Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Obviously thinking well enough of Dunkirk, a $3.7 million purchase from the 2007 Keeneland sale, Garrett Gomez flew out from California to ride Dunkirk in a Gulfstream Park allowance race. Evidently that gamble paid off.
A lively field of 10 broke cleanly and Dunkirk, breaking from post 8, was forwardly placed but got caught about six wide turning onto the backstretch. However, going up the backstretch, he nestled into fifth position about three lengths off the pacesetters Jet Set Vinny and Alma d’Oro.
Making their way around the far turn, Gomez began to steadily move Dunkirk up to the leaders and by the quarter pole, he had a narrow lead.
In the stretch, Gomez drew off gradually to an impressive 4 3/4 length win. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 150.15.
The next likely target for the impressive Dunkirk is the Florida Derby on March 28th. Earning a 98 Beyer for his effort puts Dunkirk in the Kentucky Derby hunt.
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Old Fashioned took the $250,000 Southwest Stakes(G3) comparatively easily in his 3-year-old debut Monday at Oaklawn Park while defeating 10 opponents, including the highly regarded Silver City. He was not quite as impressive a winner, however, as in his previous start in the Remsen Stakes.
Old Fashioned broke on top but the speedy Silver City, to Old Fashioned’s immediate inside, had another idea as he took the lead turning onto the backstretch. Old Fashioned readily showed he could rate and sat just off the leader in the perfect stalking position.
Setting quick opening fractions of 22.47 for the quarter and 45.98 for the half mile, Silver City looked good. However, after 3/4 of a mile, Old Fashioned began to get the better of Silver City, took command entering the homestretch, drawing away by 3-1/4 lengths in a time of 137.41 for the one-mile battle.
Opening at 1-9 odds, the winner eventually settled at 1-2, and paid $3. Old Fashioned was made the Kentucky Derby Future Wager individual betting favorite, closing at 7-1. Those fans who placed their money on Old Fashioned in this future pool might be pleased enough with his effort here, though perhaps not thrilled with his rather workmanlike, not dazzling, performance they might have been expecting.
Old Fashioned is expected to make his next start in the March 14 $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G2), and subsequently in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 11.
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Overcoming a knot of traffic on the far turn, Pioneerof the Nile achieved the type of experience a Kentucky Derby hopeful needs when he won his 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II).
Pioneerof the Nile, skillfully piloted by Garrett Gomez, broke from the two post and settled off the rail. His journey was a smooth one until jlongshot Charlie’s Moment took the spot away from the Nile just past the three-eighths pole, causing him to lose a bit of momentum. Undaunted, Gomez elected to go 5 wide into the stretch and avoid traffic and found himself 3 ½ lengths behind the leaders at the top of the stretch.
Unleashing a powerful late kick, the son of Empire Maker, running down second choice I Want Revenge and longshot Papa Clem, the Nile indelibly stamped himself as a legitimate 2009 Kentucky Derby contender.
The Nile’s final time was clocked in 141.90 seconds.
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Stardom Bound, the 2-Year-Old Juvenile Female Champion, overcame a bit of trouble to win her three-year-old debut in the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.
This 3-year old daughter of Tapit immediately fell back to trail the fieldin the first eighth of a mile. However, closing in on the half-mile pole, Stardom Bound began moving up at the rail past the backmarkers, but had to wait for running room near the quarter pole even though she was full of run.
She was forced 4-wide turning into the stretch and only needed room to run before her class and ability prevailed. She began to draw clear of the field by the sixteenth pole. The heavy 2-5 favorite, Stardom Bound, crossed the wire a good 1 ¼-lengths in front of the runnerup Haka.
Haka, running under the influence of Rafael Bejarano, came flying at the end and is one to watch.
The final time for Stardom Bound was a solid 136.43 for the one mile race. It’s said that she will consider a showdown with the boys in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4, although trainer Bobby Frankel would not commit to that possibility.
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
The determined Chocolate Candy held off a feisty late run from 9-1 shot Massone in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields.
As she broke from the outside post, jockey Russel Baze settled Chocolate Candy into the fourth position on the outside. As a result, he ended up going 3-wide turning onto the backstretch.
Midway down the backstretch, Baze positioned Chocolate Candy to the outside of Axel Foley, the second betting choice, and by the five-sixteenths pole, Chocolate Candy was clearly flying faster than Axel Foley. Foley didn’t respond to jockey Michael Baze’s urgings enough to keep the pace with the favorite, Chocolate Candy.
Chocolate Candy extended his lead at the one-eighth pole almost a length over the field, but determined Massone rallied boldy at the rail and was matching Chocolate Candy in the deep stretch. Massone just could not quite reach and pass the spirited Chocolate Candy.
Chocolate Candy is expected to run in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4 and may also go for the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) on March 14.
The final time for this race run on the Golden Gate Tapeta surface was 150.44 seconds.
