Courtlandt Farms’ homebred Machen didn’t prosper in two-turn Kentucky Derby
preps at the Fair Grounds meet, but relished a cutback in trip in Saturday
night’s Grade 3, $231,400 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs. Uncorking a furious
late rally under the opening-night lights, the Neil Howard pupil just nailed
Dominus in the last stride, completing the one-turn mile in 1:35 2/5. A generous
6-1 chance, Machen furnished his loyalists with $15.40, $8 and $5.60.
Machen, who had collected $32,000 in combined graded earnings from his fourth
in the February 19 Grade 2 Risen Star and fifth in the March 26 Grade 2
Louisiana Derby, boosted his graded total to $169,730. That would not be enough
to propel him into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field at the moment, and in any
event, Howard was quick to dampen creative speculation. Speaking to HRTV
immediately after the race, Howard was adamant that Machen would stick to the
shorter distances that suit him best, and identified the August 27 Grade 1
King’s Bishop as a long-range goal.
The early pace in the Derby Trial was a contested one. Travelin Man, the 8-5
favorite, dueled with Dominus through fractions of :23 1/5 and :46 3/5. Dominus
collared Travelin Man for good at the six-furlong mark in 1:10 3/5 and put his
pace nemesis away in the stretch, in a huge effort for the recent Santa Anita
maiden winner.
Machen, meanwhile, had been rating about four lengths back beneath Edgar
Prado. Bumped in traffic and floated out wide on the turn, he didn’t let that
interfere with his explosive stretch run. Machen rallied down the center of the
track and gained ground fast, rapidly emerging as the only threat to an
otherwise home-free Dominus. The only question was whether the wire would arrive
in time to save Dominus. It did not, for Machen got up in the nick of time by a
neck.
Another 2 1/4 lengths back in third came J J’s Lucky Train. Indian Winter
reported home a one-paced fourth. Indiano, Travelin Man, Beamer, B G Suavecito
and Duca rounded out the order of finish.
Machen was making his first start away from Fair Grounds. The chestnut
attracted attention with a smashing 5 1/2-length debut maiden romp going six
furlongs on January 2. Stretching out to a mile and 70 yards in an entry-level
optional claimer on January 30, he overcame a troubled passage to prevail by
five dominating lengths. Off that effort, Machen was bet down to 2-1 favoritism
for the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star, but a combination of inexperience and the class
hike conspired against him, and he wound up a decent fourth. After he failed to
progress when fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby, Howard decided to shorten
him up, and the change clearly agreed with the talented colt.
The Kentucky-bred now sports a career bankroll of $216,530 from his 5-3-0-0
line. He is the first registered foal from Canadian Grade 2 queen Ready’s Gal,
who has since produced a juvenile filly named Adrina and an unnamed yearling
colt, both by A.P. Indy. Ready’s Gal is closely related to Grade 2 heroine Ready
to Please, and she comes from the family of champion Hansel, star of the 1991
Grade 1 Preakness and Grade 1 Belmont, as well as Canadian champions Ten Gold
Pots and Cryptocloser.