SOUL WARRIOR (Lion Heart) upset Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird
(Birdstone) and Big Drama (Montbrook) when recording his first stakes win in the
West Virginia Derby (G2) on August 1, but the thee-year-old is the likely
favorite in Monday’s $1 million
Pennsylvania Derby (G2). Installed as the 3-1 morning-line choice in the
30th edition of Philadelphia Park’s biggest race, the Steve Asmussen-trained
colt will face eight rivals in the 1 1/8-mile event.
Soul Warrior drew post 6 and will be ridden for the first time by Robby
Albarado. The chestnut came into his sophomore season with aspirations of
competing in the spring classics, but less-than-stellar efforts in the Risen
Star S. (G3) and Louisiana Derby (G2) at the Fair Grounds derailed those hopes and
he was given a near three-month rest. The time off served him well. He returned to
the races in early June to a convincing win in a first level allowance at
Churchill before heading off to Prairie Meadows for a strong second in the Iowa
Derby. His most recent start was his best yet. Off at 23-1 at Mountaineer Park,
he rallied from just off the pace to win the West Virginia Derby by a
hard-fought neck.
DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) is the 7-2 second favorite in the evenly
matched field. Conditioned by David Fawkes, the Florida-bred registered his
first stakes tally when defeating Soul Warrior by five lengths in the Iowa Derby
on June 26. He took on Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Haskell
Invitational (G1) next out, finishing a respectable fifth against tougher
competition, and was only 2 1/2 lengths behind the Belmont S. (G1) and subsequent Travers
S. (G1) winner Summer Bird (Birdstone). Eibar Coa will retain the mount.
One of the more intriguing entrants is KELLY LEAK (Runaway Groom).
Disqualified from a Grade 2 victory at two, he opened his three year-old season
with a solid third behind This Ones for Phil (Untuttable) in the Sunshine
Millions Dash at Gulfstream on January 24. Two months later, he came from well
off the pace to win the $800,000 Sunland Derby, beating the soon-to-be Kentucky
Derby winner Mine That Bird. Following that victory and a four-month layoff, the
bay colt returned at Del Mar with a sixth in the August 2 San Diego H. (G2), his
first start against older horses. Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will come east
to ride for trainer Michael Machowsky, and Kelly Leak is listed at 8-1 on the
morning line.
Trainer Nick Zito, who has two Pennsylvania Derby wins with Sun King (2005)
and Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop) last year, will send out OUR EDGE (The Cliff’s
Edge), who wheels back off a short rest after setting the pace in the Travers
just nine days ago. He had come into the Travers having won three straight,
including a front-running, seven-length victory in the Barbaro S. (G3) on July
19, but he was eased in the Travers after throwing a shoe. Chuck Lopez will pick
up the mount.
Todd Pletcher is responsible for a pair of uncoupled runners in JOIN IN THE
DANCE (Sky Mesa) and DENVER (Fusaichi Pegasus). The former recorded a decent
seventh in the Kentucky Derby two starts back after setting the pace and is
eligible to improve off a runner-up finish versus allowance rivals at Saratoga.
The latter will make his second stakes attempt following a third in the Barbaro.
Jersey Derby victor ENDYMION (Tapit), Grade 3-placed GONE ASTRAY (Dixie
Union) and stakes winner BUNKER HILL (Trippi) complete the field.
The supporting feature on Labor Day is the $250,000
Turf
Monster H., a five-furlong turf sprint for three year-olds and up. Among the
major players is the race winner from each of the last two years, TRUE TO
TRADITION (Rahy) and SMART ENOUGH (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), along with the always
tough entry of MR. NIGHTLINGER (Indian Charlie) and CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War
Chant). Jersey Shore S. (G3) scorer CUSTOM FOR
CARLOS (More Than Ready) will make his turf debut under Albarado, and the Eddie
Kenneally runner is the lone three-year-old in the 12-horse field.
Also in the mix are AWAKINO CAT (Stormy Atlantic), a dual stakes winner for
Linda Rice at the current Saratoga stand, Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint winner LITTLE
NICK (Tiger Ridge), and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup one-two CARDASHI (Kiridashi)
and BLUE SAILOR (Northern Afleet).