No trouble for "Vicar" in Louisiana Derby

 

A scant nose separated the top two finishers, Intense Holiday and Albano, in last month’s G2 Risen Star Stakes, the local prep for today’s Louisiana Derby (G2). It was another 5½ lengths back to post time favorite Vicar’s In Trouble, who made a strong move to advance to second in the stretch before fading back to third. With those three colts providing such a thrilling race last time, handicappers and fans alike were expecting a rematch between the top three Risen Star finishers, with a few others poised to make good runs, also. When the dust settled, it very nearly was a Risen Star repeat…but with a few key changes.

 

 

Bouncing away in good order, Vicar’s In Trouble broke from the middle of the field and went immediately to the lead. From post three, Louie’s Flower went with the early leader, and the duo was soon joined by Rise Up, In Trouble, and Intense Holiday. With little pressure from any of his rivals, Vicar’s In Trouble was able to set comfortable splits of 23:56, 47:86, 1:12.14.

 

 

Turning for home, jockey Rosie Napravnik set down Vicar’s In Trouble for the stretch drive, and the colt responded immediately, spurting clear of Intense Holiday. He continued on through the stretch to cross the wire the winner by 3½ lengths. Intense Holiday made up some ground late to finish 1½ lengths in front of third place finisher Commanding Curve. In Trouble crossed the wire fourth but was disqualified and placed fifth for interference. Fifth place finisher Albano was placed fourth. The order of finish was completed by Flat Gone, King Cyrus, Gold Hawk, Louies Flower, and Rise Up.

 

 

Vicar’s In Trouble completed the 1 1/8 mile grade 2 event in 1:50.77. He returned $8.60/$4.40/$3.00 and earned 100 points towards qualifying for the Kentucky Derby. Second place finisher Intense Holiday, the 9-5 favorite, paid $3.20/$2.60, and Commanding Curve’s third place finish was worth $5.20 for a show bet. The $2 exacta paid $26.60, the $1 trifecta returned $104.20, and the 10-cent superfecta was worth $47.41. Intense Holiday picked up 40 Kentucky Derby points, Commanding Curve received 20 points, and by virtue of the disqualification, Albano was awarded 10 points.

 

 

Owned by Ken & Sarah Ramsey, Vicar’s In Trouble is by Into Mischief and out of the Vicar mare Vibrant. As a yearling, breeder Spendthrift Farm consigned the colt to the Equine Sales of Louisiana 2012 Yearling Sale where he went for a mere $8,000 to Clyde Taylor. As a two-year old, Vicar’s In Trouble once again went through the auction ring, this time going to his current connections for a cool $80,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2013 Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. With today’s tally, Vicar’s In Trouble improved his career record to 5: 3-0-2 for total earnings of $788,900.

By virtue of their respective finishes, Vicar’s In Trouble vaulted to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leader Board with 120 total points. Louisiana Derby runner-up Intense Holiday is third overall with 93 total points. Fourth place finisher Albano is 14^th overall with 34 total points, and third place finisher Commanding Curve currently sits in 19^th with 20 total points. All of the top 4 finishers would have a place in the starting gate if the Kentucky Derby were run today. However, with 5 more prep races to run, only Vicar’s In Trouble and Intense Holiday (from this race only) have truly secured their spots.