Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Hidden Scroll still intrigues
Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.
In going from a 14-length debut win in the slop straight to the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail, Hidden Scroll appeared poised to either live up to the hype or flop in the face of high expectations as last Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) favorite.
That the Bill Mott-trained son of Hard Spun wound up somewhere in between means the intrigue will continue into his final prep.
The Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman reported from a conversation with Mott that Hidden Scroll is under consideration for any of three Derby qualifiers, including the Florida Derby (G1) back at Gulfstream Park, where the colt has made both his starts.
Before that news broke Monday afternoon, a number of voters in the 2019 Kentucky Derby Media Poll assembled by Horse Racing Nation made sure to mention the Fountain of Youth’s fourth-place finisher, who had to out-gun longshot Gladiator King on the early lead.
“Too soon to give up on Hidden Scroll, who will be a force in the division once his level of experience catches up with his talent,” said Bob Ehalt, writer for BloodHorse and Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
“Hidden Scroll gained a lot of respect in defeat considering the pace he was forced into,” added TVG’s Scott Hazelton.
“For a second start and first at two turns, to do all the fast, dirty work in front and finish within three lengths of the winner while closers filled out the top three, I'm fine with it,” said the Paulick Report’s Scott Jagow.
Fourth in the Week 1 Media Poll rankings, Hidden Scroll fell only to No. 9 in Monday's edition, even as he accumulated just one qualifying point from the Fountain of Youth. Likely, the Juddmonte Farms runner will need to win or finish second in a major prep to make the Derby field.
Per DRF, options aside from the Florida Derby include the April 6 Wood Memorial (G2) and Blue Grass Stakes (G2).
High regard for Mott, a Hall of Famer who would like to add the Derby to his resume, plays a part in the Hidden Scroll hype.
“Even though he tired to fourth, Hidden Scroll deserves a lot of credit for persevering through those wicked splits,” said Churchill Downs analyst Joe Kristufek. “He’ll obviously need to learn to relax better and change his game to take the next step, but he has the right teacher.”
Super Screener says…
Mike Shutty, author of Horse Racing Nation’s Super Screener handicapping system, cashed suggested exacta and trifecta plays on the Fountain of Youth totaling $930. He knows these runners well and shared some parting thoughts on the 1 1/16-mile prep:
“Code of Honor was finally submitting some impressive works, indicating that he had moved forward off that disappointing effort last out. He did benefit from the perfect trip as the pace collapsed some late and he was sitting close enough to get the first move on all remaining closers for a hard fought win. One caution: He was pointed to this race and got the job done, but we may have seen the best he has to offer, as he was all out to win this despite enjoying a very favorable trip. It only gets tougher from here, and the Super Screener questions his ability to move forward significantly off this race.
“Bourbon War has been high ranked by the Super Screener for some time now, and his fast closing second-place finish only reinforced our support. He blew right by Code of Honor past the wire looks like a horse that will relish the Churchill Downs track configuration. Sure, he got the hot pace he needed, but keep in mind that on this track it is awfully tough to win when you are near last in the field and with that short stretch run.
“Vekoma ran a very respectable race here, especially considering the long layoff and the fact that he was pretty close to the sizzling pace yet passed Hidden Scroll for third. Has every right to move forward in his second start going two turns.
Derby links
• Trainer Bob Baffert plans to send Roadster from his allowance win into the deep end, with a 100-point prep next. See more on our Derby Radar.
• Also out of that Friday race at Santa Anita, Nolo Contesto, the runner-up to Roadster, is expected to run in a Derby prep to be determined, reports BloodHorse’s Jeremy Balan.
• Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager runs from Friday through Sunday, and the 23 individual interests plus “All Other 3-Year-Olds” are set. See Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds.
In case you missed it…
Monday’s Derby Daily report featured comments from trainer Bob Baffert on the impending matchup between Game Winner and Improbable, plus video of their final works toward the San Felipe (G2).