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KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT FEBRUARY 21, 2008 by James Scully DENIS OF CORK (Harlan's Holiday) remained perfect in Monday's Southwest S. (G3), and a buzz is circulating once again in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Four years ago, Smarty Jones took the area by storm, sweeping the Southwest, Rebel S. and Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to becoming the first undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1) winner since Seattle Slew. Dual classic winner Afleet Alex was the rave at Oaklawn Park in 2005, and Lawyer Ron captivated fans the following season with three authoritative victories. Last year was all about Curlin (Smart Strike). Denis of Cork isn't in the same class yet, but a dominant 2 1/4-length victory in the one-mile Southwest puts him on the right path. After breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs in late November, the David Carroll runner opened his three-year-old campaign with an allowance score over a sloppy track at Fair Grounds on January 19. The bay colt made his stakes debut as the near 5-1 third choice on Monday. A blistering pace developed as SACRED JOURNEY (Unbridled's Song) ripped through splits in :22 3/5 and :45 1/5, and new rider Robby Albarado settled Denis of Cork well off the pace in midpack, more than 18 lengths behind the leader at the half-mile mark. Denis of Cork began to make up ground on the far turn and sling-shotted into the stretch, quickly overhauling the pacesetter and drawing clear with big strides in the final furlong. He impressively finished full of run under the wire, and the Florida-bred registered a career-best 99 BRIS Speed figure with a 101 Late Pace rating. Only thrice-raced, Denis of Cork is building an excellent resume. He's won on fast and sloppy tracks, behind fast and slow paces, and overcame wide trips in his first two outings. Out of an Unbridled mare, he's bred to relish longer distances. Denis of Cork still has much to prove, but the Southwest was a grand step in the progression of an exciting three-year-old. SIERRA SUNSET (Bertrando), who raced close to the stiff pace, finished a clear second, and a tiring Sacred Journey managed to dead-heat for third. Surprisingly, no horses closed from off the pace other than the winner. Grade 3 hero TURF WAR (Dixie Union), the 2-1 favorite, broke inward at the start, immediately dropped to the back of the pack, and offered no rally whatsoever in a dull ninth-place effort. Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday), the 3-1 second choice, displayed a little more run, advancing some on the far turn, but came up empty in the short stretch and settled for sixth. The top-two betting choices both ran poorly. On Saturday, FIERCE WIND (Dixie Union) blew through the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs, notching his first stakes win with a half-length decision. From a Nick Zito shedrow loaded with Kentucky Derby prospects, Fierce Wind brought a two-race winning skein into his stakes debut, breaking his maiden by 10 1/4 lengths at Calder before capturing a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Gulfstream by 5 1/4 lengths, both wins coming on the front end. He showed speed after breaking sharply in the 1 1/16-mile Sam Davis but willingly gave up the lead entering the first turn, settling into a perfect stalking trip in fourth down the backstretch. The dark bay moved beautifully on the far outside to challenge for the lead midway on the far turn, and continued his momentum into the stretch, opening a 1 1/2-length advantage with a sixteenth left. The Kentucky-bred finished well, withstanding the fast-closing BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder) in deep stretch, and the improving colt certainly merits respect going forward off this effort. After showing little in his first two starts sprinting, Fierce Wind became a different horse when stretching out to two turns in mid-December, and he's bred to run long on his dam side (out of an A.P. Indy mare). Tactical speed is also an asset for the well-bred colt, but we must keep the Sam Davis in perspective. Grade 3 winner Z HUMOR (Distorted Humor), the 6-5 favorite, was a threatening presence on the front end during the early stages but quit readily upon reaching the top of the stretch, eventually fading to fifth. Runner-up Big Truck, a New York-bred, was beaten handily in his last two starts versus graded rivals and rated no better than third-string in the Barclay Tagg stable entering the race. Also, Fierce Wind's 96 Speed rating was a little disappointing. After receiving only decent numbers (95 and 91) for runaway scores in his previous two starts, his Speed rating increased only slightly on Saturday. He'll probably need significant improvement next time. Saturday's Hallandale Beach S. at Gulfstream Park normally wouldn't receive any mention here, but COWBOY CAL (Indian Charlie) was using the 1 1/16-mile turf race as a prep toward the big race at Churchill Downs. Things didn't go as planned for the Todd Pletcher pupil, who attempted to lead wire-to-wire but wound up being overtaken by stablemate WHY TONTO (Indian Charlie) in midstretch. Considering that Cowboy Cal easily handled Why Tonto in the Tropical Park Derby (G3) on New Year's Derby and was being listed in many Top 10 lists for the Kentucky Derby, the outcome was a big shock. Pletcher said plans won't change for Cowboy Cal, who wasn't scheduled to see the dirt before the Derby anyway. The two-time stakes winner will be pointed toward the April 12 Blue Grass S. (G1) on Polytrack, which plays favorably for turf horses, but Cowboy Cal won't bring the lofty reputation into the race that he enjoyed prior to the Hallandale. Nashua S. (G3) winner ETCHED (Forestry) brought a two-for-two mark into his sophomore debut, Thursday's U.A.E. Two Guineas (UAE-G3) at Nad al Sheba, but the Godolphin colorbearer came up empty late in a fourth-place showing. With Godolphin's second-stringer My Indy (Indygo Shiner) getting the best of him in third, Etched's performance was very disappointing. In other developments, CROWN OF THORNS (Repent) is reportedly off the Derby trail due to an injury, and that's a sad development indeed. His Bob Lewis (G2) was among the top performances so far this year, along with PYRO's (Pulpit) Risen Star (G3), EL GATO MALO's (El Corredor) San Rafael (G3) and Denis of Cork's Southwest, and the lightly raced colt appeared to own a very high ceiling. The good news is that he's expected to make a complete recovery, so we could see Crown of Thorns later in the year. Upcoming Gulfstream will finally deliver an enticing stakes race for three-year-olds with Sunday's Fountain of Youth (G2). COURT VISION (Gulch), MONBA (Maria's Mon) and ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop) are the top-three prospects at this writing, and an interesting ensemble cast is expected to include promising runners in ADRIANO (A.P. Indy), ELYSIUM FIELDS (El Prado [Ire]) and MAKE THE POINT (Menifee). Top 10 1) PYRO -- Risen Star vaulted him to the top of the list 2) COURT VISION -- Remsen (G2) winner looms large in Fountain of Youth 3) DENIS OF CORK -- Giving him serious kudos following Southwest 4) COLONEL JOHN -- Working well for 3/1 Sham (G3) 5) TALE OF EKATI -- We'll see him in 3/8 Louisiana Derby (G2) 6) WAR PASS -- Saturday allowance at Gulfstream didn't fill for champion juvenile 7) MAJESTIC WARRIOR -- Bill Mott runner is preparing for Louisiana Derby 8) INTO MISCHIEF -- Eligible to improve off runner-up effort in San Vicente (G2) 9) EL GATO MALO -- Smashing San Rafael winner 10) MAKE THE POINT -- Will attempt to make a splash in Fountain of Youth
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