Lael Stables’ SHOWING UP (Strategic Mission) powered to victory in Sunday’s
$500,000
Hollywood Derby (G1) to remain unbeaten against fellow sophomores on the
turf. Striding comfortably just off the early pace beneath Cornelio Velasquez,
the chestnut ranged up four wide leaving the far turn and took charge in
midstretch, eventually crossing the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front. His final time
of 1:59.35 was a new stakes record for the 1 1/4-mile event on firm ground. Fully justifying his 4-5 favoritism,
the Barclay Tagg trainee returned $3.60, $2.60 and $2.20.
“I had a lot of horse at the top of the stretch,” Velasquez said. “I asked
him a little bit, and he really wanted to go. He’s got a huge stride. This was
his best race yet.”
Obrigado (Fr) (Enrique) rallied from last to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths,
giving back $4.80 and $3.40 at 8-1. The nearly 6-1 Ivan Denisovich (Ire) (Danehill)
got up for third by a neck to return $3.60. Crested (GB) (Fantastic Light) stuck
his head in front in upper stretch but faded in the drive to wind up fourth. The
$1 exotics were worth $12.30 (exacta), $49.40 (trifecta) and $414 (6-10-7-5
superfecta).
Zann (Dynaformer) reported home fifth. It was another 4 3/4 lengths back to
Kip Deville (Kipling), followed by his entrymate Frost Giant (Giant’s Causeway);
the pacesetting Dark Islander (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]), who dueled with Kip
Deville through splits of :24 1/5, :47 4/5 and 1:11; Big Mistake (Broken Vow)
and Vega’s Lord (Ger) (Lord of Men). Brother Derek (Benchmark) was scratched
after suffering from colic early Sunday morning.
Showing Up added a fifth stakes score to his already impressive resume, and
his scorecard reads 9-7-0-1 with $1,610,500 in earnings. He started his career
on the dirt at Gulfstream Park early this year, easily breaking his maiden in
his debut and setting a new track record for a mile when clearing his first
allowance condition. The chestnut catapulted himself into Kentucky Derby (G1)
contention with a professional victory in the Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland,
but his lack of experience compromised him in the Run for the Roses and he tired
to sixth.
Tagg then transferred Showing Up to the turf, and he has proven to be a
revelation. Posting a course record-smashing win in the Colonial Turf Cup S., he followed up with a wire-to-wire tally in the Secretariat S. (G1). After
finishing third versus older horses in the Man o’ War S. (G1), Showing Up
returned to sophomore company and thrashed his foes in the Jamaica Breeders’ Cup
H. (G2) last time out.
Bred by Nellie M. Cox and Rose Retreat Farm in Kentucky, the winner was
purchased by his current owners for $60,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic
sale of two-year-olds in training. Showing Up is out of the winning Miss Alethia
(T. V. Commercial), making him a half-brother to six-time stakes victor
Gimmeawink (Elusive Quality) as well as an unnamed yearling filly by Proud
Citizen.