2016 Kentucky Derby: Blue Creek is Flying Under U.S. Radar
Wouldn’t it be something if the curse of Apollo and the drought of Dubai were put to rest in the same year? Both trying to win the roses via Dubai, and not racing as a juvenile, have proven to be hurdles too large to overcome, but in a year when the new sophomores of American racing have yet to scare anyone off, perhaps it is time for a horse to come along and break all the traditional rules of the first Saturday in May. Enter Blue Creek, a most interesting young contender for the 2016 Kentucky Derby.
Blue Creek (Street Cry--Blue Bunting, by Dynaformer) has been well thought of since inception, but more recently the striking bay colt made a very good impression in morning trials at Meydan.
The New Year could not have begun much better for his famous connections when Blue Creek pointed himself out as being as good as advertised with a handsome looking career debut in the EGA Billet Trophy. Ridden by Richard Mullen, and trained by Charlie Appleby, Blue Creek did not get out of the starting gate fast, but that is the only thing the impressive colt did wrong in his unveiling.
Blue Creek quickly settled into stride, and began to move nicely through the large 15-horse field, and by the time they hit the far turn, he was in perfect pouncing position. His main competition, Tobaco, who already had a nice second place finish on his past performance line, and is six months older than Blue Creek, ran his race, but had no answer for the long, fluid strides of the Godolphin runner down the lane. On the wire, Blue Creek was five lengths clear of Tobaco, who was well clear of the third place finisher.
As noted by the track announcer, Blue Creek continued to put distance between himself and the rest of the pack in the gallop out, as if to say that the one mile distance of his debut was hardly enough to tire him. For what it’s worth, his accomplished trainer believes that Blue Creek is the type of horse to relish the ten furlong trip, something that has not always been true for Dubai runners to come for the Kentucky Derby before.
Also of note, this is the second year for the return of dirt to Meydan, meaning not only good things for American horses traveling in for the Carnival, but also giving the horses that can run well there, more hope that their form can translate well to American tracks like Churchill Downs.
You can look for more from Blue Creek at Meydan in the coming months leading up to the UAE Derby on March 26. As a 100 point race for the Kentucky Derby, the $2 million race all but guarantees a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate for the top two finishers, if they choose to make the trip over. Don’t be surprised in the colt you see winning below is the horse to make the most of all those qualifying points.