|
|
Concord Point dominates Iowa Derby Kaleem Shah's CONCORD POINT (Tapit) took over rounding the turn of Saturday night's $250,000 Iowa Derby (G3) at Prairie Meadows and merely extended his margin from that point to the wire. Martin Garcia guided the Bob Baffert charge through the 8 1/2-furlong test on the fast main track, allowing him to cruise under the wire an 8 1/2-length winner while stopping the clock in a track-record 1:40 1/5. The near 5-2 second choice settled into the three path while stalking the early pace of :23 1/5 and :45 3/5 set by Forestry Type (Forestry). Drawing even with that rival while circling the final turn, Concord Point shook loose under mild encouragement and drew off to score his first stakes win following a runner-up effort in his stakes debut in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. (G3) on May 22. The gray three-year-old was making his dirt bow in this spot after breaking his maiden in December in his first start, running a close fourth against allowance/optional claiming rivals and then taking an allowance in mid-April, all on the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita. His career line now reads 5-3-1-0, $226,760. Concord Point paid $6.80, $3.60 and $2.80 for this win, with Thiskyhasnolimit (Sky Mesa) rallying to give back $4 and $2.80 as the 3-1 third pick in second. Winslow Homer (Unbridled's Song), another three parts of a length back in third as the 3-2 favorite, returned $2.60. The exotics were worth $26.40 (exacta) and $57.60 (6-3-4 trifecta). Down With Dixie (Purge), Vow to Wager (Broken Vow) and Forestry Type finished out the order under the wire. Concord Point, bred in Kentucky by Lee McMillin and Ed Rudley, has passed through the sales ring three times. He brought $70,000 as a Keeneland November weanling, then returned a year later as a Keeneland September yearling to draw a $220,000 winning bid. Last year, the gray colt was a $285,000 RNA as a Barretts March two-year-old. Out of the winning Harve de Grace (Boston Harbor), Concord Point has a trio of younger half-brothers -- an unraced juvenile named Spin Zone (Candy Ride [Arg]), an unnamed Van Nistelrooy yearling and a 2010 Political Force colt. Harve de Grace is herself a half-sister to dual Grade 3 winner Tasha's Miracle (Harlan's Holiday), Grade 2-placed Deb's Charm (Silver Charm) and stakes-placed Early Vintage (Jump Start). Concord Point's third dam is A Penny is a Penny (Temperence Hill), queen of the 1990 Molly Pitcher H. (G2), Fleur de Lis S. (G3) and Oaklawn S. (G3).
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
