Kentucky Derby and Oaks Fields Take Shape

THE WEEKEND WRAP UP

April 9-10

Brody’s Cause Back to Winning Ways in Blue Grass Stakes

Albaugh Family Stable’s Brody’s Cause showed his affinity for Keeneland in the $1 million Gr. 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday. The son of Giant’s Causeway was making his final race before the Kentucky Derby.

Laoban took the lead shortly after the start, taking the field through a quarter in :23.44, and half in :46.75. Brody’s Cause was reserved through much of the race, running near the back of the pack in the field of 14. As the field entered the stretch, Brody’s Cause made his bid under jockey Luis Saez and the pair took control swiftly. They were well clear of the rest of the field, hitting the wire 1 ¾ lengths ahead of My Man Sam. Cherry Wine got up in time for third. The final time for the 1 1/8th mile race was 1:50.20.

Brody’s Cause increased his record to three wins and a third from six starts for earnings of $1,123,138. The Bluegrass was his first victory since October 3, when he won the Gr. 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. He picked up 100 points with Saturday’s victory, which bumped him to 5th place on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard.

Payouts
Brody’s Cause $10.40 $5.00 $3.40
My Man Sam ——- $5.80 $4.00
Cherry Wine ————– $3.60
Laoban

$1 Superfecta → $1,520.10

Weep No More Denies Rachel’s Valentina and Cathryn Sophia in Ashland

In surprise fashion, Weep No More, sent off at odds of 30-1, swept past Rachel’s Valentina and Cathryn Sophia to win the $500,000 Gr. 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday.

Out of the gate Carina Mia took the lead and held it through most of the race, taking the field through a quarter in :24.18, half in :47.24, and six furlongs in 1:11.02. She was collared on the far turn, gave up the lead, and faded while Rachel’s Valentina and Cathryn Sophia battled it out up front. Weep No More, under jockey Corey J. Lanerie, was so far back that it didn’t appear she was going to get up in time, but the filly was rolling. She was able to overcome the short stretch to win by a neck over her more accomplished rivals. The final time for the 1 1/16th miles was 1:43.57.

Weep No More, a 3-year-old daughter of Mineshaft, gained her first graded stakes victory in the Ashland. She boosted her record to three wins from four starts and earnings of $352,269. The Ashland gained her 100 points on the path to the Kentucky Oaks, placing her in fifth on the leaderboard.

Payouts
Weep No More — $62.20 $12.40 $3.20
Rachel’s Valentina ——– $4.80 $2.20
Cathryn Sophia —————– $2.10
Carina Mia

$1 Trifecta → $201.30

Exaggerator Romps in Slop to Take Santa Anita Derby By Storm

Santa Anita played host to rain showers that took races off the turf and sent the Santa Anita Derby field galloping over a muddy main track on Saturday, April 9th. Bouncing back, Exaggerator — piloted by Kent Desormeaux — let out an impressive late run to win the $1 Million Kentucky Derby prep by 6 ¼ lengths.

Frontrunning Danzing Candy set hot fractions for much of the race (22.15, 45.24, 1:10.12) while Uncle Lino stalked closely in second for much of the race. Despite being shut off coming out of the gate, Exaggerator settled nicely in front of the early trailer, Diplodicus, and gradually began to move up in position. Rounding the final turn, while Uncle Lino and Danzing Candy dueled, Exaggerator unleashed a wrath of speed that catapulted him three wide past the leaders with absolutely no mercy. The dark bay colt stopped the timer at 1:49.66. Favored Mor Spirit was second, Uncle Lino was third and Danzing Candy settled for fourth.

“He took to the track like a duck to water. He never missed a beat and he showed it winning today,” expressed jockey Kent Desormeaux of his mount. “I don’t know [if we can beat Nyquist]; we’ll find out Derby Day. When I tried to run with [Nyquist] in the San Vicente and he went twenty-two and change, I thought I was going to go by him like he was tied to a pole, but he wouldn’t let me by. That is a very good horse.”

“Did I have any doubts as they were going up to the gate? No doubt, I had doubts,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “For me, this is like a dream. I mean, the [Kentucky] Derby is what everybody in this business dreams of.” Desormeaux plans to ship Exaggerator in to Churchill Downs the week of the Kentucky Derby, predicting a Monday or Tuesday arrival.

Exaggerator is a 3-year-old son of Curlin and Dawn Raid (Vindication). Bred in Kentucky by Joseph B. Murphy, the colt sold for $110,000 as a yearling through the Keeneland September sale in 2014 and is owned by Big Chief Racing LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Rocker O Ranch LLC et al. Saturday’s win marked Exaggerator’s second Gr.1 victory — his first coming in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland back in October. He currently sits third on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 126 points.

Payouts
Exaggerator $8.80 $3.60 $2.80
Mor Spirit ——– $2.80 $2.40
Uncle Lino ————– $5.00
Danzing Candy

$1 Superfecta → $192.70

Songbird Soars to Yet Another Sensational Win in Santa Anita Oaks

In another dominant performance, last year’s Eclipse Award two-year-old filly Songbird soared to win the $400,000 Gr.1 Santa Anita Oaks. Tallying her seventh consecutive win, Songbird graced a very sloppy track with breathtaking ease, hitting the wire 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Mokat and clocking a final time of 1:44.14.

The jet sleek dark bay filly by Medaglia D’ Oro, Songbird went straight to the front under jockey Mike Smith and was pursued by Forever Darling chased in second with the second betting choice, Bellamentary, in third after an 23.34 opening quarter. She continued to rate kindly down the backstretch after a 47.17 half mile before opening up a five length lead after six furlongs in 1:11.21 seconds. As the field reached the top of the stretch, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro kicked clear and there was simply no way of catching her. The Santa Anita crowd let a congratulatory cheer as Songbird came back to the winner’s circle with Mike Smith beaming with a huge smile.

Despite her effortless victory, Songbird needed some time to acclimate with the sloppy main track that she encountered for the first time. “She was spinning her wheels a little bit going into the first turn but once we got to the backside, she found her rhythm and she got comfortable and it was all her again,” said jockey Mike Smith.

With the May 6 Gr. 1 Kentucky Oaks still on target, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer indicates that Songbird is coming up to the Oaks perfectly. “We have the point race coming up (the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6), so if we have good fortune and she stays sound, we’ll try to go to Kentucky and win that one.”

The 27,821 on track were left in awe once again by the brilliance of the undefeated Songbird with all of them hoping to see her keep in her undefeated record in tact in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks.

Payouts
Songbird — $2.20 $2.10 $2.10
Mokat ———— $4.60 $3.00
She’s a Warrior ———- $4.20
Forever Darling

$1 Superfecta → $79.00

Outwork Outdoes 81-1 Longshot to Win Wood Memorial

Narrowly escaping a shocking upset, Outwork outlasted 81-1 longshot Trojan Nation to capture Saturday’s $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack (Gr.1). Claiming 100 Kentucky Derby points, the Todd Pletcher trainee covered the 1 1/8 mile muddy track in 1:52.92.

Breaking well, Outwork went straight to the front of the eight horse field and was occupied by Matt King Cole – setting an opening fraction of 22.91. The duel continued up the backstretch as the favorite Shagaf ran seven lengths off the leading pair. Into the stretch, the field became alive as Tale of S’avall, Shagaf and Trojan Nation begin to close on the leaders. Flying up the rail, Trojan Nation made up ground to battle Outwork right to the wire.

“He was going a little too fast in the first turn and I had to get him a little easy in the first turn,” said Outwork’s jockey John Velazquez. “Everyone was pushing outside and I had to let him settle down. The other horse came to him and he picked it up a little bit on the backstretch. I got him away from [the other horse] to relax and then at the quarter pole he put his ears up, idled a lot. He is still a young horse who is still learning. He has mastered a lot and he showed a lot of heart, he went from three-quarters to a mile and a sixteenth to a mile and an eighth in a very short time.”

Outwork is by 2015 Champion Sire Uncle Mo – father of current Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist. In his four career starts, he has earned $701,800 and has won three times. Outwork is owned and bred by Repole Stables.

Payouts
Outwork —— $6.80 $4.80 $3.90
Trojan Nation —— $40.60 $13.40
Adventist —————— $4.90
Matt King Coal

$1 Superfecta → $5,837.00

Lewis Bay Best in Gazelle

Lewis Bay punched her ticket to the Kentucky Oaks this Saturday when she galloped to win the $300,000 Gr. 2 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct. Covering 1 1/8 miles in the slop, the filly clocked a final time of 1:52.60 and won by 1 ½ lengths.

The 8-5 favorite, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., stalked patiently in third behind Mo d’Amour while Clair de Lune set early fractions of 23.93 and 48.67. Three-wide throughout, Lewis Bay made her move entering the far turn and took over as they rounded the top of the stretch. Easily kicking clear of her competition as she set foot into the stretch, she went on to set remaining fractions of 1:13.88 and 1:39.17 before hitting the wire ahead of Royal Obsession (second) and Mo d’Amour (third). Clair de Lune finished last, 15 lengths behind the winner, who finished under a hand ride. In her previous start, Lewis Bay finished second in the Davona Dale.

Irad Ortiz Jr. told the press, “I didn’t want to make the lead too early. She passes horses on her own. I looked around and nobody was coming [so I grabbed her late]. If she saw somebody she would go.” Trainer Chad Brown added, “It was her day today,” and accredited her very honest nature and soundness to allowing her campaign to unfold according to plan.

Lewis Bay is a 3-year-old daughter of Bernardini, bred and owned by Alpha Delta Stables LLC. Saturday’s win improved her record to 3 wins and 2 seconds in 5 starts, totaling $459,600 in earnings to date. The Gazelle marked the filly’s third graded stakes start and second win since breaking her maiden back on October 18, 2015. She is currently ranked third on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 130 points.

Payouts
Lewis Bay —– $5.50 $3.10 $2.50
Royal Obsession —— $3.70 $3.20
Mo d’Amour ————— $3.70
Dreams to Reality

$1 Superfecta → $132.00

Terra Promessa Takes Fantasy at Oaklawn

Terra Promessa, the heavy favorite in Saturday’s $400,000 Gr. 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn, came through by a neck for her backers. Taxable, her previously undefeated stablemate, ran second for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Ridden again by Asmussen’s go-to jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., Terra Promessa was rank early in the race after breaking from post 2 but was settled in fourth behind horses as Cosmic Evolution took the lead. After a quarter in :23.57 and a half in :46.96, Ready to Confess took the lead. As the field entered the turn, Santana kept his mount under hold and Terra Promessa made her bid for the lead as they turned for home. Despite drifting slightly in the stretch, she was able to hold Taxable off by a neck for the victory. The final time for the 1 1/16th mile race was 1:45.06.

A 3-year-old daughter of Curlin and Missile Bay, Terra Promessa is a homebred for Stonestreet Stables. Her victory in the Fantasy was her second graded stakes victory. From five starts, she has four wins and a third for earnings of $440,600. Terra Promessa currently holds 150 points and sits second behind Songbird on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard.

Payouts
Terra Promessa $2.80 $2.40 $2.10
Taxable ————– $3.20 $2.60
Ready to Confess ———– $3.20
Cosmic Evolution

Sheer Drama Defeats Stopchargingmaria in Madison

Sheer Drama was out for revenge in Saturday’s loaded $300,000 Gr.1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland. In a thrilling stretch duel, Sheer Drama beat her Breeders’ Cup Distaff rival Stopchargingmaria by a neck in both mares’ 2016 season debuts. The fiery chestnut mare traveled 7-furlongs in 1:22.07 with jockey Joe Bravo aboard.  

At the break, Sheer Drama settled in to seventh and Stopchargingmaria in fifth while California invaders Sunday Rules and Enchanting Lady fought the early lead. Looking for a clear path as the group approached the stretch, Bravo swung Sheer Drama five wide – with Stopchargingmaria on their outside. The dueling pair pulled away from the rest of field and fought the entire stretch. 2015 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue had to settle for third. 

“I think that was her best effort,” trainer David Fawkes said. “If she had run that race in the Breeders’ Cup (Distaff-G1) with that determination, she would have won but she was compromised by her post (13 of 14) that day.”

Sheer Drama is a 6-year-old Florida-bred mare by Burning Roma and is Owned and bred by Harold L. Queen. In her 21 career starts, Sheer Drama has earned approximately $1,618,840 from seven wins, eight places and one show.

The winner returned a pretty penny, paying $18.80 for the win, $8.00 for place and $4.60 for show.

Undrafted Rallies Wide to Win Shakertown

Coming to the wire, defending 2015 Shakertown champion Something Extra seemed to have the race in hand, but Undrafted rallied late and wide on the turn to beat him in the $200,000 Gr.2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday afternoon. As one of the early trailers, Undrafted sat comfortably in the back of the pack while Rocket Heat, Something Extra and Latent Revenge set fractions of 20.73, 43.93 and 56.47. Coming in like a freight train, the 6 year old gelding galloped past the leaders to steal the show by a half length. The final time for the 5 ½ furlong race was 1:02.96, setting a new track record over Keeneland’s turf course. Undrafted is trained by Wesley Ward and owned by NFL wide receiver Wes Welker. Joe Bravo picked up the mount when John Velazquez remained in New York due to other commitments. The chestnut gelding is being pointed toward Churchill Downs’s Gr. 3 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes before looking ahead to Ascot this summer to defend the 2015 Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Undrafted’s win in the Shakertown improved his record to 6 wins, 3 seconds, and 8 thirds in 23 starts, totaling $1,251,778. This is his second graded stakes win in the United States — his first coming in the Jaipur Invitational Stakes back in June 2014. Payouts Undrafted —–$9.00 $5.00 $3.80 Something Extra —– $9.80 $6.80 Commute ——————- $9.40 Summation Time $1 Superfecta → $3,265.50

Kid Cruz Cruises to Second Win in 2016

With rainy conditions for the $200,000 Gr.3 Excelsior at Aqueduct, the five horse field saw Madefromlucky and favored Kid Cruz charge neck and neck down the stretch. But it was Kid Cruz and jockey Jose Ortiz who managed to take control, passing Madefromlucky to win by a half length in the 1 ¼ mile contest. final race time of 2:04.52. 2014 Preakness Stakes contender Kid Cruz stalked 2015 Belmont Stakes contender Madefromlucky, who set fractions of 24.15, 49.13 and 1:13.30. Following the mile, Kid Cruz moved to challenge the leader and took over on the stretch, posting a time of 1:39.24 and hitting the wire at 2:04.52. Good Luck Gus, who had stalked behind the pace early, finished last — 13 ½ lengths behind the winner. Turco Bravo was third and Norumbega was fourth. A 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, Kid Cruz had previously started in the John Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park on February 13th, where he won for trainer Linda Rice and owners Vina Del Mar Thoroughbreds and Black Swan Stable. Prior to that he had been on a nine race losing streak. Saturday’s Excelsior improved his record to 7 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third in 19 starts. Kid Cruz now holds career earnings of $782,000. The winner returned $5.00 for the win, $2.60 for place and $2.10 for show.

Photos: Mary Ellet and Amanda Murphy for EverythingEQ.com

THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP COVERS 3-YEAR-OLD KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS PREPS, BREEDERS’ CUP “WIN AND YOU’RE IN” RACES, AND STAKES RACES FEATURING NOTEWORTHY HORSES. TRACKS COVERED INCLUDE SANTA ANITA, DEL MAR, LOS ALAMITOS (TB), GULFSTREAM PARK, TAMPA BAY DOWNS, AQUEDUCT, BELMONT PARK, SARATOGA, KEENELAND, CHURCHILL DOWNS, OAKLAWN, MONMOUTH PARK AND FAIR GROUNDS.

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