#derby trail

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Practical Move prevailed in the G1 Santa Anita Derby

The big bay was able to stalk the pace while tucked inside and took over from a tiring One in Vermillion as they hit the stretch. He wasn’t alone in making a big move, Skinner closed from further back and as the wire loomed closer, Mandarin Hero was finally able to get clear after a tough trip and rushed up between Skinner and Practical Move to make it a 3-way battle. Practical Move held the Japanese contender off by a nose with Skinner only half a length behind them. It was 2 1/4 back to National Treasure in fourth and a long way back to the rest of the field.

The California group hasn’t been making a lot of headlines this year, but they’ve run some of the fastest preps. Practical Move is in 2nd place to Forte in the points standings with 160pts. The updated point system means everyone else from this race is on the outside looking in. Skinner is sitting in 21st place with 45 pts and Mandarin Hero is back in 24th with 40pts. I hope a few horses in front of them decide to skip the Derby because all three of these top finishers deserve a chance for the roses.

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The G2 Wood Memorial looked like it might be a chaotic finish and it sure was with Lord Miles scoring at 59-1.

Arctic Arrogance and Uncle Jake battled early with Dreamlike,Lord Miles and Hit Show sitting right behind that group. When Uncle Jake dropped anchor and Arctic Arrogance started to weaken, the maiden Dreamlike was the first to take over, but Hit Show and Lord Miles just a step behind and the three colts battled to the wire with Lord Miles getting his nose down first and Hit Show holding onto second by a head. It was a long way back to Arctic Arrogance in 4th.

This was Lord Miles 2nd win from 5 races – his first since breaking his maiden on debut back in November. Before this, he was 6th in the Holy Bull, a troubled 5th in the Tampa Bay Derby and third in the Mucho Macho Man.

Lord Miles is by the great, classic sire Curlin and out of the Majestic Warrior mare, Lady Esme. Lady Esme is an unraced daughter of Come a Callin, making her a half-sister champion 2yo filly Caledonia Road and multiple graded stakes winner Officiating. Lord Miles is definitely bred to be a good one.

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Tapit Trice showed he’s got some fight with this win in the G1 Bluegrass

The big grey was pushed early to stay closer, sitting a wide trip just behind the early leaders while Verifying and Clear the Air contended the pace. When they hit the stretch, Verifying started to pull away, but Tapit Trice was right there with him.  The top 2 battled throughout the stretch with Tapit Trice pulling ahead to win by a neck with Blazing Sevens 5 3/4 lengths back in third, just in front of Sun Thunder and Raise Cain.

Tapit Trice still looks like he doesn’t quite know what he’s doing out there, but he sure makes up for that with talent and showed today that he’s got some heart. His 150pts put him in 4th, while Verifying is safely in 13th with his 54 pts. This race had several other runners with points already who are safely in the Derby gate – Raise Cain is in 9th with 64pts, Sun Thunder is in 14th with 54pts, and Blazing Sevens is in the 17th spot with 46pts.

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Forte continues to reign with a win in the G1 Florida Derby

It was an impressive run for the top finishers in this one. When the early speed started to fade, Cyclone Mischief got the first jump while Forte was caught behind a wall of horses. Mage made his move from far back early, and as he closed in on Cyclone Mischief, it locked Forte in and forced that rival to wait to get running room. Cyclone kept fighting, but Mage took command as Forte started to reel that pair in. It took the whole stretch, but Forte was a determined winner in the end.

Forte is the likely Derby favorite with that win, though I’m betting Mage is going to get a lot of play off such a huge second.

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Wild On Ice sprung a 35-1 upset in the G3 Sunland Derby to snag 50 Kentucky Derby points

Big favorites Hard to Figure and Henry Q went at it hard early with the big longshots Wild on Ice and Low Expectations sitting just behind that top pair. When the favorites started to tire, Wild on Ice was the first to pounce and held off Low Expectations to get the win. Henry Q held on to third while the big favorite Hard To Figure faded to last.

Wild On Ice has 5 races under his belt – all in New Mexico. He broke his maiden on debut at Zia Park and won an allowance there to wrap up his 2yr old season. His 3 starts at 3 have all been at Sunland Park. He was last in the Riley Allison after a rough start, then came back to be third in the Mine That Bird Derby behind Henry Q. I don’t think Wild On Ice is nominated to the KY Derby yet, but there’s still time for that if his people want to go.

Wild On Ice is a Texas bred son of the late Tapizar and out of Slamitagain. She is a half-sister to Dream Warrior, who won a decent amount of cash running as a handicap horse in Hong Kong. Slamitagain is a daughter of Oonagh, who is a half-sister to Vicar who won the G1 Florida Derby back in 1999.

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Kingsbarns stayed undefeated with an easy, runaway win in the G2 Louisiana Derby

In a race with very little early speed signed on, Kingsbarns broke sharply, went straight to the lead and never looked back. He was able to set a quite slow pace (which Shopper’s Revenge looked pretty mad about) and when they hit the stretch he kicked away and kept on going. Disarm closed from 6th to get the place spot, but was well behind the winner.

Kingsbarns is undefeated, but has run only 3 times. He broke his maiden on debut in January, was an impressive allowance race winner in February, and now has the G2 LA Derby trophy.

He is a son of the brilliant Uncle Mo and Lady Tapit. Lady Tapit is a daughter of Temperence Girl, who is also the dam of G1 winner Gozzip Girl.

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After twice hitting the board in Derby preps, Two Phil’s got his big win in the G3, 100pt Jeff Ruby Steaks. 

Two Phil’s sat well back in the early stages, slowly moving up to mid field by midway through the race. When they hit the stretch, he took off, flew past pace setter Funtastic Again and was never bothered by the favorite - and eventual runner up - Major Dude. It was a very impressive looking run for the flashy chestnut.

The Jeff Ruby was Two Phil’s 8th race and 4th win. He broke his maiden at 2nd asking, won a stakes at Canterbury before finishing a well beaten 7th in the G1 Breeders Futurity, then came back to win the G3 Street Sense to wrap up his 2yr old season. He started 2023 with a 2nd in the G3 Lecomte, then was a good 3rd in the G2 Risen Star before getting his big win in the Jeff Ruby.

He’s been a very well-traveled colt, he’s run at 6 tracks already in Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Virginia.

Two Phil’s is by the brilliant Hard Spun and out of Mia Torri. Mia Torri was G3 placed and won a couple of decent little stakes in her racing days. Mia Torri is a half sister to fellow stakes runner, River Rocks.

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The Gr2 UAE Derby was a complete tour de force for Derma Sotogake (JPN)

The flashy chestnut went straight to the lead from his inside post and never looked back. Fellow Japanese competitors Dura Erede (JPN) and Continuar (JPN) tried to make a race of it, but Derma Sotogake just kept pouring it on. As they went down the stretch, he pulled further and further ahead to win by 5 1/2. It was another 4 1/2 back to Continuar in 3rd. The finishes the 1 3/16 miles in a quick 1:55.81.

Derma Sotogake raced 6 times as a 2yr old in Japan. He broke his maiden in his 4th race then finished the year with 2 more wins in stakes at Hanshin and Kawasaki. He started his 3yr old season with a decent 3rd place finish in the Gr3 Saudi Derby before winning the Gr2 UAE Derby. 

Derma Sotogake is from the first crop of Mind Your Biscuits - a brilliant American sprinter who loved to win big races in Dubai. His dam is Amour Poesie(JPN), a stakes winning mare. Her dam, Happy Request (JPN) was a solid stakes horse.

It’s looking like the top 3 finishers of this race will head to the Derby. Derma Sotogake and Dura Erede with the points from this race and Continuar taking the invitation given to the top points earning horse on the Japan road to the Kentucky Derby.