KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT
FEBRUARY 21, 2008
by James Scully
DENIS OF CORK (Harlan’s Holiday) remained perfect in Monday’s Southwest S.
(G3), and a buzz is circulating once again in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Four years ago, Smarty Jones took the area by storm, sweeping the Southwest,
Rebel S. and Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to becoming the first undefeated Kentucky
Derby (G1) winner since Seattle Slew. Dual classic winner Afleet Alex was the
rave at Oaklawn Park in 2005, and Lawyer Ron captivated fans the following
season with three authoritative victories. Last year was all about Curlin (Smart
Strike).
Denis of Cork isn’t in the same class yet, but a dominant 2 1/4-length
victory in the one-mile Southwest puts him on the right path. After breaking his
maiden at Churchill Downs in late November, the David Carroll runner opened his
three-year-old campaign with an allowance score over a sloppy track at Fair
Grounds on January 19. The bay colt made his stakes debut as the near 5-1 third
choice on Monday.
A blistering pace developed as SACRED JOURNEY (Unbridled’s Song) ripped
through splits in :22 3/5 and :45 1/5, and new rider Robby Albarado settled
Denis of Cork well off the pace in midpack, more than 18 lengths behind the
leader at the half-mile mark. Denis of Cork began to make up ground on the far
turn and sling-shotted into the stretch, quickly overhauling the pacesetter and
drawing clear with big strides in the final furlong. He impressively finished
full of run under the wire, and the Florida-bred registered a career-best 99
BRIS Speed figure with a 101 Late Pace rating.
Only thrice-raced, Denis of Cork is building an excellent resume. He’s won on
fast and sloppy tracks, behind fast and slow paces, and overcame wide trips in
his first two outings. Out of an Unbridled mare, he’s bred to relish longer
distances. Denis of Cork still has much to prove, but the Southwest was a grand
step in the progression of an exciting three-year-old.
SIERRA SUNSET (Bertrando), who raced close to the stiff pace, finished a
clear second, and a tiring Sacred Journey managed to dead-heat for third.
Surprisingly, no horses closed from off the pace other than the winner. Grade 3
hero TURF WAR (Dixie Union), the 2-1 favorite, broke inward at the start,
immediately dropped to the back of the pack, and offered no rally whatsoever in
a dull ninth-place effort. Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER (Harlan’s Holiday), the
3-1 second choice, displayed a little more run, advancing some on the far turn,
but came up empty in the short stretch and settled for sixth. The top-two
betting choices both ran poorly.
On Saturday, FIERCE WIND (Dixie Union) blew through the Sam F. Davis S. at
Tampa Bay Downs, notching his first stakes win with a half-length decision. From
a Nick Zito shedrow loaded with Kentucky Derby prospects, Fierce Wind brought a
two-race winning skein into his stakes debut, breaking his maiden by 10 1/4
lengths at Calder before capturing a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Gulfstream by 5 1/4
lengths, both wins coming on the front end. He showed speed after breaking
sharply in the 1 1/16-mile Sam Davis but willingly gave up the lead entering the
first turn, settling into a perfect stalking trip in fourth down the
backstretch. The dark bay moved beautifully on the far outside to challenge for
the lead midway on the far turn, and continued his momentum into the stretch,
opening a 1 1/2-length advantage with a sixteenth left.
The Kentucky-bred finished well, withstanding the fast-closing BIG TRUCK
(Hook and Ladder) in deep stretch, and the improving colt certainly merits
respect going forward off this effort. After showing little in his first two
starts sprinting, Fierce Wind became a different horse when stretching out to
two turns in mid-December, and he’s bred to run long on his dam side (out of an
A.P. Indy mare). Tactical speed is also an asset for the well-bred colt, but we
must keep the Sam Davis in perspective.
Grade 3 winner Z HUMOR (Distorted Humor), the 6-5 favorite, was a threatening
presence on the front end during the early stages but quit readily upon reaching
the top of the stretch, eventually fading to fifth. Runner-up Big Truck, a New
York-bred, was beaten handily in his last two starts versus graded rivals and
rated no better than third-string in the Barclay Tagg stable entering the race.
Also, Fierce Wind’s 96 Speed rating was a little disappointing. After receiving
only decent numbers (95 and 91) for runaway scores in his previous two starts,
his Speed rating increased only slightly on Saturday. He’ll probably need
significant improvement next time.
Saturday’s Hallandale Beach S. at Gulfstream Park normally wouldn’t receive
any mention here, but COWBOY CAL (Indian Charlie) was using the 1 1/16-mile turf
race as a prep toward the big race at Churchill Downs. Things didn’t go as
planned for the Todd Pletcher pupil, who attempted to lead wire-to-wire but
wound up being overtaken by stablemate WHY TONTO (Indian Charlie) in midstretch.
Considering that Cowboy Cal easily handled Why Tonto in the Tropical Park Derby
(G3) on New Year’s Derby and was being listed in many Top 10 lists for the
Kentucky Derby, the outcome was a big shock.
Pletcher said plans won’t change for Cowboy Cal, who wasn’t scheduled to see
the dirt before the Derby anyway. The two-time stakes winner will be pointed
toward the April 12 Blue Grass S. (G1) on Polytrack, which plays favorably for
turf horses, but Cowboy Cal won’t bring the lofty reputation into the race that
he enjoyed prior to the Hallandale.
Nashua S. (G3) winner ETCHED (Forestry) brought a two-for-two mark into his
sophomore debut, Thursday’s U.A.E. Two Guineas (UAE-G3) at Nad al Sheba, but the
Godolphin colorbearer came up empty late in a fourth-place showing. With
Godolphin’s second-stringer My Indy (Indygo Shiner) getting the best of him in
third, Etched’s performance was very disappointing.
In other developments, CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) is reportedly off the Derby
trail due to an injury, and that’s a sad development indeed. His Bob Lewis (G2)
was among the top performances so far this year, along with PYRO’s (Pulpit)
Risen Star (G3), EL GATO MALO’s (El Corredor) San Rafael (G3) and Denis of Cork’s
Southwest, and the lightly raced colt appeared to own a very high ceiling. The
good news is that he’s expected to make a complete recovery, so we could see
Crown of Thorns later in the year.
Upcoming
Gulfstream will finally deliver an enticing stakes race for three-year-olds
with Sunday’s Fountain of Youth (G2). COURT VISION (Gulch), MONBA (Maria’s Mon)
and ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop) are the top-three prospects at this writing, and
an interesting ensemble cast is expected to include promising runners in ADRIANO
(A.P. Indy), ELYSIUM FIELDS (El Prado [Ire]) and MAKE THE POINT (Menifee).
Top 10
1) PYRO — Risen Star vaulted him to the top of the list
2) COURT VISION — Remsen (G2) winner looms large in Fountain of Youth
3) DENIS OF CORK — Giving him serious kudos following Southwest
4) COLONEL JOHN — Working well for 3/1 Sham (G3)
5) TALE OF EKATI — We’ll see him in 3/8 Louisiana Derby (G2)
6) WAR PASS — Saturday allowance at Gulfstream didn’t fill for champion
juvenile
7) MAJESTIC WARRIOR — Bill Mott runner is preparing for Louisiana Derby
8) INTO MISCHIEF — Eligible to improve off runner-up effort in San Vicente
(G2)
9) EL GATO MALO — Smashing San Rafael winner
10) MAKE THE POINT — Will attempt to make a splash in Fountain of Youth