New York’s 2014 Kentucky Derby Contenders III

 

The Withers (G3), which is the second stop on the New York trail to the 2014 Kentucky Derby, turned out to be a good old-fashioned match race between Samraat and Uncle Sigh. The two New York-breds broke on the lead, quickly drew away from the rest of the field, and battled evenly all the away around the track. Both horses ran to their even money odds, but it was Samraat that would prevail by a length at the wire.

 

What made the race even more impressive was that Samraat ran back to his previous high Beyer Speed Figure when the race came up with a fig of 94. If you haven’t seen the race here it is and if you have, be sure to enjoy it again.

 

 

The early Triple Crown nominations were released on Saturday with six-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher  having a record 42 of the 413 nominees. It cost $600 for each early nomination and another $6,000 will be required by March 22^nd to continue on the trail to the Triple Crown races.

 

Here is what has been happening with the New York Kentucky Derby Contenders that have already earned some 2014 Kentucky Derby points.

 

Cairo Prince moved to the top of the Derby points list for the New York contenders with his win in the Holy Bull (G2). This son of Pioneerof the Nile swept to lead around the clubhouse turn as the pace setters collapsed following a 1:10.2 first six furlongs. The early top three runners ended up finishing in 10^th, 4^th, and 7^th place. ••• It is expected that Havana will make his 2014 debut on March 1^st in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He returned to breezing on Feb. 1 going three furlongs in 0:37.75 at the Palm Meadows Training Center. ••• Honor Code has missed some training due to bruised ankles and has not breezed since Jan. 18. Trainer Shug McGaughey announced that he would miss the Fountain of Youth, but that the Gotham may still be possible. On Feb. 1 Honor Code returned to jogging at Gulfstream Park. ••• Intense Holiday is new to the NY Contenders list after earning two Derby points in the Holy Bull (G2). He circled the field to finish third after being in 10^th place at the half-mile mark. ••• Out of training for a few weeks after coming out of the Jerome with an injury to his right front foot, Noble Moon has resumed morning gallops. Trainer Leah Gyamarti would need perfect training from this point on to make the Gotham on March 1^st. ••• Scotland is building a resume as one of the most accomplished maidens in racing. He now has 4 Derby points and two third place graded stakes finishes after another troubled trip in the Withers. ••• We Miss Artie ran very well in his the turf return, but is still nominated for the Tampa Bay Derby and the Triple Crown races. ••• Wicked Strong finished a disappointing ninth in the Holy Bull (G2). After breaking last in a field of 11, he never did any running.

 

Here is the news amongst the NY Contenders that have yet to tally any of the required 2014 Kentucky Derby points.

 

On Holy Bull Stakes day at Gulfstream Park, Anchor Down broke his maiden in the third race. Send off at 1.30-1, this Tapit colt looked impressive coming off the pace while covering the six furlongs in 1:09.35 after a half-mile in 0:57.00. ••• Prior to a breeze on Feb. 2, Constitution had not had a published workout since Jan. 5. ••• Coup de Grace had the lead for the first half-mile of the Holy Bull (G2) and then quit badly after a fraction of 0:46.75. A very disappointed owner Rick Porter announced on the Fox Hill Farm website, “Chad [Brown] and I will discuss our options but the Derby trail is not one of them. We will probably take him back to one turn and see how he responds.” ••• After Juba’s most recent five furlong workout, Clocker Bruno De Julio (@Racingwithbruno) tweeted, “drifting, no gallop out, think something amiss, not surprised if we hear something soon.” ••• The owners of Ria Antonia announced that she will run in the Rachel Alexandra next and not take on the boys. ••• Surfing U S A was beaten by Top Billing in a first level allowance race. Although Top Billing got the best of him, Surfing U S A was much the best of the rest of the field after having set the pace from the start. ••• In his second start, while getting first time Lasix and blinkers, Tonalist easily beat a salty MSW field in which two Pletcher runners finished second and third. ••• Top Billing was last in the allowance field of seven after a half-mile, but very quickly swept to the lead around the clubhouse turn leaving Surfing U S A behind in second place. Trainer Shug McGaughey says that the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 22^nd is next. ••• In a disappointing performance, Unknown Road finished fourth in a first level allowance race at odds of .20-1. He tracked the early leader in second place but came up empty in the stretch.  Unknown Road who had previously been listed as a ridgling has been gelded and could return to training in a relatively short amount of time.

 

The top Contenders listed here are in order according to the number of Derby points that they have earned.

 

Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile)

4: 3-1-0 $472,000

Owner: Braverman, Namcook Stables, Clark

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Luis Saez

1^st Holy Bull Stakes (G2) – BSF 95

2^nd Remsen Stakes (G2) – BSF 88

1^st Nashua Stakes (G2) – BSF 90

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 26-1

$200,000 Keenland Jan. 2012, $250,000 Keeneland Sept. 2012

 

Havana (Dunkirk)

3: 2-1-0 $708,000

Owner: Tabor, Magnier, Smith

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Gary Stevens

2^nd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)

1^st Champagne Stakes (G1) – BSF 93

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 26-1

$575,000 Barretts March 2012

 

Honor Code (A.P. Indy)

3: 2-1-0 $388,000

Owner: Lane’s End and Dell Ridge

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Jockey: Javier Castellano

1^st Remsen Stakes (G2) – BSF 88

2^nd Champagne Stakes (G1)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 10-1

Half-brother to Noble Tune, MGSW of $491,682

 

Noble Moon (Malibu Moon)

4: 2-1-1 $233,000

Owner: Treadway Racing

Trainer: Leah Gyarmati

Jockey: Irad Ortiz

1^st Jerome (G2) – BSF 85

3^rd Nashua Stakes (G2) – BSF 84

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 63-1

Half-brother to Mambo Fever MGSP of $124,010

 

Samraat (Noble Causeway)

4: 4-0-0 $283,200

Owner: My Meadowview Farm

Trainer: Rick Violette

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

1^st Withers (G2) – BSF 94

1^st  Damon Runyan – BSF 95

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

We Miss Artie (Artie Schiller)

6: 2-2-0 $327,000

Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2^nd Kitten’s Joy (turf) – Gulfstream – BSF 86

7^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – BSF 81

1^st Breeders’ Futurity (G1) Keeneland – BSF 70

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Scotland (Horse Greeley)

4: M-2-2 $67,400

Owner: Clarke, Braverman, Team D

Trainer: Anthony Dutrow

Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

3^rd Withers (G3)

3^rd Jerome (G2)

2^rd MSW Aqueduct – BSF 78

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Uncle Sigh (Indian Charlie)

3: 1-2-0 $101,000

Owner: Wounded Warrior

Trainer: Gary Contessa

Jockey: Pablo Morales

2^nd Withers (G3)

1^st MSW (NY-breds) Aqueduct – BSF 93

2^rd MSW Aqueduct – BSF 95

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

New York-bred $270,000 Saratoga 2012

 

Intense Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday)

6: 1-0-1 $111,900

Owner: Starlight Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Joel Rosario

3^rd Holy Bull Stakes (G2)

4^th Remsen Stakes (G2) – BSF 84

4^th Nashua Stakes (G2) – BSF 81

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Strong Mandate (Tiznow)

5: 2-0-1 $432,900

Owner: Baker, Mack

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Joel Rosario

3^rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

1^st Hopeful Stakes (G1) – BSF 85

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 27-1

Half-brother to Newfoundland, MGSW of $677,534

 

Wicked Strong (Hard Spun)

3: 1-0-1 $73,000

Owner: Centennial Farms

Trainer: Jimmy Jerkens

Jockey: Javier Castellano

9^th Holy Bull Stakes (G2)

3^rd Remsen Stakes (G2)

1^st MSW Belmont Park – BSF 81

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

The rest of these Contenders have yet to earn any Road to the Derby points.

 

Anchor Down (Tapit)

1: 1-0-0 $24,000

Owner: Alto Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

1^st MSW Gulfstream – BSF 90

$250,000 Keeneland September 2012, half-sister to Sweet Lulu

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Commissioner (AP Indy)

3: 2-1-0 $85,100

Owner: WinStar Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

1^st OC75/NW1 Gulfstream – BSF 91

1^st MSW Saratoga – nine furlongs – BSF 78

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Constitution (Tapit)

1: 1-0-0 $25,200

Owner: WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

1^st MSW Gulfstream – BSF 84

$400,000 Saratoga August 2012

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Cool Samurai (First Samurai)

2: 1-1-0 $52,600

Owner: Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Moss

Trainer: John Shirreffs

Jockey: Mike Smith

1^st MSW Santa Anita

2^rd MSW Belmont Park – BSF 77

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Hartford (Tapit)

1: 1-0-0 $28,200

Owner: Stonestreet Farms

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

1^st MSW GulfstreamPark – BSF 79

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

$700,000 Keeneland Sept. 2012

 

Juba (Tapit)

2: M-1-1 $15,400

Owner: Centennial Farms

Trainer: Jimmy Jerkens

Jockey: Rajiv Maragh

2^nd MSW Gulfstream – BSF 82

3^rd MSW Aqueduct – BSF 78

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

$250,000 Keeneland Sept. 2012

 

Mosler (War Front)

2: 1-0-0 $49,000

Owner: Adele Dilschneider

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey:

1^st MSW Belmont Park

4^th MSW Saratoga

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

$1,050,000 Keeneland Sept. 2012

 

Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor)

5: 2-0-0 $1,156,140

Owner: Loooch Racing Stable

Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart

Jockey: Javier Castellano

1^st DQ – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) – BSF 81

5^th Frizette (G1) – BSF 77

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

$7,000 Fasig Tipton Oct. 2012

 

Surfing U S A (Roman Ruler)

3: 1-2-0 $68,175

Owner: Stonestreet and Bolton

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2^nd OC75/NW1 Gulfstream Park

1^st MSW Aqueduct – BSF 83

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Tonalist (Tapit)

2: 1-0-0 $28,950

Owner: Robert Evans

Trainer: Christophe Clement

Jockey: Joe Bravo

1^st MSW GulfstreamPark – BSF 90

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

 

Top Billing (Curlin)

3: 2-1-0 $56,835

Owner: Farish and Hudson

Trainer: Shug McGaughey

Jockey: Joel Rosario

1^st OC75/NW1 Gulfstream Park – BSF 93

2^nd OC75/NW1 Gulfstream Park – BSF 91

1^st MSW Laurel – BSF 71

Half-brother to SW Untouched Talent who sold for $5,000,000 as broodmare at Fasig Tipton Nov. 2012

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5

Unknown Road (Bernardini)

3: 1-1-0 $40,460

Owner: JMJ Racing Stable

Trainer: Hushion/Stall

Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan

4^th OC50/NW1 Fair Grounds

1^st MSW Fair Grounds – BSF 98

2^rd MSW Aqueduct – BSF 83 – behind Coup de Grace

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 4/5