4/9/06
Last updated: 4/8/06 7:10 PM
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Bob and John punched his ticket to the Derby with Wood victory
(Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com) |
Stonerside Stable LLC’s homebred BOB AND JOHN (Seeking the Gold) got the
better of a stretch-long duel with favored Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory) en
route to a 1 1/2-length tally in the $750,000
Wood Memorial S. (G1) at Aqueduct
on Saturday. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, the winner completed the sloppy
1 1/8 miles in 1:51 2/5 and returned $6.40, $4.50 and $2.70 for trainer Bob
Baffert and jockey Garrett Gomez.
Jazil (Seeking the Gold) was last after six furlongs and still seven lengths
back in midstretch, but closed stoutly to garner the place at odds of 15-1,
paying $12.20 and $4.80 in the process. Keyed Entry tired late but was still
well clear of his nearest pursuer at 4-5 to retain the show worth $2.10. The
winning exacta returned $72 while the trifecta gave back $163.50 and the 7-1-3-9
superfecta paid $2,103.
“When he hit the wire, his ears went up and he
wanted to shut down,” Baffert said of the winner. “He’s still immature.”
Keyed Entry broke sharply and led the field through honest splits of :23, :46
1/5 and 1:11 for the opening six panels. Bob and John, never far away from the
winner, approached that one turning for home and set the stage for a thrilling
showdown between the two favorites. As the duo hit the sixteenth pole, Keyed
Entry threw in the towel and all that was left was the battle for place.
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“This was a good test.” Baffert stated. “Keyed Entry is a bulldog. He didn’t
let us by too easy.”
It was another six lengths back to fourth-place runner Scanlon’s Song (Partner’s Hero),
who was trailed by Platinum Couple (Tale of the Cat), Deputy Glitters (Deputy
Commander), Greeley’s Legacy (Mr. Greeley), Niagara Causeway (Giant’s Causeway)
and Marco’s Tale (Tale of the Cat).
Bob and John recorded his second graded win following a win in the
Sham S. (G3) two prior. The colt’s career line reads 9-4-1-3 with earnings of
$680,070. Bob and John also placed in the Hollywood Futurity (G1) and San Felipe
S. (G2).
The Kentucky-bred was produced from the Grade 3-winning and Grade 1-placed Minister’s Melody
(Deputy Minister), and was preceded in stakes glory by his half-sister Connie
Belle (Storm Cat). Bob and John also has an unnamed yearling half-brother by
Grand Slam.
