of his eight rivals en route to a 6 ¾-length triumph, stopping the clock in 1:45.58. Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Juddmonte Farms, this colt likes like one with a future!
• The Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct was run over a sloppy main track which may have skewed the results somewhat. But skewed or not, there is no doubt that Toby’s Corner is a very promising sophomore. Sent off as the fourth choice in a field of five, he rallied from well off the pace to score by two lengths in 1:45.66. A son of Bellamy Road, Toby’s Corner looks like a Gotham Stakes contender. J J’s Lucky Train, coming off of a runner-up finish to Monzon in the Count Fleet Stakes, once again finished second.
• The third race at Gulfstream Park may end up being one of the more influential Triple Crown prep races, even though the results were slightly unexpected. In the nine furlong allowance race, Shackleford took the lead after three-quarters of a mile and ran off to a 2 ¼-length victory as the co-third choice. Casper’s Touch, the even-money favorite, finished second after a rough trip. Both colts may advance to the Fountain of Youth (gr. II).
• Queen’splatekitten turned in a unbelievably brilliant late run in a one-mile turf allowance race at Gulfstream Park, one that it worthy of great accolades. In eighth place at the eighth pole, he closed like a rocket to win by 1 ½ lengths. He ran his final quarter mile in roughly :23 seconds and his final eighth in about :11. If he can run like that over a dirt track, he will rapidly become a force to be reckoned with.
• Cal Nation ran like a star in the making in the eighth race at Gulfstream Park, tracking a quick early pace set by Jack London before drawing off to a 7 ¾-length victory. He completed the seven furlong event in 1:22.02. Trained by Todd Pletcher, this is a colt that looks to have a bright future. The Fountain of Youth Stakes may be next on the agenda.
February 6th
• King Congie was favored in the Hallandale Beach Stakes off of a narrow victory in the Tropical Park Stakes. Although King Congie did cross the wire first, he had drifted out badly in the stretch, interfering with Brilliant Speed, who ended up finishing third. After a lengthy steward’s inquiry, King Congie was disqualified and placed third, making longshot Master Dunker, who had finished second, the new winner. Ironically, Brilliant Speed was King Congie’s stablemate!
Well! It took a while, but that is all of the major three-year-old action from the last two weeks. Tomorrow I shall post my thoughts on this weekend’s promising selection of sophomore stakes races.
-Keelerman
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