Untapable Unstoppable in Fair Grounds Oaks
By Jack Shinar
Untapable will head to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) as the likely favorite after another decisive victory in the $384,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 29 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (VIDEO).
Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred daughter of Tapit took command at the head of the stretch and left her four 3-year-old filly rivals far behind on her way to a 7 3/4-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks. She'll prove a formidable obstacle at Churchill Downs for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks after sewing up a starting berth with her impressive victory.
Rated beautifully by Rosie Napravnik in second just off pacesetter Fiftyshadesofgold to her inside, Untapable came home as much the best in a solid time of 1:43.09 over a drying out main track that was rated fast.
Recent history is on Untapable's side. Five of the past nine winners of the Fair Grounds Oaks have gone on to victory at Churchill in the Kentucky Oaks.
Fiftyshadesofgold, ridden by Mike Smith, was a clear second after carving quarter mile splits of :24.29, :48.27, and 1:12.83. The strapping filly led coming out of the final turn but was no match for the winner through the lane. Second choice Unbridled Forever and Robby Albardo made a brief rally before settling for third. Mary Rita and Artist Cry followed in the small field.
Untapable is 2-for-2 in 2014 for beleaguered trainer Steve Asmussen after beginning the year with a 9 1/2-length romp in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Feb. 22 while recording a 100 Beyer figure.
The victory had to feel good to Asmussen. He has been the subjected to much criticism in the recent days due to a report in the New York Times based on an undercover investigation by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals alleging his stable has mistreated horses. Asmussen's nomination as a finalist to the National Racing Hall of Fame was tabled as a result of the fall-out.
"She just has ability," Asmussen said of Untapable. "She has grown up a lot, and she has great composure...and she's fast. I like how she was handled by Rosie, how she relaxed, and she ran big, especially off such a fast effort in the Rachel Alexandra."
Untapable, now with four wins from six starts and earnings of $548,125, is a half sister to grade I winner and $1.7 million earner Paddy O'Prado . The bay filly is out of the grade II winner Fun House, by Prized.
"Steve's only instructions were to keep it smooth, so I let her go easily, and she relaxed for me, and I just got her used to being asked to go at the top of the stretch," Napravnik said. "Very excited about her."
The only graded stakes winner in the field, Untapable paid $3, $2.20, and $2.10 under equal weights of 121 pounds. Fiftyshadesofgold returned $3,20 and $2.10, completing a $7.20 exacta. Unbridled Forever paid $2.10 to show.
"She was just a little tired today," trainer Dallas Stewart said of Unbridled Forever, a convincing winner of the Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds. "It was a nice try, she was just outrun by a nice horse. We'll come back in five weeks (in the Kentucky Oaks) and try her again."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84097/untapable-unstoppable-in-fair-grounds-oaks#ixzz2xOz9MSod
By Jack Shinar
Untapable will head to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) as the likely favorite after another decisive victory in the $384,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) March 29 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (VIDEO).
Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred daughter of Tapit took command at the head of the stretch and left her four 3-year-old filly rivals far behind on her way to a 7 3/4-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks. She'll prove a formidable obstacle at Churchill Downs for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks after sewing up a starting berth with her impressive victory.
Rated beautifully by Rosie Napravnik in second just off pacesetter Fiftyshadesofgold to her inside, Untapable came home as much the best in a solid time of 1:43.09 over a drying out main track that was rated fast.
Recent history is on Untapable's side. Five of the past nine winners of the Fair Grounds Oaks have gone on to victory at Churchill in the Kentucky Oaks.
Fiftyshadesofgold, ridden by Mike Smith, was a clear second after carving quarter mile splits of :24.29, :48.27, and 1:12.83. The strapping filly led coming out of the final turn but was no match for the winner through the lane. Second choice Unbridled Forever and Robby Albardo made a brief rally before settling for third. Mary Rita and Artist Cry followed in the small field.
Untapable is 2-for-2 in 2014 for beleaguered trainer Steve Asmussen after beginning the year with a 9 1/2-length romp in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Feb. 22 while recording a 100 Beyer figure.
The victory had to feel good to Asmussen. He has been the subjected to much criticism in the recent days due to a report in the New York Times based on an undercover investigation by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals alleging his stable has mistreated horses. Asmussen's nomination as a finalist to the National Racing Hall of Fame was tabled as a result of the fall-out.
"She just has ability," Asmussen said of Untapable. "She has grown up a lot, and she has great composure...and she's fast. I like how she was handled by Rosie, how she relaxed, and she ran big, especially off such a fast effort in the Rachel Alexandra."
Untapable, now with four wins from six starts and earnings of $548,125, is a half sister to grade I winner and $1.7 million earner Paddy O'Prado . The bay filly is out of the grade II winner Fun House, by Prized.
"Steve's only instructions were to keep it smooth, so I let her go easily, and she relaxed for me, and I just got her used to being asked to go at the top of the stretch," Napravnik said. "Very excited about her."
The only graded stakes winner in the field, Untapable paid $3, $2.20, and $2.10 under equal weights of 121 pounds. Fiftyshadesofgold returned $3,20 and $2.10, completing a $7.20 exacta. Unbridled Forever paid $2.10 to show.
"She was just a little tired today," trainer Dallas Stewart said of Unbridled Forever, a convincing winner of the Silverbulletday Stakes Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds. "It was a nice try, she was just outrun by a nice horse. We'll come back in five weeks (in the Kentucky Oaks) and try her again."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84097/untapable-unstoppable-in-fair-grounds-oaks#ixzz2xOz9MSod
Skyring Scores Front-Running Upset in Muniz
By Frank Angst,
Skyring snapped a seven-race losing streak dating back to last year's Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) undercard at Pimlico Race Course when he delivered a front-running victory in the $288,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. IIT) Saturday, March 29 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (VIDEO).
Calumet Farm's Skyring, who typically shows early speed, entered Saturday's race off a runner-up finish in the Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT). That race featured more early speed than the Muniz, but Saturday's race saw bettors turn to a pair of classy runners in last year's Arlington Million Stakes (gr. I) winner Real Solution and last year's Muniz winner Amira's Prince.
In this year's Muniz, Skyring cruised through a quarter-mile in :25.10 and a half-mile in :50.79 on the yielding Fair Grounds turf while shadowed by longshot Burn the Mortgage. Skyring put away any threat from Burn the Mortgage turning for home and opened a 2 1/2-length lead in midstretch.
Amira's Prince, who entered off a third-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) Feb. 9, launched a late bid to provide some stretch drama under Mike Smith but the son of Teofilo would come up just short as Skyring registered a neck upset victory.
"When we turned for home and he switched leads for me, he kicked so hard I would have been surprised if anyone came and ran him down," said winning jockey Joe Rocco Jr. "I knew Mike's horse [Amira's Prince] was coming for me, but even though the stretch here is so long, I thought we were going to get there."
Skyring completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.01. Conditioned by Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Skyring has won six of 29 starts, including three stakes victories, and the 5-year-old son of English Channel has earned $839,061.
Burn the Mortgage held third as the 6-year-old Kitten's Joy horse earned his first stakes placing since 2012. Real Solution, who carried six more pounds than the winner, raced wide early and never threatened late, finishing fourth in his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I).
Skyring paid $17.40 to win, $5.20 to place, and $3.20 to show while Amira's Prince returned $2.60 and $2.10. Burn the Mortgage paid $$3.60 to show.
Bred in Kentucky by Calumet owner Brad Kelley's Bluegrass Hall operation, Skyring is out of the Seattle Slew mare Violet Lady, who also has produced grade II winner Greenspring, stakes winner Caballero Negro, and three stakes-placed horses.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84100/skyring-scores-front-running-upset-in-muniz#ixzz2xOyspOR3
By Frank Angst,
Skyring snapped a seven-race losing streak dating back to last year's Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) undercard at Pimlico Race Course when he delivered a front-running victory in the $288,000 Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. IIT) Saturday, March 29 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (VIDEO).
Calumet Farm's Skyring, who typically shows early speed, entered Saturday's race off a runner-up finish in the Fair Grounds Handicap (gr. IIIT). That race featured more early speed than the Muniz, but Saturday's race saw bettors turn to a pair of classy runners in last year's Arlington Million Stakes (gr. I) winner Real Solution and last year's Muniz winner Amira's Prince.
In this year's Muniz, Skyring cruised through a quarter-mile in :25.10 and a half-mile in :50.79 on the yielding Fair Grounds turf while shadowed by longshot Burn the Mortgage. Skyring put away any threat from Burn the Mortgage turning for home and opened a 2 1/2-length lead in midstretch.
Amira's Prince, who entered off a third-place finish in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) Feb. 9, launched a late bid to provide some stretch drama under Mike Smith but the son of Teofilo would come up just short as Skyring registered a neck upset victory.
"When we turned for home and he switched leads for me, he kicked so hard I would have been surprised if anyone came and ran him down," said winning jockey Joe Rocco Jr. "I knew Mike's horse [Amira's Prince] was coming for me, but even though the stretch here is so long, I thought we were going to get there."
Skyring completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.01. Conditioned by Racing Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Skyring has won six of 29 starts, including three stakes victories, and the 5-year-old son of English Channel has earned $839,061.
Burn the Mortgage held third as the 6-year-old Kitten's Joy horse earned his first stakes placing since 2012. Real Solution, who carried six more pounds than the winner, raced wide early and never threatened late, finishing fourth in his first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I).
Skyring paid $17.40 to win, $5.20 to place, and $3.20 to show while Amira's Prince returned $2.60 and $2.10. Burn the Mortgage paid $$3.60 to show.
Bred in Kentucky by Calumet owner Brad Kelley's Bluegrass Hall operation, Skyring is out of the Seattle Slew mare Violet Lady, who also has produced grade II winner Greenspring, stakes winner Caballero Negro, and three stakes-placed horses.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84100/skyring-scores-front-running-upset-in-muniz#ixzz2xOyspOR3
Palace Malice Runs Off With N.O. Handicap
By Evan Hammonds,
Dogwood Stable's Palace Malice may have been the second choice in the six-horse New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) March 29, but he proved best drawing well clear of even-money favorite Normandy Invasion down the long Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots stretch (VIDEO).
Mike Smith was aboard Palace Malice, who covered the nine furlongs in 1:48.93. Palace Malice carried highweight of 121 pounds in the $388,000 race, six more than Normandy Invasion. He dusted his rival by 4 3/4 lengths.
Breaking from the outside post, Palace Malice was in a clear stalking position as Bradester set the early pace, getting the opening quarter in :23.65 and half-mile in :47.85. Tracking was 23-1 shot Fordubai on the rail.
Palace Malice made first move on the leader as the field rounded the far turn as six furlongs went in 1:11.91, getting to the front easily while floating a rallying Normandy Invasion wide into the stretch. Palace Malice opened up a two-length lead after a mile in 1:36.31 and cruised a final eight in :12.62 for the easy win. It was 6 3/4 lengths back to Louisiana-bred Sunbean in third. He was followed by Fordubai, Golden Soul, and Bradester.
"This horse holds a special place in my heart," said Smith. "I am just so happy that it worked out that I got to reunite with him and he didn't let us down. He might be better than he was last year. He did that pretty handily today."
Prayer For Relief (6-1 on the morning line) and Mister Marti Gras (12-1) were scratched.
Making his second start of the year--he kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a score in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II)--Palace Malice has now has a 5-4-1 slate from 14 starts and has earned $1,871,135. Last year Palace Malice won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) following a pair of starts at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II).
Cot Campbell, founder and president of Dogwood Stable, led his star to the winner's circle in New Orleans. Palace Malice is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won later in the day won the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) with Constitution.
The winner paid $4.40, $2.40, and $2.10. Normandy Invasion paid $2.20 and $2.10. Sunbean paid $2.80. The $2 exacta (8-5) paid $8.20 and $1 trifecta (8-5-6) returned $14.90.
Fox Hill Farms' Normandy Invasion was also making his second start of the year and second start since finishing fourth in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The son of Tapit won an allowance/optional claiming race Feb. 22 at Gulfstream Park.
Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish, Palace Malice is a son of Curlin out of the Royal Anthem mare Palace Rumor. A $25,000 Keeneland September yearling sale buy in 2011 by Colin Brennan from the Lane's End, agent, consignment, Dogwood purchased Palace Malice for $200,000 out of the following year's Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds from Niall Brennan Stables, agent.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84103/palace-malice-runs-off-with-no-handicap#ixzz2xOyDNHOr
By Evan Hammonds,
Dogwood Stable's Palace Malice may have been the second choice in the six-horse New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) March 29, but he proved best drawing well clear of even-money favorite Normandy Invasion down the long Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots stretch (VIDEO).
Mike Smith was aboard Palace Malice, who covered the nine furlongs in 1:48.93. Palace Malice carried highweight of 121 pounds in the $388,000 race, six more than Normandy Invasion. He dusted his rival by 4 3/4 lengths.
Breaking from the outside post, Palace Malice was in a clear stalking position as Bradester set the early pace, getting the opening quarter in :23.65 and half-mile in :47.85. Tracking was 23-1 shot Fordubai on the rail.
Palace Malice made first move on the leader as the field rounded the far turn as six furlongs went in 1:11.91, getting to the front easily while floating a rallying Normandy Invasion wide into the stretch. Palace Malice opened up a two-length lead after a mile in 1:36.31 and cruised a final eight in :12.62 for the easy win. It was 6 3/4 lengths back to Louisiana-bred Sunbean in third. He was followed by Fordubai, Golden Soul, and Bradester.
"This horse holds a special place in my heart," said Smith. "I am just so happy that it worked out that I got to reunite with him and he didn't let us down. He might be better than he was last year. He did that pretty handily today."
Prayer For Relief (6-1 on the morning line) and Mister Marti Gras (12-1) were scratched.
Making his second start of the year--he kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a score in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II)--Palace Malice has now has a 5-4-1 slate from 14 starts and has earned $1,871,135. Last year Palace Malice won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) following a pair of starts at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II).
Cot Campbell, founder and president of Dogwood Stable, led his star to the winner's circle in New Orleans. Palace Malice is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won later in the day won the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) with Constitution.
The winner paid $4.40, $2.40, and $2.10. Normandy Invasion paid $2.20 and $2.10. Sunbean paid $2.80. The $2 exacta (8-5) paid $8.20 and $1 trifecta (8-5-6) returned $14.90.
Fox Hill Farms' Normandy Invasion was also making his second start of the year and second start since finishing fourth in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The son of Tapit won an allowance/optional claiming race Feb. 22 at Gulfstream Park.
Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish, Palace Malice is a son of Curlin out of the Royal Anthem mare Palace Rumor. A $25,000 Keeneland September yearling sale buy in 2011 by Colin Brennan from the Lane's End, agent, consignment, Dogwood purchased Palace Malice for $200,000 out of the following year's Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds from Niall Brennan Stables, agent.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84103/palace-malice-runs-off-with-no-handicap#ixzz2xOyDNHOr
Constitution Edges Wildcat Red in FL Derby
By Claire Novak,
If horseplayers had a question of which runner to bet in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park on March 29, the one Javier Castellano was named on seemed as sure a shot as any.
Seeking his first Florida Derby victory but out to gain his fifth overall victory on the afternoon card at the South Florida oval, Castellano delivered the kind of ride that illustrates exactly why he's one of the best in the nation.
Third in the pocket trip early on behind pacesetting Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Wildcat Red, Castellano sent his mount off the final turn through a paint-scraping gap along the rail. The lightly raced Constitution responded with a surge to get up by a neck (VIDEO), acing his stakes debut and collecting 100 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
"I'm very, very proud of him," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who collected his fourth victory on the Florida Derby Day card. "It's a testament to the quality of horse he is—to go from a maiden to an allowance to a grade I and to show a different running style and get some dirt in his face and put in an effort like that against much more seasoned horses. It was a huge effort."
Wildcat Red fought back brilliantly in his first try at the 1 1/8-mile distance after setting measured fractions of :24.01, :48.19, and 1:12 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. But in the end, despite battling hard into the final furlong after a mile in 1:36.46, he could not withstand the craftily ridden son of Tapit .
"We lost the rail at one point and Castellano was smart enough to take the rail at the top of the stretch, and that was it," trainer Jose Garoffalo said of Wildcat Red, the D'wildcat runner, who won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) sprinting before stretching out in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. "It was a hell of a race. I think we're thinking seriously to go to Kentucky if the horse comes back in good shape.
"I'm not disappointed, it was a hell of a race, he did a great job and he was himself like he usually is. We just got beat. I think (Javier) Castellano (on Constitution) was very, very smart and took the rail, and that was the difference. That's why we lost the race. He never quit running...You know when he gets in a battle with Wildcat Red, it's going to be a battle. It gives you confidence moving forward, knowing he got some education and got some dirt in his face."
Final time for the sophomore test was 1:49.16 on a fast track.
Even-money favorite Cairo Prince, who had not raced since winning the Jan. 25 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II), finished a lackluster fourth behind General a Rod, who was 1 1/4 lengths back in third. East Hall, Matador, Spot, and Allstar completed the order of finish.
"We're obviously disappointed," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "He flattened out late. He looked like he got there and in the clear, which is what he likes and he just flattened out. So, it's disappointing, but we'll look to carry on and go on to the Derby and hope that we regroup and he rebounds from this effort.
"Maybe the nine weeks (off) was telling on him, maybe the inside was better, it's hard to say, but we'll regroup and move on to May 3. (Jockey Luis Saez) just said that he got there and flattened out a little bit. He's fine, he just didn't fire like he did last time. If 24 (points) don't get us in, then we don't go to Kentucky. We feel like we'll get in and if we don't, we won't."
With the UAE Derby (UAE-I) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) run the same day, there was a bit of shifting on the leaderboard for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field. LeComte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's In Trouble came back to take the Louisiana Derby and now sits on top of the standings with 120 points. UAE Derby winner Toast of New York is second with 100 points, and Constitution ranks third. Wildcat Red is fifth (90) behind Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) winner Intense Holiday, who was second in the Louisiana Derby. Cairo Prince is currently 16th on the list with 24 points, but could lose that spot with major preps like the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), Arkansas Derby (gr. I), and Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) still to come.
Off at odds of 3-1 in his stakes debut and just his third start for WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, Constitution paid $8.60, $4.20, and $3.60 with his third consecutive win. Wildcat Red brought $4.80 and $3.40 at 7-2, while 9-2 General a Rod paid $3.40.
"At the three-eighths pole I thought I'd have to go around the two pacemaker horses," said Castellano, the leading rider in the nation who broke his own single-season record for wins at Gulfstream earlier this month. "But one thing, it was kind of early and second, I was going to lose a lot of ground. I just took my shot and it worked out great...I didn't want to get to the hole and move too soon, a premature move. My mount is a young horse and stretching out to a mile and an eighth. You want to take consideration and save something for the end. I didn't want to check and lose the race like that. I had my spot and I kept it all the way to the top of the stretch."
"I was very confident with the horse. The first time I rode the horse, he really impressed me. He broke slow out of the gate and he kind of ran off on the backside and I hooked up with the pacemaker. We went in :22, :44 and the horse still had something in the tank at the top of the stretch. That impressed me very much. As soon as I jumped off the horse, I told Mr. Walden and Mr. Pletcher, 'That's a super horse.' I've never seen a horse like that, a first-time starter, do that the way he did it. It was impressive."
Bred in Kentucky by Grapestock LLC & Fox Hill Farms out of the Distorted Humor mare Baffled, 3-year-old Constitution was a $400,000 purchase by Twin Creeks Racing at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling from the Vinery Sales consignment. The winner's share of the Florida Derby purse bumped his earnings to $649,350.
"I've ridden him twice, and the second time was very impressive," Castellano said. "We stretched him out, he broke better out of the gate, he ran two turns. I think he learned a lot the second time. He was able to relax beautifully in the race. I think the horse is learning little by little, and he has got a great future."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84102/constitution-edges-wildcat-red-in-fl-derby#ixzz2xOzPyJSF
By Claire Novak,
If horseplayers had a question of which runner to bet in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park on March 29, the one Javier Castellano was named on seemed as sure a shot as any.
Seeking his first Florida Derby victory but out to gain his fifth overall victory on the afternoon card at the South Florida oval, Castellano delivered the kind of ride that illustrates exactly why he's one of the best in the nation.
Third in the pocket trip early on behind pacesetting Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Wildcat Red, Castellano sent his mount off the final turn through a paint-scraping gap along the rail. The lightly raced Constitution responded with a surge to get up by a neck (VIDEO), acing his stakes debut and collecting 100 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
"I'm very, very proud of him," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who collected his fourth victory on the Florida Derby Day card. "It's a testament to the quality of horse he is—to go from a maiden to an allowance to a grade I and to show a different running style and get some dirt in his face and put in an effort like that against much more seasoned horses. It was a huge effort."
Wildcat Red fought back brilliantly in his first try at the 1 1/8-mile distance after setting measured fractions of :24.01, :48.19, and 1:12 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. But in the end, despite battling hard into the final furlong after a mile in 1:36.46, he could not withstand the craftily ridden son of Tapit .
"We lost the rail at one point and Castellano was smart enough to take the rail at the top of the stretch, and that was it," trainer Jose Garoffalo said of Wildcat Red, the D'wildcat runner, who won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) sprinting before stretching out in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. "It was a hell of a race. I think we're thinking seriously to go to Kentucky if the horse comes back in good shape.
"I'm not disappointed, it was a hell of a race, he did a great job and he was himself like he usually is. We just got beat. I think (Javier) Castellano (on Constitution) was very, very smart and took the rail, and that was the difference. That's why we lost the race. He never quit running...You know when he gets in a battle with Wildcat Red, it's going to be a battle. It gives you confidence moving forward, knowing he got some education and got some dirt in his face."
Final time for the sophomore test was 1:49.16 on a fast track.
Even-money favorite Cairo Prince, who had not raced since winning the Jan. 25 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II), finished a lackluster fourth behind General a Rod, who was 1 1/4 lengths back in third. East Hall, Matador, Spot, and Allstar completed the order of finish.
"We're obviously disappointed," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "He flattened out late. He looked like he got there and in the clear, which is what he likes and he just flattened out. So, it's disappointing, but we'll look to carry on and go on to the Derby and hope that we regroup and he rebounds from this effort.
"Maybe the nine weeks (off) was telling on him, maybe the inside was better, it's hard to say, but we'll regroup and move on to May 3. (Jockey Luis Saez) just said that he got there and flattened out a little bit. He's fine, he just didn't fire like he did last time. If 24 (points) don't get us in, then we don't go to Kentucky. We feel like we'll get in and if we don't, we won't."
With the UAE Derby (UAE-I) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) run the same day, there was a bit of shifting on the leaderboard for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field. LeComte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's In Trouble came back to take the Louisiana Derby and now sits on top of the standings with 120 points. UAE Derby winner Toast of New York is second with 100 points, and Constitution ranks third. Wildcat Red is fifth (90) behind Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) winner Intense Holiday, who was second in the Louisiana Derby. Cairo Prince is currently 16th on the list with 24 points, but could lose that spot with major preps like the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), Arkansas Derby (gr. I), and Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) still to come.
Off at odds of 3-1 in his stakes debut and just his third start for WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, Constitution paid $8.60, $4.20, and $3.60 with his third consecutive win. Wildcat Red brought $4.80 and $3.40 at 7-2, while 9-2 General a Rod paid $3.40.
"At the three-eighths pole I thought I'd have to go around the two pacemaker horses," said Castellano, the leading rider in the nation who broke his own single-season record for wins at Gulfstream earlier this month. "But one thing, it was kind of early and second, I was going to lose a lot of ground. I just took my shot and it worked out great...I didn't want to get to the hole and move too soon, a premature move. My mount is a young horse and stretching out to a mile and an eighth. You want to take consideration and save something for the end. I didn't want to check and lose the race like that. I had my spot and I kept it all the way to the top of the stretch."
"I was very confident with the horse. The first time I rode the horse, he really impressed me. He broke slow out of the gate and he kind of ran off on the backside and I hooked up with the pacemaker. We went in :22, :44 and the horse still had something in the tank at the top of the stretch. That impressed me very much. As soon as I jumped off the horse, I told Mr. Walden and Mr. Pletcher, 'That's a super horse.' I've never seen a horse like that, a first-time starter, do that the way he did it. It was impressive."
Bred in Kentucky by Grapestock LLC & Fox Hill Farms out of the Distorted Humor mare Baffled, 3-year-old Constitution was a $400,000 purchase by Twin Creeks Racing at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling from the Vinery Sales consignment. The winner's share of the Florida Derby purse bumped his earnings to $649,350.
"I've ridden him twice, and the second time was very impressive," Castellano said. "We stretched him out, he broke better out of the gate, he ran two turns. I think he learned a lot the second time. He was able to relax beautifully in the race. I think the horse is learning little by little, and he has got a great future."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84102/constitution-edges-wildcat-red-in-fl-derby#ixzz2xOzPyJSF
