Machen nips Dominus at the wire in Derby Trial

Last updated: 5/1/11 2:23 PM

Machen returned to the winner’s circle in the Derby Trial
(Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs)

Courtlandt Farms’ homebred MACHEN (Distorted Humor) didn’t prosper in
two-turn Kentucky Derby (G1) preps at the Fair Grounds meet, but relished a
cutback in trip in Saturday night’s $231,400
Derby
Trial S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. Uncorking a furious late rally under the
opening-night lights, the Neil Howard pupil just nailed Dominus (Smart Strike)
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 Risen Star S. (G2) and fifth in the March 26 Louisiana Derby
(G2), 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 King’s Bishop S. (G1)
as a long-range goal.

The early pace in the Derby Trial was a contested one. Travelin Man (Trippi),
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 (Silver Train).
Indian Winter (Indian Charlie) reported home a one-paced fourth. Indiano (Indian
Charlie), Travelin Man, Beamer (Vindication), B G Suavecito (Suave) and Duca
(Empire Maker) 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
(More Than Ready), 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 (More Than Ready), and she comes from the family
of champion Hansel (Woodman), star of the 1991 Preakness S. (G1) and Belmont S.
(G1), as well as Canadian champions Ten Gold Pots (Tentam) and Cryptocloser
(Cryptoclearance).