The Kentucky Derby: A New York Perspective
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We’ll post three this morning, and return later today with the final four. We’ll go through them in post position order. Starting with…
#2 Brilliant Speed
Trainer: Tom Albertrani
Jockey: Joel Rosario
New York Starts: 4
The first two starts of Brilliant Speed’s career were the only ones he’s made on dirt, to date. Both were dreadful. He was beaten a combined a combined 40¼ lengths, failing to top 40 on the Beyer scale.
Brilliant Speed did, however, run into sterling competition in those two maiden races. In his debut at Belmont, he ran into the outstanding juvenile - and subsequent Grade I winner - Boys at Tosconova. In his second start at Saratoga, he took on Joe Vann and Mucho Macho Man, both of whom also went on to win graded stakes. Still, elite competition notwithstanding, Brilliant Speed didn’t run a step in either race.
A switch to the turf moved him up a tad, as he would go on to hit the board in his next two tries, both on the Belmont lawn. The competition didn’t get much softer for him, as he knocked heads with Banned -who posted a solid fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile turf - as well as Derby Kitten who, like Mucho Macho Man, will be in the starting gate on Saturday.
Beaten 4½ lengths and finishing third in both starts, Brilliant Speed, while bettering his dirt form, still couldn’t find the winner’s circle. He finally would go on to break his maiden at Tampa, before winning the Grade I Blue Grass over the Keeneland Polytrack.
Pedigree Analysis: Brilliant Speed is a son of Dynaformer, who won several graded stakes routing, but never captured a Grade I. Still, his progeny have had Derby success, as he sired Barbaro, who won the roses in 2006.
His dam is Speed Succeeds, who is a Gone West mare.
Brian’s Bullet: The Blue Grass form means nothing. There, I said it. Look for him on turf this summer.
#4 Stay Thirsty
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
New York Starts: 4
Now the sole remaining hope for Pletcher and owner Mike Repole after the Friday scratch of Uncle Mo, Stay Thirsty has done his best work in the Big Apple, finishing either first or second in each of his four starts.
He finished a strong second in his career debut, dropping a two length decision to Sovereign Default at Belmont. The move upstate to Saratoga was enough to get him in the winner’s circle, as he broke his maiden impressively, winning by 5½.
In his third career start, also at the Spa, Stay Thirsty stepped up into Grade I company, trying three others in the Hopeful Stakes. He proved to be no match for the elite Boys At Tosconova, who coasted by him to win by 1¾ . But he did hold second after setting an honest pace (23, 46:1).
He would return to New York to kick off his three year-old campaign, completing his tour at the NYRA tracks by stopping at Aqueduct to run in the Grade III Gotham Stakes. He won fairly easily, taking the measure of six opponents, including Toby’s Corner (who, of course, would go on to conquer Stay Thirsty’s stablemate Uncle Mo in his next start) by 3¼. This despite an awkward break that cost him a couple of lengths.
Indeed, Repole and Pletcher are mightily hoping that Stay Thirsty is in a New York state of mind on Saturday at Churchill, as he will need to bring his New York form to Louisville in order to have a shot.
Pedigree Analysis: Stay Thirsty is sired by Bernardini, who was a monster as a three year old, scoring graded stakes wins in such races as the Withers, Preakness, Jim Dandy, Travers, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Bernardini has sired Grade I winners in Biondetti and A.Z.Warrior, as well as multiple grade II winner To Honor and Serve.
Stay Thirsty is out of the dam Marozia. Marozia only captured one win in her career as a race horse, but she has been quite productive as a broodmare. Marozia has produced seven winners, including the grade III winner and grade I stakes placed colt, (second in the Belmont) Andromeda's Hero. She also produced the graded stakes placed colt, Superfly. Not to mention the gelding King Rama who has won 10 races in Europe.
Brian’s Bullet: The Florida Derby was a stinker, but the rest of his form promises so much more than that. He’s a little like Thunder Gulch in that way.
#7 Pants On Fire
Trainer: Kelly Breen
Jockey: Rosie Napravnik
New York Starts: 2
Two route races over the inner track at Aqueduct comprise the entirety of Pants On Fire’s New York body of work. His final start as a two year-old produced a second place finish at the Big A last December, in an allowance/optional claimer. That day, Pants on Fire couldn’t quite hold on to beat Rescind The Trade, despite an awkward start.
It was a game effort, though. One that he’d duplicate next out in the ungraded Count Fleet Stakes on New Year’s Day. After once again setting the pace, Pants On Fire gave way in the stretch, losing by 4½. The competition was tough that day, though. One of his conquerors was J.J.’s Lucky Train, who would go on to capture several stakes following that race, including the Grade III Bay Shore at Aqueduct.
In the first four starts of his current form cycle, Pants on Fire posted Beyers that all topped 80, but all failed to top 85. Unlike Stay Thirsty, Pants on Fire did not do his best work in Gotham. Despite the game efforts, an 0-2 record on Aqueduct’s inner track is not exactly a resume item that screams Derby winner.
Pedigree Analysis: The sire of Pants On Fire is Jump Start, a rather precocious two year old. He broke his maiden in his first start, following that with a win in the grade II Saratoga Special. He also finished 2nd in the grade II Champagne Stakes, beaten by Officer. Jump Start went on to run in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile, where he suffered a career ending injury.
As a sire, he has been fairly productive. Most of his progeny have been allowance types, but he did sire grade I winner and millionaire Rail Trip, owner of the track record for 10 furlongs at Hollywood Park (2:00.75) He's also sired the grade II winner Sir Whimsey, and the grade III winner's Assessment and Bold Start, as well as, the solid New York bred, Icabad Crane.
The Dam of Pants on Fire is Cabo De Noche. She won only a single race in her career, beating a maiden field on the turf at the Fair Grounds. She has produced two winners, Pants On Fire and the gelding Louderthanthunder. Louderthanthunder has won once in 14 starts, with his win coming at the mile distance.
Brian’s Bullet: I like him least of the horses coming out of the Louisiana Derby. But he was game, and now they say he is healthier than ever.
Coming up, a look at Derby Kitten, Santiva, Mucho Macho Man, and Soldat
Photo Courtesy of Adam Coglianese/NYRA
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