Derby Radar: Defeater gives Amoss an intriguing runner

Saturday's finale at Fair Grounds looks like it might have been a key maiden race for 3-year-olds as the winner, Defeater, could well be on his way to bigger and better things on the 2021 Kentucky Derby trail.

Tom Amoss' $210,000 son of Union Rags broke a step slowly and was placed in an uncomfortable spot early in the race behind horses on the rail.

Jockey James Graham bided his time behind an opening half-mile of 46.56 and guided Defeater off the rail for a strong stretch run. He powered by the touted Godolphin entry of Colonel Bowman and Gershwin to complete the six-furlong journey in 1:11.06.

Defeater paid $5.40 to win and defeated Colonel Bowman by a final margin of 2 1/4 lengths. 

It was not the fastest race or the widest margin of victory for a newly turned 3-year-old, but it was one of the most professional performances from a 3-year-old thus far.

Many young horses cannot take dirt and pass horses, but this colt did both while appearing as though he will improve once given the opportunity to go a route of ground.

If his bullet workouts leading up to his first start are any indication, then this colt has much more early speed than he was able to show after breaking a touch slow. Amoss was worried that gate troubles could cost him on debut, but he knew he had a talented colt going in.

“Defeater is a very, very nice colt, but he comes with some difficulties for a trainer,” Amoss told Fair Grounds' Brian Nadeau. “He’s not a precocious gate horse. Any of the young horses that are coming up like him, these are developing young horses and no matter how hard you try, you can’t rush that development because a lot of that is getting physically bigger and stronger, as well as mentally understanding the racing. But make no mistake about it, Defeater is a runner.”

Defeater is a runner indeed, and is one to keep a close eye on in Louisiana's upcoming Triple Crown prep races.