**5 P.M. DEADLINE for KENTUCKY DERBY PICKS CONTEST! Top 3 picks get points coinciding with finish position, lowest number wins, put down a race time as a tie-break!
Win a copy of 50 to 1 movie! Enter picks under Comment button on any of last few posts!!
RICHARD MOYLAN, CARMEN DIPAOLA and family hoping for PHAROAH win
Up in Orangeville, VINTAGE RED, awaiting foaling to Court Vision, does know what the fuss is about. The 17-year-old mare by Explosive Red is owned by Richard Moylan who obtained her from Joan Addison. The mare has produced several winners but the the real excitement is that the half sister Littleprincessemma is the dam of AMERICAN PHAROAH. “It’s pretty exciting,” said Moylan, who reports the mare has a Giant Gizmo weanling and a Sky Conqueror filly. The syndicate group Ten Easy Pieces had a lot of success with Vintage Red and should the Pharoah win, what a pedigree page update that would be.
Meanwhile, Santino DiPaola saw the filly COLINS NIGHTINGALE in the claiming entries late last year and already knew that she was also a close relative of AMERICAN PHAROAH. You see, Colins Nightingale is out of Vintage Red and was racing for Ten Easy Pieces before she was claimed from them. When Dipaola, whose family runs York Tech Stable, saw her in the entries again, he jumped in. Colins Nightingale was immediately retired and her new owners will be watching with much interest come Derby time.
Is AMERICAN PHAROAH the one? Who do you like? Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
“Your fate is delivered, your moment’s at hand”
It’s KENTUCKY DERBY DAY!
The horses and trainers and owners have been studied, interviewed; we feel we know every one of them intimately. Whoever wins, there will be great stories of the breeding, the winner as a foal or at auction and the connections from owner to groom.
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME plays during the post parade…
PHAROAH THE EARLY FAVE
Advanced Bets on the 2015 Derby
1. Ocho Ocho Ocho 28-1
2. Carpe Diem 7-1
3. Materiality 17-1
4. Tencendur 61-1
5. Danzig Moon 19-1
6. Mubtaahij 16-1
7. El Kabeir SCR
8. Dortmund 9-2
9. Bolo 48-1
10. Firing Line 10-1
11. Stanford SCR
12. International Star 19-1
13. Itsaknockout 35-1
14. Keen Ice 29-1
15. Frosted 9-1
16. War Story 43-1
17. Mr. Z 27-1
18. American Pharoah 5-2
19. Upstart 32-1
20. Far Right 42-1
21. Frammento 99-1
THOROUGHBLOG’S COMMENTS/FIELD CHART – THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS
Saturday, Churchill Downs, post time: 6:34 p.m. EDT
KENTUCKY DERBY-GI, $2,000,000, 3yo, 1 1/4m
PP HORSE SIRE ODDS Sale info Owner/breeder/trainer Record
1 Ocho Ocho Ocho Street Sense 50-1
($50,000 yrl ‘13 KEESEP; $200,000 2yo ‘14 OBSAPR) O-DP Racing LLC; B-Siena Farms LLC (KY); T-James M Cassidy; J-Elvis Trujillo. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, $793,850.
Last Start: 3rd GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 4
– He was hip no 888 at a Florida 2yo sale, thus the name. Now that we have that out of the way…he is 3rd start off the layoff, good..3rd in the Blue Grass, not bad..by a Kentucky Derby winner..good..best Beyer Figure may only be 95..not good.
2 Carpe Diem Giant’s Causeway 8-1
($550,000 yrl ‘13 KEESEP; $1,600,000 2yo ‘14 OBSMAR)
O-WinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables; B-Coffee Pot Stable (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-John Velazquez. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $1,519,800. Last Start: WON GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 4
– He cost a pretty penny, he has the looks and the breeding and the connections. He is 3rd start off the layoff and he is sitting on a 100 Beyer Figure, maybe a bit higher. Lots to like.
3 Materiality Afleet Alex 12-1
($260,000 yrl ‘13 KEESEP; $400,000 2yo ‘14 FTMMAY)
O-Alto Racing LLC; B-John D Gunther (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Javier Castellano. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $656,028. Last Start: WON GI Florida Derby Mar. 28
– Unbeaten! But no horse has won the Derby without having a race as a 2yo since..well it’s so long ago I have forgotten..like 1920. John Velazquez bailed for Carpe Diem
4 Tencendur Warrior’s Reward 30-1
O/B-Philip S Birsh (NY); T-George Weaver; J-Manny Franco. Lifetime
Record: 5-1-1-1, $253,500. Last Start: 2nd GI Wood Memorial S. Apr. 4
– Popped with a big race in the Wood Memorial with 100 Beyer Figure but distance is a bit of a question. BUllet Churchill workout is nice.
5 Danzig Moon Malibu Moon 30-1
($160,000 yrl ‘13 KEESEP)
O-John C Oxley; B-William D Graham (ON); T-Mark Casse; J-Julien Leparoux. Lifetime Record: 5-1-2-0, $251,120.
Last Start: 2nd GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 4
– Getting a lot of buzz and hype and not just from the homeys here at Woodbine. Flashy, strong, showing improvement but topped at out 90 in Beyer Figures and only a 95 can be projected.
6 Mubtaahij (Ire) Dubawi (Ire) 20-1
(€450,000 yrl ‘13 ARQAUG)
O-Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum; B-Dunmore Stud Ltd; T-Michael F De Kock; J-Christophe Soumillon. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $1,461,332. Last Start: WON G2 UAE Derby Mar. 28
– wins or is far back? We really have no clue how good this horse is. He won in Dubai with ease. But what does that mean? If he gallops to victory it would be quite something.
7 El Kabeir k Scat Daddy 30-1
($250,000 yrl ‘13 OBSAUG)
O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Rustlewood Farm Inc (FL); T-John P Terranova
III; J-Calvin Borel. Lifetime Record: 9-4-2-2, $768,892.
Last Start: 3rd GI Wood Memorial Apr. 4
8 Dortmund Big Brown 3-1
($85,000 RNA wnlg ‘12 KEENOV; $90,000 yrl ‘13 FTKJUL;$140,000 2yo ‘14 FTMMAY)
O-Kaleem Shah Inc; B-Emilie Gerlinde Fojan (KY); T-Bob Baffert;J-Martin Garcia. Lifetime Record: 6-6-0-0, $1,289,400.
Last Start: WON GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 4
– Unbeaten! He is huge and leggy, and a cool dude. He refuses to lose and, well maybe he is way better than the Pharoah? by Big Brown, a Derby winner.
9 Bolo Temple City 30-1
O-Golden Pegasus Racing Inc & Earle I Mack; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC
(KY); T-Carla Gaines; J-Rafael Bejarano. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-2,$249,700.
Last Start: 3rd GI Santa Anita Derby
– has his own Twitter account now. Has chased Dortmund in 2 races. Could bounce back and run a 101 id he handles distance (a big question)
10 Firing Line Line of David 12-1
($65,000 wnlg ‘12 KEENOV; $150,000 yrl ‘13 FTKJUL;
$240,000 2yo ‘14 KEEAPR)
O-Arnold Zetcher LLC; B-Clearsky Farm (KY); T-Simon Callaghan;
J-Gary Stevens. Lifetime Record: 5-2-3-0, $574,800.
Last Start: WON GIII Sunland Derby Mar. 22
– really starting to like this guy..he almost beat Dortmund..he is fast but strong. Would want nice, nice odds
11 Stanford K Malibu Moon 30-1
($120,000 yrl ‘13 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo ‘14 BESMAR)
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC, Smith, Tabor & Magnier; B-WinStar Farm
LLC (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Florent Geroux. Lifetime Record:
5-2-1-0, $199,400.
Last Start: 2nd GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 28
12 International Star Fusaichi Pegasus 20-1
($85,000 yrl ‘13 FTMSEP)
O-Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey; B-Katharine M Voss & Robert T Manfuso (NY); T-Michael Maker; J-Miguel Mena. Lifetime Record: 9-5-2-0, $1,010,979.
Last Start: WON GII Louisiana Derby
– Won all 3 stakes in the winter and spring at Fair grounds. Won at Woodbine and Belmont too. He is a hard trying, neat horse. He also ran so hard in the La. Derby last time (more than 25 hits with whip), that 98 Beyer Figure may be all he has got
13 Itsaknockout Lemon Drop Kid 30-1
($130,000 wnlg ‘12 KEENOV; $350,000 yrl ‘13 FTSAUG)
O-Starlight Racing; B-Brookfield Stud (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Luis Saez. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $335,360.
Last Start: 4th GI Florida Derby Mar. 28
– Ya ya, there is some big boxing thing today. Colt’s best Beyer of 88..never mind.
14 Keen Ice Curlin 50-1
($48,000 wnlg ‘12 KEENOV; $120,000 yrl ‘13 KEESEP)
O-Donegal Racing; B-Glencrest Farm LLC (KY); T-Dale Romans; J-Kent Desormeaux. Lifetime Record: 7-1-0-2, $160,395.
Last Start: 3rd GII Louisiana Derby
– want to like this guy at huge odds. He looked awesome in his training moves when I saw him but he has not threatened International Star or Upstart or Frosted..
15 Frosted Tapit 15-1
O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Darley (KY); T-Kiaran McLaughlin; J-Joel Rosario. Lifetime Record: 7-2-4-0, $836,800.
Last Start: WON GI Wood Memorial
– Loved him in the Wood Memorial when he got a better ride. He won and is very interesting off the 103 Beyer Figure
16 War Story Northern Afleet 50-1
($90,000 yrl ‘13 KEESEP; $58,000 RNA 2yo ‘14 OBSMAR;
$51,000 2yo ‘14 FTMMAY)
O-Loooch Racing Stables Inc, Glenn Ellis & Christopher Dunn; B-Jack
Swain III (KY); T-Tom Amoss; J-Joe Talamo.
Last Start: 3rd GII Louisiana Derby
– Paired up 91 Beyers, looks like distance is going to be the biggest problem
17 Mr. Z Malibu Moon 50-1
($60,000 RNA yrl ‘13 KEESEP; $135,000 yrl ‘13 FTKOCT)
O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Richard D Maynard (KY); T-D Wayne Lukas; J-Ramon Vasquez. Lifetime Record: 12-1-4-4, $652,226.
Last Start: 3rd GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 11
– I just feel a bit sorry for this guy, non-stop racing since last summer and he is never close to these types
18 American Pharoah Pioneerof the Nile 5-2
($300,000 yrl ‘13 FTSAUG)
O/B-Zayat Stables (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Victor Espinoza. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, $1,411,500.
Last Start: WON GI Arkansas Derb
– he has it all, looks, speed, stamina, big Beyer Figures..too good to be true?
19 Upstart Flatter 15-1
($130,000 yrl ‘13 FTNAUG)
O-Ralph M Evans & WinStar Farm; B-Mrs Gerald A Nielsen (NY);
T-Richard A Violette Jr; J-Jose Ortiz. Lifetime Record: 7-3-3-1,$971,480.
Last Start: 2nd GI Florida Derby
– Loved him as a derby prospect in January – then he sort of fell out of favour with loss in Fla Derby. But he has big Beyer Figures, a good style of running..
20 Far Right Notional 30-1
($2,500 yrl ‘13 KEEJAN)
O-Robert V LaPenta & Harry T Rosenblum; B-Nossab LLC & Patrick J Crowley (KY); T-Mike Smith. Lifetime Record: 9-3-3-2, $625,766.
Last Start: 2nd GI Arkansas Derby
– will come from far back and he is interesting for a little piece as he seems to be improving
21 Frammento Midshipman
($50,000 wnlg ‘12 KEENOV; $85,000 yrl ‘13 FTKJUL;
$260,000 2yo ‘14 FTFMAR) O-Mossarosa; B-Mr & Mrs Oliver S Tait (KY); T-Nick Zito; J-No Rider.
Lifetime Record: 7-1-1-1, $139,700.
Last Start: 4th GI Toyota Blue Grass
– drew in from the AE list, love that angle. But a 90-92 Beyer is all that can be projected
THOROUGHBLOG –
1- AMERICAN PHAROAH
2 – FIRING LINE
3 – UPSTART
4 – DORTMUND plus a few sneaky longshots for exotics like BOLO, CARPE DIEM FROSTED
DERBY FEATURES:
ANDY BEYER HANDICAPS DERBY
BOB BAFFERT..
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/05/01/superstar-stablemates-ready-to-rule-derby
GROOMS AT WOODBINE
LOVELY OAKS – Canadian owned SHOOK UP is 2nd
LOVELY MARIA stalked the speed from 2 lengths back and then led from the top of the stretch to the wire (far right). SHOOK UP (grey horse) was on the rail and stalking all the way and finished a good 2nd while Angela Renee was in the pace battle and she was 4th (red cap) Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
At one time a $5,000 buy back as a weanling, LOVELY MARIA won the $1 million Kentucky Oaks, Grade 1 for her 4th win in 8 races. REGIS STABLES’ SHOOK UP was 2nd and she is trained by Steve Asmussen for ontario native Nat Rea.
The time for 1 1/8 miles of 1:50.45 was good for a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
The race recap is below:
LOVELY MARIA, by Majesticperfection, ears pricked at the finish line. Kerwin Clark, 56, rides this Brereton Jones filly. Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
The Jones boys struck again in the Kentucky Oaks.
Owner-breeder Brereton Jones and trainer Larry Jones (no relation) combined to win their Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) when Lovely Maria charged to a 2 ¾-length victory over Shook Up to win the 141st running of the $1 million race for 3-year-old fillies before a record Oaks Day crowd of 123,763 on a mild, sunny afternoon.
Friday’s attendance shattered the mark of 116,046 established in 2010.
Brereton Jones and Larry Jones combined to win the 2008 Oaks with Proud Spell and the 2012 running with Believe You Can.
The victory, the second consecutive Grade 1 score for Lovely Maria, was worth $570,400 and increased her earnings to $973,000 with a record of 7-4-3-0.
Lovely Maria was ridden by veteran Kerwin Clark, who scored his first career Grade I victory aboard Lovely Maria in Keeneland’s Ashland Stakes last month.
Lovely Maria, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Majesticperfection out of the Thunder Gulch mare Thundercap, ran the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:50.45.
Condo Commando, ridden by Joel Rosario, led the field of 14 through early fractions of :23.51 and :47.26 with Angela Renee and John Velazquez in closest pursuit. Racing in the second tier were Shook Up with Robby Albarado and Lovely Maria.
On the far turn, Condo Commando began to retreat as Angela Renee took over entering the stretch with Lovely Maria and Shook Up closing in. Angela Renee dropped out before the eighth pole and I’m a Chatterbox closed to get third and give Larry Jones a 1-3 finish in the race.
Lovely Maria returned $14.60, $7.80 and $5.40. Shook Up, returned $20.20 and $11.40 and finished a length ahead of I’m a Chatterbox who paid $5 to show under Florent Geroux.
Favored Stellar Wind finished another length back in fourth and was followed in order by Birdatthewire, Angela Renee, Oceanwave, Include Betty, Condo Commando, Eskenformoney, Forever Unbridled, Puca, Money’soncharlotte and Sarah Sis, who did not finish.
Also on the oaks card was the Twin Spires Turf Sprint and POWER ALERT, the Australian import owned in part by Brian Lynch, won while Something Extra, for Gail Cox and John Menary, finished 3rd.
POWER ALERT loves North America (and Lasix)
