Phipps Stable’s homebred GONE ASTRAY (Dixie Union) didn’t duplicate the
fireworks of his smashing 9 1/4-length victory in the Pennsylvania Derby (G2),
but the up-and-coming sophomore still easily proved best in Saturday’s $150,000
Ohio
Derby (G2), drawing away late to a 2 1/4-length win at Thistledown. Eddie
Castro was in to guide the Shug McGaughey pupil, who completed 1 1/8 miles over
the fast track in 1:50 2/5, and the dark bay colt has now earned $854,657 from a
12-4-3-2 line.
War Fighter (Repent) broke on top from his far outside post and set early
fractions in :23 3/5, :48 3/5 and 1:13 as Gone Astray stalked the pace in
midpack. The 2-5 choice launched his rally nearing the conclusion of the far
turn and entered the stretch full of momentum, but the pacesetter dug in gamely
along the rail and passed the mile mark in 1:38 1/5 with a head advantage. Gone
Astray put away his stubborn rival in the final furlong.
The heavy favorite returned $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10 to his many supporters,
and the 12-1 War Fighter paid $4.80 and $3 after finishing 7 3/4 lengths clear
of Ice Road (Unbridled’s Song), who gave back $2.60 at 5-1. Join in the Dance
(Sky Mesa), the near 3-1 second choice, came next under the wire and was
followed by Perfect Start (Jump Start), Fonda Ronda Won (Teton Forest) and Petch
(Petionville). Karama (Macho Uno), Hoopoe (Birdstone), Weslinn (Noactor), Fundy
(Northern Afleet), Giant Oak (Giant’s Causeway) and Gallant (Aptitude) were all
scratched.
The exotics yielded $18.60 (exacta), $71.20 (trifecta) and $137 (2-13-8-3
superfecta).
The Kentucky-bred Gone Astray, who placed in the Withers S. (G3) earlier this
season, narrowly missed when second in the Curlin S. and Coronado’s Quest S.
prior to his breakthrough in the September 7 Pennsylvania Derby. He’s out of the
unraced Illicit (Mr. Prospector), making him a half-brother to German Group
3-placed Contentious (Giant’s Causeway), an unraced juvenile filly named Deceive
(Tiznow) and a 2009 filly by Langfuhr. Illicit is herself a half-sister to 2005
champion three-year-old filly Smuggler (Unbridled). Gone Astray’s second dam is
Hall of Famer Inside Information (Private Account), who is in turn a half-sister
to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire and graded stakes producer Educated Risk
(Mr. Prospector). Gone Astray’s fifth dam is the influential matron Grey Flight
(*Mahmoud).