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KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT MARCH 5, 2009 by James Scully QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) and THE PAMPLEMOUSSE (Kafwain) looked terrific on Saturday, recording convincing victories in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and Sham S. (G3), respectively, and both colts are now in the discussion of serious Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders. The Derby is eight weeks from this Saturday. Fountain of Youth -- Quality Road settled off pacesetter This Ones for Phil (Untuttable) down the backstretch of the Fountain of Youth and asserted himself leaving the far turn, seizing command while quickly drawing clear of the competition in upper stretch. He dominated the rest of the way under John Velazquez and received a whopping 110 BRIS Speed rating for the 4 1/4-length decision. The Edward Evans homebred was making only his third start on Saturday. He opened his career with a sparkling wire-to-wire score over maiden special weight rivals at Aqueduct last November and reappeared this year with a runner-up finish to THEREGOESJOJO (Brahms) in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on January 10. Quality Road exited that race with a cough, and he was mistakenly not nominated to the Triple Crown at the first deadline. The Virginia-bred will be a late nominee. Following an opening quarter-mile in :23 4/5, the second quarter-mile in the Fountain of Youth went in :21 3/5. Quality Road was part of the stiff pace, racing about a length back of the pacesetter through the opening half, and the bay colt offered a dynamic turn of foot into the stretch, notching a commendable 100 BRIS Late Pace rating while finishing in a very professional manner. It was easy to come away impressed, but Quality Road still needs to prove himself around two turns. His pedigree is favorable. Elusive Quality has already sired a Derby winner in Smarty Jones, and Quality Road's dam, Kobla (Strawberry Road [Aus]), is a full sister to 1997 champion three-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Ajina. He figures to get plenty of endurance from his bloodlines, and his supporters had to love his willingness to settle off the speed on Saturday. Quality Road was headstrong in his first two starts, blistering his way to the front as soon as the gates opened, and the last thing trainer Jimmy Jerkens wants to see on Derby Day is the colt battling for the early lead. Quality Road will likely make his two-turn debut in the Wood Memorial (G1) on April 4, and his bandwagon will pick up a lot of steam with another strong performance. Theregoesjojo notched a career-best Speed rating (104) for his runner-up finish, and the Kenny McPeek-trained colt finished four lengths clear of third-placer BEETHOVEN (Sky Mesa), passing several rivals in the latter stages to record his second consecutive triple-digit Late Pace number. The Kentucky-bred colt was making only his second start since July, and the late runner is eligible to keep improving. Theregoesjojo has never been two turns, but the fact that he's out of a Seattle Slew mare is encouraging. Beethoven washed out badly in the paddock and trailed his nine rivals through the opening three-quarters of a mile. He made up a lot of ground for third, but the Grade 2 winner still finished more than eight lengths back of the winner. Nothing has gone smoothly for Beethoven in two South Florida starts, and a change in scenery might benefit the John Ward pupil. The bubble burst for several Derby hopefuls. This Ones for Phil, Notonthesamepage (Catienus) and Taqarub (Aldebaran) are all sprinters at this point of their career and won't be pursuing the Run for the Roses. Break Water Edison (Lemon Drop Kid) wound up being eased after coming up empty on the far turn, and he'll probably get some time off. Capt. Candyman Can (Candy Ride [Arg]) didn't disgrace in fourth, but he's built for middle-to-shorter distances and can earn a lot of money elsewhere. Sham -- The Pamplemousse ran his rivals off their feet, winning by six lengths under a hand ride from Alex Solis. After comfortably taking the one-mile San Rafael S. (G3) in January, he easily stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in the Sham. The Kentucky-bred loves the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, and he's come a long way fast for trainer Julio Canani. Based on pedigree, The Pamplemousse looks like a sprinter, but that hasn't played out on the track so far. After dropping his first two starts sprinting, he stretched out to two turns to break his maiden, winning a 1 1/16-mile event at Hollywood Park on December 14, and he's now unbeaten in three straight starts at a route. There's still a big difference between nine furlongs and 1 1/4 miles. Three years ago, Brother Derek tore through his prep races on the West Coast, winning the San Rafael (G2), Santa Catalina (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) while earning terrific BRIS Speed ratings of 108 and 105 along the way, but he wound up dead-heating for fourth on Derby Day. There's still legitimate concern that The Pamplemousse won't handle the distance at Churchill Downs. The Bienstock & Winner Stables et al colorbearer will have to deal with some pressure up front eventually. The Pamplemousse was the lone speed in both the Sham and San Rafael. In the San Rafael, the only possible pace pressure, Brother Keith (Johar), blew the first turn, leaving The Pamplemousse all alone. The Sham remarkably drew no other front runners. Runner-up TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score) tried to go with him early, but he's a proven stalker who doesn't have the quickness to run with his rival from the start. The Pamplemousse established very legitimate splits in the Sham and San Rafael, but he was able to relax while all alone down the backstretch both times. I would be remiss leaving out the Pro-Ride factor. There's plenty of speculation both ways, but nobody knows whether The Pamplemousse will carry his form to dirt. The way he skims over the Pro-Ride makes me skeptical. I don't have much faith in the prospect of any three-year-old with no dirt experience transferring their form under the extreme conditions of the Kentucky Derby. I also don't know what to make of The Pamplemousse's BRIS Speed ratings. He looked awesome visually, ripping off fast fractions of :23, :46 2/5 and 1:10 1/5 en route to finishing up in 1:47 4/5, but earned only a 97 Speed number. That equals a career-best. Whether it's PIONEEROF THE NILE (Empire Maker), STARDOM BOUND (Tapit), CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride [Arg]) or The Pamplemousse, the West Coast horses are registering disappointing BRIS Speed figures this season. The Santa Anita Derby on April 4 is setting up to be an exciting contest. If Pioneerof the Nile wins the March 14 San Felipe S. (G2) as expected, he'll solidify his status as the top Derby contender out West. Then we'll find out whether he can run down The Pamplemousse in the Santa Anita Derby. Battaglia -- Saturday's John Battaglia Memorial S., which served as a prep for the $500,000 Lane's End S. (G2) on March 21, did not attract a strong field. PROCEED BEE (Bernstein) shipped in to Turfway Park off a fifth in the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park, and the Terry Gestes trainee was able to run down the heavily favored PARADE CLOWN (Distorted Humor) for a 1 1/4-length score. There was nothing encouraging about his 82 Speed rating. Upcoming -- We're in the midst of an important stretch that will set up the final round of Derby prep races. Saturday's Gotham S. (G3) is the lone event of consequence for males, and IMPERIAL COUNCIL (Empire Maker) will make his highly anticipated stakes debut. He'll have to get past HAYNESFIELD (Speightstown), an impressive 6 1/4-length winner of the Whirlaway S. last out over the inner track. STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) will receive her final tune-up for her showdown against males in the Santa Anita Derby when she heads to the starting gate in Saturday's Santa Anita Oaks (G1). She's following the same Las Virgenes (G1)-Santa Anita Oaks-Santa Anita Derby route that Winning Colors used to win the Derby in 1988. The Louisiana Derby (G2), Rebel S. (G2), San Felipe and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) will take place on March 14.
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