Some Things We Learned About the Three-Year-Olds – Feb. 27

Bob Hill
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

The cancellation of the racing card at Santa Anita this past Saturday leading to the postponement of the Grade 3 Sham until March 6 greatly reduced the importance of outcomes that might inform those keeping tabs on Derby hopefuls.  As it ends up, the most notable accomplishments of three-year-olds were reduced to one allowance and two maiden special weight races at Gulfstream Park along with the John Battaglia at Turfway Park in which the best horse in the field was disqualified.  A DQ also impacted the outcome of the Borderland Derby, a race that is and was unlikely to shed any light on a horse that will be in the field on May 1.

Gulfstream Park

Trainer Richard Dutrow scratched Radiohead out of the Grade 3 Hutcheson on Feb. 20 and watched his other entry, D’Funnybone, romp to victory in the seven-furlong sprint.  He entered Radiohead back on Feb. 27 in an allowance race and watched that one romp to victory over his stable mate Homeboykris in a time of 1:35.90 for the one-turn mile.  Dutrow has not announced plans for the next races of any of the three, but he must be pleased with the two-week outcome.  In my opinion, Radiohead is the most likely of the three to relish the classic distances of Triple Crown races, but time will tell.  In the very least, Dutrow has some very nice sprinters in this group.

One race prior to the aforementioned allowance, nine three-year-olds went to post in the first division of two maiden special weight races that included several highly regarded colts.  Game on Dude stalked the pace set by Trinity Run and Our Dark Night before pulling away in the stretch for a three-length victory in a time of 1:36.73.  In the second division of the race, Miner’s Reserve stalked the pace of Gothics Peak before taking the lead at the half-mile pole and romped on to a 5½-length victory over highly regarded Bushwhacked.  Miner’s Reserve time of 1:35.87 was .03 seconds faster than the time of Radiohead in his allowance race.  It is very likely that we will see Miner’s Reserve in something more ambitious that will give him a chance to earn enough graded stakes money to get into the field of the Kentucky Derby.

John Battaglia Memorial

I do not recall ever getting too excited about Derby prep races contested at Turfway Park.  First, those races are run on synthetic surfaces, and second the road to Louisville does not typically run through the part of Kentucky that is home to Turfway Park.  That said, however, I think it is very possible that Codoy may be in the starting gate on Derby Day.  Unless Turfway is invaded by a group of talented outsiders for the Grade 2 Lanes End on April 1, Codoy should be the favorite in that race.  What he did last Saturday is worthy of note.  He came from dead last and passed all in the field as he crossed the finish line first.  All of this happened as his jockey was forced to hand ride him for the final 3/16 miles after he lost his whip.  The DQ may have been justified, but there was not another in the field that was going to win that race minus the disqualification.

Look Ahead

We can look ahead this week to the rescheduled Sham and to the Gotham at Aqueduct.  I do want to observe that it is looking more and more like many in the field on Derby Day will have what would be considered shaky foundations in the past.  Several highly regarded entrants may have only two prep races as three-year olds, some may run on dirt for the first time, and others may be running in only their second stakes race.

Top Ten

Lookin At Lucky, Eskendereya, Caracortado, Discreetly Mine, Rule, Conveyance, Sidney’s Candy, Buddy’s Saint, Super Saver, Tempted to Tapit

There is talk of sending Conveyance to Dubai for the UAE Derby.  That move would be a sure indication that his connections do not expect him to be a Derby contender.  At least a part of what might be informing such a decision is related to the intriguing question, “How many horses can be on the lead in the Kentucky Derby?”