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Workin for Hops runs away with American Derby
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| Workin for Hops sailed home an easy winner of the American Derby
(Four Footed Fotos) |
Estrorace LLC's WORKIN FOR HOPS (City Zip) pressed the pace in
Saturday's $200,000
American Derby (G2) at Arlington Park, took command rounding the
turn and easily drew off to score by 2 1/4 lengths for trainer Michael
Stidham. Jockey Francisco Torres took over riding duties after assigned
rider Robby Albarado experienced flight problems that prevented him from
making it to Chicago on Saturday from Louisville, Kentucky.
"It's one of those opportunities where you have to be in the right
place at the right time and I'd like to thank (trainer) Michael
(Stidham) for letting me ride this horse today," Torres said.
Torres gave Workin for Hops the perfect trip just to the outside of
leader Marcello (Johannesburg) through fractions of :24 4/5, :50 1/5 and
1:14. The chestnut gelding drew even with his pacesetting rival and
effortlessly put him away, accelerating down the stretch through a mile
in 1:38. Workin for Hops completed the 1 3/16-mile firm turf test in
1:55 2/5.
"The turf has been speed favoring so I kind of let him fall out of
there," Torres added. "We found ourselves close to the front end and
slow fractions developed. When I called on him, he prevailed." Workin for Hops has now set himself up to become the first horse since Honor
Glide in 1997 to sweep the Mid-American Triple. The sophomore captured the first
leg of the series, the May 22 Arlington Classic S., and with this second leg now
under his girth is headed for the final race in the series -- the August 21
Secretariat S. (G1). The American Derby win not only boosted his earnings to
$356,176 but also gave him an automatic berth into the Secretariat with entry
and starting fees waived. |
"He's really amazing," Stidham said. "He does things so easily and he's
beaten some really good horses. We couldn't be happier. I would say that's
pretty likely (that he'll run back in the Secretariat). If he's doing good,
that's where we're planning on going."
Workin for Hops exited the gate as the 3-2 favorite, paying $5, $3.80 and $3
to his backers. Mister Marti Gras (Belong to Me) was sent off at 19-1 and
returned $11.80 and $6.40 for his rallying second. Dean's Kitten (Kitten's Joy)
finished another half-length back in third, but was disqualified and placed
fourth behind Gleam of Hope (City Zip) for interference in the stretch. Thus,
Gleam of Hope was worth $4 as the 5-1 third pick, and the exotics gave back
$64.60 (exacta), $245.60 (trifecta) and $1,360.80 (7-9-8-6 superfecta).
Following the top four under the wire were Mint Chip (Johar), Asphalt (War
Chant), Dream Nettie (Dixie Union), Marcello and Formulaforsuccess (Broken Vow).
Workin for Hops improved his career mark to 8-5-2-0, with his only non-top
two finish coming as a fifth in the American Turf S. (G2) at Churchill Downs on
April 30. The chestnut opened the year with a five-length victory in the
Grindstone S. at Fair Grounds, making his stakes debut in that March 27 event,
and briefly threatened in the Colonial Turf Cup (G2) prior to this one before
settling for second in that test.
Bred by Amy Bondon and Tom McNally in Kentucky, Workin for Hops was produced
by the winning Citidancer mare Citi Pearl, who is also responsible for a
juvenile filly named Cryptocandiac (Candy Ride [Arg]) and a 2010 filly by Master
Command.
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