KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT
MARCH 20, 2014
by James Scully
Bob Baffert continued his mastery of the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park,
Hoppertunuity is playing catch-up, needing two starts to break his maiden
He needs to keep improving in his final prep, most likely the Arkansas Derby
Two scoring races will be offered this weekend, Saturday’s Spiral at Turfway
|
Animal Kingdom switched from turf to Polytrack in the 2011 Spiral, scoring by
2 3/4 lengths before posting a 20-1 upset win in the Kentucky Derby. The Spiral
also produced 1992 Kentucky Derby hero Lil E. Tee, who sandwiched a narrow
runner-up finish in the Arkansas Derby between victories at Turfway Park and
Churchill Downs.
The most distinguished alumnus from the Sunland Derby, Mine That Bird, was
overlooked at 13-1 and wound up a well-beaten fourth in the 2009 edition at the
New Mexico track. That somehow set him up for a 50-1 upset in the slop.
Rebel
Hoppertunity raced well off the pace in two of his first three starts, but he
settled closer to moderate early fractions in the Rebel (:24. :47 4/5 and 1:12
1/5). Strong Mandate showed the way on a short lead between horses from the
start.
Mike Smith kept Hoppertunity at least three wide the entire way over the
wet-fast track. Ride on Curlin was down on the inside turning for home, with
Strong Mandate to his immediate outside and Hoppertunity third in a line.
Tapiture was stuck in a pocket behind the top three most of the way, a little
rank early tossing his head on the first turn, and the 2-1 favorite desperately
needed running room approaching the conclusion of the far turn.
The contact started around the eighth pole as Tapiture slammed into
Hoppertunity from the inside, opening some space. But that rival didn’t
accelerate past and Smith was determined to maintain a straight path as
Hoppertunity continued to soldier on, coming in slightly as the runners
tightened up in deep stretch. All four horses exchanged bumps inside the final
furlong.
Hoppertunity was going best in the final sixteenth of a mile and wound up a
half-length ahead of Tapiture, whose rider claimed foul for interference. But
the stewards found no fault with the winner and let the result stand.
“Mike said he just started running when he got bumped. That just made him run
faster,” assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said of Hoppertunity. “He’s tough. He’s
lightly raced. That was only his fourth race so that was exciting and I’m glad
we came.”
Hoppertunity notched a career-best 99 BRIS Speed rating as well as 100 Late
Pace number. Given how demanding the Kentucky Derby can be with 20 horses, his
ability to thrive upon contact should be viewed as a plus.
A son of Distorted Humor, who sired Derby winner Funny Cide, Any Given Saturday is
perhaps best known for upsetting two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in the 2007
Haskell Invitational. He was bred for classic distances (out of an A.P. Indy
mare) and Hoppertunity’s female family includes a number of stamina influences
as well.
Unraced two-year-olds are up against from a historical perspective — Apollo
was the last unraced two-year-old winner in 1882 — but that trend figures to
come to an end eventually with so many lightly-raced horses making the race
nowadays.
Tapiture experienced a troubled trip and could show more in the Arkansas
Derby, but he’s out of an Olympio mare and will need to outrun his pedigree in
the Kentucky Derby.
Ride on Curlin remains an outsider at this juncture, but he turned in an
improved effort in third and will look to keep moving forward in his final prep.
“I tell you, I fancy him. I like him a lot,” three-time Kentucky Derby winner
Kent Desormeaux said of Ride on Curlin. “At the half-mile pole, I thought I
could win. The only thing I didn’t like was my post. I think if I had had an
outside post, it would have been better.”
Strong Mandate’s stock dropped. He figured to improve upon a troubled second
in the February 17 Southwest but didn’t come close to meeting expectations,
weakening to finish 2 1/2 lengths back of the winner. Despite a mouth-watering
pedigree for classic distances and soft early fractions, the Tiznow colt
appeared out of gas in upper stretch.
But it would be premature to give up completely on Strong Mandate. It may not
work out, but D. Wayne Lukas is racing him into shape and the Grade 1 winner has
at least some quality to him.
The Coach is arguably the greatest Kentucky Derby trainer of all time and
Lukas orchestrated tremendous turnarounds last season from Oxbow
(snapped a four-race losing skein with a 15-1 upset in the Preakness) and Will
Take Charge (beaten by more than 45 combined lengths in the Triple Crown before
developing into a champion). He hopes to get a lot more out of Strong Mandate
now that it’s crunch time.
And this is the type of year (only one prep race has produced a triple-digit
Speed rating) that an underachiever could develop into a major player over the
final six weeks.
Kentucky Derby Top 10
- Cairo Prince — Holy Bull romper is the one to beat in the Florida Derby.
- Honor Code — Tough to endorse return effort but classy colt
packs a late punch that could serve him well if he makes the Kentucky Derby. - California Chrome — Exits a brilliant front-running performance
in San Felipe. - Candy Boy — Captured Bob Lewis with complete authority; Santa Anita Derby next.
- Hoppertunity — Starting to find his best stride for three-time
Derby winner Baffert; looking forward to his final prep. - Intense Holiday — Fast-closing colt will be seeking Risen Star-Louisiana Derby
double. - Conquest Titan — Late runner experienced a tough trip when fourth in
Tampa Bay Derby; remains a sleeper for Casse. - Tamarando — Not sure of his effectiveness on dirt but
Hollendorfer colt owns a big finishing kick. - Samraat — New York-bred colt continued to impress in Gotham;
headed to the Wood Memorial for Violette. - Strong Mandate — Disappointed in Rebel, will look to rebound in Arkansas Derby.