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Post by Evelyn on Mar 26, 2014 21:51:29 GMT -5
Race 11 - Louisiana Derby (Grade II)
Purse $1,000,000. For Three Year Olds. (Foals of 2011) Early Bird Nomination Fee of $500 due by Monday, December 16, 2013, which includes nomination fee for Lecomte Stakes (GIII) and Risen Star Stakes (GII) (Early Bird). Final nomination for Louisiana Derby closes Saturday, March 15 by subscription of $1,000. $5,000 to pass the entry box, $5,000 additional to start. Supplemental nominations of $50,000 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all fees. $1,000,000 Guaranteed of which 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 4% to fourth, 2% to fifth and 1% to starters sixth through ninth. Weight: Colts and Geldings 122 Lbs. Fillies 117 Lbs. Preference will be given in the following manner: First preference to graded or group winners in order (I,II,III), then highest career earnings. Starters to be named through the entry box at usual time of closing. The Louisiana Derby will be limited to fourteen (14) starters. Failure to draw into the race will cancel all fees. A trophy will be presented to the winning owner. Closed Saturday, March 15, 2014, with 89 nominations. One And One Eighth Miles. PP Horse Virtual Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer 1 Intense Holiday (KY) 3/C L M E Smith 122 T A Pletcher 2 King Cyrus (KY) 3/C L J Graham 122 T A Pletcher 3 Louies Flower (FL) 3/C L M Mena 122 W B Calhoun 4 Flat Gone (KY) 3/C L K J Desormeaux 122 J K Desormeaux 5 Gold Hawk (KY) 3/C L S Bridgmohan 122 S M Asmussen 6 Vicar's in Trouble (LA) 3/C L R Napravnik 122 M J Maker 7 Commanding Curve (KY) 3/R L R Albarado 122 D Stewart 8 Rise Up (KY) 3/C L G Melancon 122 T M Amoss 9 In Trouble (KY) 3/C L J Rocco, Jr. 122 A W Dutrow 10 Albano (KY) 3/C L K D Clark 122 J L Jones
Owners: 1 - Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf, Donald Lucarelli, et al) ; 2 - WinStar Farm, LLC (Kenny Troutt) ; 3 - Wesley Melcher ; 4 - Don't Tell My Wife St.2013,LLC (K.Godby, J.K.Desormeaux, et al) ; 5 - Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC (Joan & Ron Winchell) ; 6 - Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey ; 7 - West Point Thoroughbreds, LLC (Terrence Finley) ; 8 - Paul & Andrena Van Doren ; 9 - Team D (Dave Speziali) ; 10 - Brereton C. Jones
Breeders: 1 - Machmer Hall & Haymarket Farm; 2 - Robert Muir, Des Scott & Sam Klein; 3 - Shadybrook Farm Inc & Castletop Stable; 4 - Linn Davis; 5 - Hermitage Farm LLC; 6 - Spendthrift Farm LLC; 7 - T. F. VanMeter; 8 - Cottonwood Stables, LLC; 9 - Joseph Duffel; 10 - Brereton C. Jones
Equipment Changes: 8 - Rise Up - Blinkers On
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Post by Evelyn on Mar 26, 2014 22:19:19 GMT -5
Intense Holiday On Rail for Louisiana Derby By Jack Shinar Bloodhorse
Intense Holiday has drawn the rail post position as the 2-1 morning line favorite for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr. II) March 29 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Starlight Racing, Intense Holiday already has a major victory in his debut at the New Orleans track, taking the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 22 by a nose over Albano with a superb stretch move under Mike Smith. The $380,000 son of Harlan's Holidaynow advances to the 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby, one of the premier prep races for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 3 at Churchill Downs.
There are two second favorites listed at 4-1: Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's in Trouble, starting from the sixth post, and similarly named In Trouble in post 9. In Trouble made his seasonal debut March 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack with a game third-place finish in the Gotham Stakes (gr. III).
Risen Star runner-up Albano, trained by Larry Jones, drew the far outside in post 10 and is listed at 9-2 odds. Rise Up, trained by Tom Amoss, will start from post 8 with blinkers for the first time, opening at 10-1 odds.
Post time for the Louisiana Derby, to be broadcast on NBCSN, is approximately 6:10 p.m. CDT. It is the 11th on a 13-race program that includes the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), the $400,000 New Orleans Handicap (gr. II), and the $300,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT).
The Louisiana Derby is worth 170 points—100 for first, 40 for second, 20 for third and 10 for fourth —in the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series that determines qualifying.
In winning the Risen Star at 5-1 odds, Intense Holiday halted a run of four consecutive defeats in graded stakes following his graduation in a maiden race Aug. 31 at Monmouth Park. The streak included a third behind Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) favorite Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) to begin his sophomore season Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.
Starlight managing partner Jack Wolf thinks that Intense Holiday, out of the Unbridled's Song mare Intensify, will only improve with added distance.
"Well, I think that's what Todd (Pletcher) thinks, and he knows the horse better than I do," said Wolf, noting that the Keeneland September yearling buy was the most expensive horse his ownership group has bought. "So, you know, his last race he seemed to gallop out very well and realize the distance there, and we'll go a sixteenth of a mile further on Saturday so we'll see. But you would think from his pedigree and the way he's handled the two turns so far that he would like the further distances."
Wolf said he believes Intense Holiday had legitimate excuses for his earlier stakes losses and turned the corner with an excellent ride from off the pace from Smith, who was aboard the dark bay colt for the first time in the Risen Star.
"So good for Todd to keep the confidence in the horse and keep putting him in these spots where I think he's experienced a very good foundation and should be ready for this Saturday and hopefully the Saturday five weeks after that," Wolf said.
Brereton C. Jones' homebred Albano gets another crack at the favorite after nearly wiring the field in the Risen Star at odds of 13-1. After breaking from the rail in his last start, he'll have to deal with the outside gate this time, but should have a chance to get a good position in the long run into the first turn.
After winning the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds last December, Albano was a distant second to Vicar's in Trouble in the Lecomte to start the year Jan. 18. The son of Istan has back-to-back bullet five-furlong drills over the track coming into the race, including a :59 1/5 move March 24.
"We're real happy the way he's coming along," said trainer Larry Jones, who is hoping for a clean trip. "He is a half-brother, or actually a three-quarter brother to Mark Valeski, so hopefully we've got the genetics to be at this level. But he's training very well. This colt, he seems (to) like the distance of ground, (which) should not be an issue for him at all."
Jones sticks with jockey Kerwin Clark, who has been aboard the bay colt for the past four races.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Vicar's in Trouble was favored in the Risen Star from post 13 but did not break with the leaders and was four wide on both turns. He weakened in the final furlong to finish 5 1/2 lengths behind Intense Holiday. It was the Louisiana-bred Into Mischief colt's first loss in three tries at Fair Grounds, where he won the Lecomte by a whopping 6 3/4 lengths.
Rosie Napravnik is in the saddle once again for trainer Mike Maker and the post position (6) should be much more condusive to Vicar's in Trouble's running style.
Team D's In Trouble, winner of the Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park last September, lands in post 9 for trainer Tony Dutrow after showing the way in the Gotham until mid-stretch, when he was edged by unbeaten Samraat and Uncle Sigh. That race, at 1 1/16 miles on the inner track, was In Trouble's first start around two turns and came after a five-month layoff. Joe Rocco Jr. retains the mount on the son of Tiz Wonderful .
Paul and Andrena Van Doren’s Rise Up, winner of the Delta Jackpot (gr. III) last November, weakened to seventh after chasing Albano in the Risen Star when he missed the break and was rank early. Amoss tries blinkers as the Rockport Harbor colt tries to regain the form he demonstrated in stakes wins at Delta Downs and Mountaineer last season. Gerard Melancon will be in the irons once more.
Three others come out of the Risen Star—Gold Hawk (fifth), Commanding Curve (sixth), and Flat Gone (eighth).
Of those, Winchell Thoroughbreds' $450,000 yearling Gold Hawk, trained by the beleaguered Steve Asmussen, could be the sleeper. The Empire Maker colt out of the champion filly Caressing was third as the favorite in the Lecomte after being difficult to handle at the gate and racing wide. He had more problems with loading prior to the Risen Star and gave way in the stretch after again traveling slightly wide.
WinStar Farm's King Cyrus, runner-up in the Smooth Air Stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course in his seasonal bow for Pletcher March 2, and Springboard Mile winner Louies Flower, last of 12 in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 17, complete the field.
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Post by canterburykid on Mar 29, 2014 8:27:15 GMT -5
Tables turn for Vicar w/Rosie @ 4/1 ML,
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2014 9:03:16 GMT -5
That's my pick, CK. I think they'll do it, especially on an off track.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 29, 2014 19:59:24 GMT -5
How many will Ramsey have in the Derby? LOL Rosie had a great day
Vicar's In Trouble gets clear sailing Brisnet
Vicar's In Trouble broke his maiden by 13 lengths at Fair Grounds in December and recorded a 6 3/4-length decision in the Lecomte one month later, but couldn't make it three in a row in the Risen Star last out on February 22 when finishing behind Intense Holiday and Albano as the near 5-2 favorite.
On Saturday, Intense Holiday headed to the gate the public's choice in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby only to find himself trailing in second as Vicar's In Trouble led every step of the way to a 3 1/2-length win under regular rider Rosie Napravnik. The Into Mischief colt provided owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey with a guaranteed second starter in the Kentucky Derby starting gate thanks to the 100 points he earned for the victory as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.
Vicar's In Trouble will join We Miss Artie, who captured last Saturday's Spiral at Turfway Park, on the first Saturday in May. The Ramseys could end up having a trio compete in their familiar red and white colors if Bobby's Kitten earns enough points from his expected run in the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 12.
Vicar's In Trouble ran 1 1/8 miles over Fair Grounds fast track in 1:50 3/5 Saturday, one day after a deluge of rain forced cancellation of the entire Friday card. The Mike Maker pupil established fractions of :23 2/5, :47 4/5 and 1:12 while closely tracked by first Louies Flower to his inside and then Rise Up on the outside. Intense Holiday put in his move entering the stretch, but Napravnik kept Vicar's In Trouble focused on the wire, and the winning duo returned $8.60 as the 3-1 third choice.
"You know he is a tiny horse but he's got a great big heart," Napravnik stated.
Intense Holiday, the 9-5 favorite off his nose victory in the Risen Star over Albano, finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Commanding Curve while Gotham third In Trouble and Albano came next.
"The inside horse jumped out, right on me," asserted Mike Smith, who rode Intense Holiday. "But the race was over at that point. (Rosie Napravnik) rode a great race. A brilliant race actually. It turned it into a two-furlong sprint not a three-eighths' type race where we can run out."
"He's progressing every time. I got eliminated at the start, but he ran on so easily. There's more there," stated Commanding Curve's rider, Robby Albarado.
A steward's inquiry into the stretch run saw the finish order changed when In Trouble was disqualified from fourth and placed fifth for interfering with Albano. That elevated the Risen Star runner-up to fourth.
"He broke OK, in a bit, and I straightened him up. We were in a great spot," explained Kerwin Clark, who had piloting duties aboard Albano. "I had Rosie's horse clocked, and I had the 9 clocked (In Trouble), but when Gerard (Melancon)'s horse (Rise Up) came up on the outside and then dropped over, In Trouble wheeled out and he hit my horse so hard, it knocked the air out of him. He just couldn't recover from that."
"After Rise Up moved up to the outside, I thought I had the room to get outside of him. It happened quickly, but he relaxed well and tried very hard," stated In Trouble's jockey, Joe Rocco Jr.
Completing the order under the wire were Flat Gone, King Cyrus, Gold Hawk, Louies Flower and Delta Downs Jackpot hero Rise Up.
"I don't know what happened to him today and why he has turned into such a terrible horse at the gate," a confused Melancon said in reference to Rise Up's issues. "He was standing perfect, and then he broke straight to the inside and got really aggressive. I don't know what's causing that."
Vicar's In Trouble is now 5-3-0-2, $788,900, in his career. Bred in Louisiana by Spendthrift Farm, the dark bay sophomore initially sold for $8,000 at a yearling at the 2012 Equine Sales Louisiana September sale. He was purchased by his current connections for $80,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Maryland May two-year-old sale.
Vicar's in Trouble is out of the winning Vicar mare Vibrant, a half-sister to Grade 3 winner True Direction. This is the female family of multiple Grade 1 hero Big Spruce; Grade 3 heroine Jabot; and multiple stakes winner and multiple Grade 1 runner-up Encolure. Farther back in this line is another Louisiana Derby winner in 1989 victor Prince Valiant as well as 1973 champion two-year-old filly Talking Picture.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 29, 2014 19:59:50 GMT -5
You nailed it CKid!
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Post by mackdaddy on Mar 30, 2014 10:00:19 GMT -5
He is little biddy thing with guts. Very proud of him being an LA bred. Rosie and her husband deserves this win.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2014 10:40:57 GMT -5
to answer the question about the ramseys........ I don't know. but how many will they have finish in the top three? the answer to that starts with a "Z" and ends with an "ERO"!!
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Post by mackdaddy on Mar 30, 2014 10:55:18 GMT -5
Wiz, I respect your opinion. Its a very weak 3 year old crop across the country. Anything can happen in the derby
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2014 18:28:43 GMT -5
I don't think its that weak of a crop. I just think the good horses are in certain places.
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Post by mackdaddy on Mar 30, 2014 19:37:52 GMT -5
If it is not weak, than where are the strong ones? California and Florida and perhaps New York always will have contenders. My question to you, is there really a bonified monster out there? Is it still too early? To me, there isnt a "buzz" horse or whichever the term may be. Cairo Prince could have been but he ran 4th and looked like an unfit horse. Like I said, I respect your opinion, and right now, there isnt that creating a "buzz" type of horse. IMO, Untapible may be the best 3 year old so far and she wont even get a whiff of the derby and will absolutely crush everyone in the oaks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2014 21:07:35 GMT -5
well pretty much all the horses I thought had talent have run well, both the ons I bet in futures and the ones I didn't. I think candy boy is still the most likely of them all to keep improving and be the derby winner. but if your looking for that superstar performance, just hope Bayern is 100% and fit for his next race. he is like the florida derby winner yesterday(and maybe social inclusion too). he could be any kind. I just think people are disappointed and thinking the crop is weak because they were expecting too much from the wrong horses.
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