Philadelphia Park’s Pennsylvania Derby (G2) on Labor Day Monday will feature
the first $1 million purse in that state’s history. Hoping to take the winner’s
share in the 1 1/8-mile test will be 11 three-year-olds, many of whom competed
on the Triple Crown trail earlier in the season.
Leading the pack as the 3-1 favorite on the morning line is ZANJERO (Cherokee
Run), who was last seen taking the West Virginia Derby (G3) by a nose on August
4. The Steven Asmussen pupil has often given a good accounting of himself, running second in the Remsen S. (G2) prior to thirds in the
Risen Star S. (G3), Louisiana
Derby (G2) and Blue Grass S. (G1). In the latter race, the dark bay sophomore
was a neck back of the winner, with eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) and Travers S.
(G1) hero Street Sense (Street Cry [Ire]) just a head in front in second.
Zanjero couldn’t hold that form in the Kentucky Derby, finishing 12th, but
quickly rebounded to just miss by a neck in the Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup S.
(G3) prior to the West Virginia Derby. He’ll keep Shaun Bridgmohan aboard
while looking to add a second black-type score to his record.
COWTOWN CAT (Distorted Humor) took two preps for the Kentucky Derby, posting
a 2 1/2-length victory in the Gotham S. (G3) prior to a 2 1/4-length victory in
the Illinois Derby (G2). He was well beaten in the Run for the Roses, but has
improved in each start since, recording two fourths in the Ohio Derby (G2) and
Jim Dandy S. (G2), with the latter coming behind Street Sense. The Todd Pletcher
charge is listed as the 4-1 second choice on the morning line and will get Ramon
Dominguez in the saddle for the first time since taking the Gotham.
BWANA BULL (Holy Bull) will share 6-1 morning-line odds with TIMBER RESERVE
(Forest Camp) and the entry of GET SERIOUS (City Zip) and CABLE BOY (Jump Start).
Grade 3 hero Bwana Bull enters this one having just missed by a nose to Zanjero
last out in the West Virginia Derby, while stakes winner Cable Boy was fifth most
recently in the Haskell Invitational H. (G1).
Get Serious is a late bloomer, breaking his maiden by 6 3/4 lengths in his
second career start on June 27 at Monmouth Park. The Patrick McBurney-trained chestnut made his stakes debut a second in the Long Branch Breeders’ Cup S.
behind next-out King’s Bishop S. (G1) runner-up First Defence (Unbridled’s
Song), and most recently was a three-length allowance winner. Timber Reserve was
fourth in the Remsen in his final juvenile start last November, but didn’t make
his 2007 debut until July 21, taking an allowance/optional claimer by 3 1/4
lengths at Belmont Park.
SAM P. (Cat Thief), fourth in the West Virginia Derby, drew the rail at 8-1
on the morning line. He’ll tote 114 pounds, including Rene Douglas. To their
outside will be Bwana Bull, Eddie Castro, 122; Get Serious, C.C. Lopez, 114;
Timber Reserve, Javier Castellano, 114; Grade 2 victor SLEW’S TIZZY (Tiznow),
Robby Albarado, 122, 15-1; West Virginia Derby third MOYER’S POND (Monarchos),
Calvin Borel, 114; 15-1; Barbaro S. (G3) winner XCHANGER (Exchange Rate), Luis
Garcia, 122; 8-1; Zanjero, 122; Cable Boy, Jose Velez Jr., 114; Cowtown Cat,
122; and Kentucky Derby and Haskell fourth-placer IMAWILDANDCRAZYGUY (Wild
Event), Manoel Cruz, 114; 12-1.
Get Serious and Cable Boy will run coupled due to common ownership.
While the Pennsylvania Derby will make history as the state’s first race with
a $1 million purse, one race earlier the
Turf
Monster H. will also earn a place in the annals by offering $200,000 to
become the state’s richest turf test. A full field of 12 was entered in the
five-furlong event, headlined by Aegon Turf Sprint S. (G3) hero GAFF (Maria’s
Mon) and the mare UNBRIDLED SIDNEY (Unbridled’s Song), who was second in the
Distaff Turf Sprint Championship H. as the defending champion.