Kentucky Derby Report

KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT

JANUARY 24, 2008

by James Scully

Monday's inaugural running of the Smarty Jones S. turned into a Holy Bull

memorial when his sons, LIBERTY BULL and ISABULL, distanced themselves from the

rest of the field nearing the conclusion of the far turn. The pair battled to

the one-mile finishing pole at Oaklawn Park, but Isabull could never draw even

with his rival, falling a neck short on the wire. Liberty Bull garnered his

first stakes victory

Trained by Tom Amoss, Liberty Bull was exiting a second, beaten 8 3/4

lengths, to Sok Sok (Trippi) in the six-furlong Sugar Bowl S. at Fair Grounds on

December 22. A maiden winner in the mud at Churchill Downs in mid-November, the

gray colt was making his first start around two turns in the Smarty Jones.

Liberty Bull earned only a 92 BRIS Speed rating and may not want much more

ground than a mile, but he showed plenty of heart and owns room for improvement.

Isabull, who wrapped up 2007 with a pair of sixth-placed efforts in allowance

races, turned in an encouraging seasonal debut. The Steve Hobby charge overcame

post 12 and a wide trip to finish a clear second.

GAYEGO (Gilded Time) captured Sunday's San Pedro S. at Santa Anita, rallying

from just off the pace for a 2 3/4-length decision. Trainer Paulo Lobo indicated

a willingness to try two turns following the race, but the talented colt is

probably best suited for sprints. It's interesting to note that Gayego finished

6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13, with the six-furlong split in 1:06 4/5 over the

lightning-fast Cushion Track. Despite the near world-record final time, the dark

bay colt received only a 99 Speed rating. They couldn't run much faster on

asphalt.

In allowance and maiden events of interest, FIERCE WIND (Dixie Union) stamped

himself as one to watch with a resounding 5 1/4-length score at Gulfstream on

Monday. A 10 1/4-length maiden special weight winner at Calder in his previous

start, the Nick Zito-trained colt led from gate-to-wire in the 1 1/8-mile

allowance, improving to two-for-two in routes. Fierce Wind entered the stretch

drive with a two-length advantage and quickly drew off from 3-5 favorite

SOUTHERN TERMINUS (More Than Ready), who was exiting a sharp debut maiden

victory at Aqueduct for Todd Pletcher. Both horses gained valuable seasoning,

and both are likely headed to stakes company. Fierce Wind earned a 94 Speed

rating, but don't be surprised to see his numbers increase significantly in the

future.

DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday) remained perfect with a good-looking

allowance score at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Now two-for-two under David

Carroll's tutelage, the bay colt caught a sloppy track while stretching out two

turns for the first time in the one-mile and 40-yard heat. He rated off slow

fractions and finished up nicely for the narrow win after traveling wide on both

turns. Denis of Cork earned a 107 BRIS Late Pace rating when closing from far

back in his career debut at Churchill in late November, and the Florida-bred

colt packs a formidable late kick.

FERRAGAMO (Vindication) made a favorable impression in his three-year-old

debut, taking a six-furlong allowance/optional claiming test at Oaklawn Park on

Sunday. Conditioned by Larry Jones, Ferragamo went right to the front and ripped

off early splits in :21 3/5 and :44 4/5 on a clear lead en route to a 4

3/4-length decision. While there's no guarantee he'll stretch out, the dark bay

colt owns the pedigree to handle longer distances. It will be interesting to see

whether he can keep moving forward.

Barclay Tagg sent out a pair of convincing maiden winners over the weekend at

Gulfstream, winning a sprint with JOCKEY RIDGE (Broken Vow) and a route with

ELYSIUM FIELDS (El Prado [Ire]). We'll focus upon the latter. After placing in

all three starts last year, Elysium Fields broke through in a big way on

Saturday, winning by eight lengths under a hand ride from Eibar Coa. The bay

colt stalked the pace until being given his cue on the far turn, quickly turning

a small deficit into a clear lead in upper stretch, and Elysium Fields continued

to pour it on in the 1 1/8-mile race. His 90 Speed rating was surprisingly a

little low.

First-timer KENTUCKY BEAR (Mr. Greeley) looked like a colt with a future when

romping at Gulfstream on Monday. The Reade Baker runner sat just off the pace

before advancing to the lead in midstretch of the one-mile maiden race and

finished powerfully in deep stretch, recording a 6 1/2-length decision. He's

closely related to multiple Grade 2 winner Top Secret (Afleet), who finished second in

the 1996 Spinster S. (G1) and earned nearly $1 million, and his connections are

likely fielding offers from perspective buyers. Curlin (Smart Strike) earned a

101 Speed rating and an 80-percent interest sold for a reported $3.5 million

following his impressive career bow at Gulfstream last February. Kentucky Bear

registered a 102 Speed rating.

Upcoming

Golden Gate Fields will host the California Derby this Sunday, but we have to

wait until February 2, when Santa Anita will host the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2)

and Gulfstream offers the Swale S. (G2), for the next graded races for

sophomores.

Top 10

1) COURT VISION --  Bill Mott pupil will return in February 24 Fountain of

Youth (G2)

2) COLONEL JOHN -- Ended last year with two promising efforts

3) TALE OF EKATI -- Grade 2 winner is working well for Tagg at Palm Meadows

4) INTO MISCHIEF -- Smart win in CashCall Futurity (G1)

5) MAJESTIC WARRIOR -- March return means he'll enter Derby lightly raced

6) PYRO -- Juvenile (G1) runner-up leads Steve Asmussen contingent

7) WAR PASS -- Speed

8) VISIONAIRE -- Impressive allowance winner at Gulfstream

9) ETCHED -- Unbeaten Godolphin runner looks very talented

10) EL GATO MALO -- Smashing San Rafael S. (G3) victor figures to remain a major

presence in Derby preps