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KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT MARCH 4, 2010 by James Scully For the second time this year, Santa Anita was forced to postpone a graded prep race due to unsuitable conditions on the Pro-Ride. The Sham S. (G3) will be brought back one week later, on Saturday's Santa Anita H. (G1) undercard, weather permitting. The second Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its three-day run on Friday. Gulfstream allowances In a slow week for Kentucky Derby (G1) hopefuls, RADIOHEAD (GB) (Johannesburg) made some noise with an impressive allowance score on Saturday. The Richard Dutrow-trained colt showed speed from the start in his dirt debut, pressing pacesetter General Maximus (Freud) in second down the backstretch of the one-mile test, and struck the front while turning for home. He accelerated clear in midstretch with an excellent turn of foot that netted him a 116 BRIS Late Pace rating, registering a 101 BRIS Speed rating for the 3 1/4-length decision. Dutrow holds a strong hand for any three-year-old stakes race at a mile or less. Radiohead looks like a better candidate for two turns than stablemate D' Funnybone (D'wildcat), but remains questionable at the Derby 1 1/4-mile distance. There's plenty of speed on his female side, and his connections ran him early and often in Europe last season, with six starts at six furlongs or less. He may be able to stretch out effectively to 1 1/8 miles, but 10 furlongs is a different ballgame. Last seen finishing third in the one-mile Iroquois S. (G3) at Churchill Downs, SOARING EMPIRE (Empire Maker) returned to the races with a smart performance last Thursday. The long-striding colt rallied through the stretch of the seven-furlong event to record a narrow victory, giving every indication that he will relish longer distances as he drew off late, and the tightener sets him up for his two-turn debut next time. Out of an A.P. Indy mare, Soaring Empire is well-bred for classic distances and has earned solid BRIS Speed numbers in his sprint starts so far. He's an interesting prospect from the barn of Cam Gambolati, who saddled 1985 Derby winner Spend a Buck. FLY DOWN (Mineshaft) and FIRST DUDE (Stephen Got Even), the one-two finishers in a February 21 allowance at 1 1/8 miles, also merit watching in the future. A maiden scorer at Churchill Downs in his juvenile finale, Fly Down closed determinedly to win by a head in his first start against winners, posting a career-best 96 BRIS Speed rating, and the lightly-raced colt looks like one who will keep improving for Nick Zito. Recent Gulfstream maiden victor First Dude ran too well to lose in an ultra-game showing. The Dale Romans colt took it to 3-5 favorite Colizeo (Distorted Humor) from the start, pushing fast early splits before disposing of the well-regarded pacesetter, and drove hard all the way to the wire. Fly Down and First Dude could both make an impact in upcoming stakes. Sportsman's Paradise Sanford S. (G2) winner BACKTALK (Smarty Jones) made his first appearance since October a winning one in Friday night's Sportsman's Paradise S. at Delta Downs, getting up in deep stretch to record a half-length decision over the sloppy track, and he's headed to the 1 1/8-mile Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 27. It was encouraging to see him succeed at a two-turn distance, but his 89 BRIS Speed rating was pretty dismal. He'll be tested for class and stamina next time. Battaglia & Borderland Saturday's John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park won't have any impact upon this year's Kentucky Derby. CODOY (Bernstein), a graded stakes-placed turf performer at two, was the best horse in the Battaglia but wound up being disqualified from the top spot due to interference in deep stretch. He received an 88 BRIS Speed rating and may have a decent future on synthetic tracks as well as turf. Canadian champion juvenile Mine That Bird (Birdstone) used the Borderland Derby at Sunland Park as a steppingstone to his Derby upset, but there were no runners of his caliber in Saturday's field. RAISE THE BRIDLE (Spanish Steps), who was exiting a second in a February maiden special weight, finished first by a neck over STORMING SAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint) but remained eligible for maiden contests after being disqualified to second. Storming Saint, who was stepping up to a route off a third in the 6 1/2-furlong Riley Allison Futurity, earned an 85 BRIS Speed rating for his first stakes win. KDFW What does D. Wayne Lukas look for in a sire? Speed, speed and speed. When analyzing the Derby Future Wager, one can't go wrong searching for value, value and value. I played three futures in pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager at odds of 20-1 or higher: Maximus Ruler (Roman Ruler) (76-1), Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor) (20-1) and Eskendereya (Giant's Causeway) (22-1). Maximus Ruler is no longer viable after being knocked off the Derby Trail with a physical setback. Drosselmeyer can still make the field with a strong showing in his final Derby prep, but he lost his luster when finishing a dull fourth in the Risen Star S. (G2) and isn't an individual interest in Pool 2. Eskendereya is sitting pretty right now. I'll recommend two horses in Pool 2: DUBLIN (Afleet Alex) and TEMPTED TO TAPIT (Tapit). The Lukas-trained Dublin will draw some support, but his 15-1 morning line looks realistic with three straight setbacks since his Hopeful S. (G1) victory in early September. I liked his runner-up performance in the Southwest S. (G3) last time and expect him to run big in the March 13 Rebel S. (G2). Tempted to Tapit (50-1 morning line) will be one of the longest shots on the board, but I'll take a flier on the well-built gray colt. A maiden winner two starts back on the inner track at Aqueduct, he easily proved second-best in the Risen Star and owns a big upside for Steve Klesaris. He owns good BRIS Speed ratings, can be placed anywhere with his tactical speed, and is bred to handle 10 furlongs. Upcoming Saturday's Gotham S. (G3) marks the U.S. debut for AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again), who ships in from Newmarket, England, for Jeremy Noseda. A fast-finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2), the highly-regarded colt is bred for dirt and lands in a favorable spot without any graded winners. Whirlaway S. and Finger Lakes Juvenile S. hero PEPPI KNOWS (Stephen Got Even) is a top draw. Saturday's Sham S. (G3) won't feature any graded winners either. SETSUKO (Pleasantly Perfect) and NEXTDOORNEIGHBOR (Lido Palace [Chi]) both merit serious respect in their first stakes attempt, and CashCall Futurity (G1) fourth-placer THE PROGRAM (Harlan's Holiday), who exits an allowance triumph on Pro-Ride, is a threat for Bob Baffert.
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