The second race on the Churchill card, a six-furlong maiden special weight, went to Big Ring, who showed speed from the start under Julien Leparoux and held on for a half-length victory over favored Vasten.
What was so unusual about this race was that the opening quarter mile was run in :20.78 -- that is not a typo. This was the result of a blazing speed duel between Rock N Glamour and the eventual winner, who opened up five lengths on the rest of the field early on. Rock N Glamour gave way to finish off-the-board, but Big Ring managed to stay on strongly through a half-mile in :44.39 and five furlongs in :56.90 to stop the clock for six furlongs in 1:10.04.
Clearly, even though the track is muddy, it is not stopping horses from turning in blazing fractions!
As for jockey Julien Leparoux, he has now won the first two races on the card. This certainly bodes well for Union Rags later this afternoon in the Derby.
***
The third race on the card is a 1 1/16th miles allowance optional claiming race on the main track for three-year-olds. A field of ten has been entered, led by Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) runner-up Golden Ticket and a pair of Louisiana Derby (gr. II) also-rans, Z Dager and Windsurfer. Julien Leparoux will be aboard Golden Ticket. Calvin Borel will ride 10-1 shot Fleurdefortyfour, his first of four mounts on the card.
-Keelerman
Showing posts with label Big Ring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Ring. Show all posts
Saturday, May 05, 2012
2012 Kentucky Derby Update #2
Jockey Julien Leparoux and trainer Kenny McPeek took the opener with the even-money favorite Atigun, who -- despite stumbling a bit at the start -- rallied from last with a four-wide bid to win the 1 1/16th miles allowance optional claiming race by a length over Politicallycorrect, stopping the clock in 1:43.05. Looking strictly at the results of this race, I would say that there is an outside bias -- in a six-horse field, the two horses that raced along the rail finished fifth and sixth -- but it's really too early to say for sure. After all, the two rail-runners were 6-1 and 16-1. Maybe they were just beaten because they weren't good enough.
The next race on the card is a six-furlong maiden special weight for three-year-olds and up. Ten were entered, but three scratches have reduced the field to only seven runners. Vasten, who finished second last time out in a similar race at Keeneland, looks like a pretty solid favorite. But the early wagering has the first-time starter Master Cip as the 4-5 favorite, down from 8-1 on the morning line.
Jockey Julien Leparoux -- who won the opener, as mentioned above -- will be aboard Big Ring, who finished second last time out in a maiden special weight at Turfway Park.
Also note that the main track has been upgraded to "muddy".
For those who are interested in European racing, favored Camelot got up in the final strides to win the English 2,000 Guineas by a neck over French Fifteen. Trained by Aiden O'Brien and ridden by Joseph O'Brien, I would expect that he will head to the Epsom Derby in June as one of the favorites.
-Keelerman
The next race on the card is a six-furlong maiden special weight for three-year-olds and up. Ten were entered, but three scratches have reduced the field to only seven runners. Vasten, who finished second last time out in a similar race at Keeneland, looks like a pretty solid favorite. But the early wagering has the first-time starter Master Cip as the 4-5 favorite, down from 8-1 on the morning line.
Jockey Julien Leparoux -- who won the opener, as mentioned above -- will be aboard Big Ring, who finished second last time out in a maiden special weight at Turfway Park.
Also note that the main track has been upgraded to "muddy".
For those who are interested in European racing, favored Camelot got up in the final strides to win the English 2,000 Guineas by a neck over French Fifteen. Trained by Aiden O'Brien and ridden by Joseph O'Brien, I would expect that he will head to the Epsom Derby in June as one of the favorites.
-Keelerman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)