|
Richard's Kid makes homecoming for Pimlico Special
 |
| Maryland-bred Richard's Kid returns to his native state for the first time in four years
(Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club) |
When the field for Friday's Grade 3, $300,000
Pimlico Special appeared to
come up short, trainer Doug O'Neill considered two options: to enter both
Richard's Kid and Handsome Mike or place the latter in a different spot.Some late additions to the Special enlarged the lineup to seven and made the
decision for O'Neill. Only Richard's Kid will vie for the $180,000 top share in
the Special. It is an appropriate homecoming spot for Richard's Kid, a
Maryland-bred by Lemon Drop Kid out of Tough Broad originally under the tutelage
of trainer Dickie Small.
After a victory in the John B. Campbell Handicap at Laurel in 2009 and two
more races, the grandson of Broad Brush moved on to the barn of Bob Baffert and
became a three-time winner of Grade 1 stakes in California.
Another ownership change brought the horse, now eight years old, to O'Neill,
who burst into national prominence last year as the trainer of Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes champion I'll Have Another.
After eight starts under O'Neill, Richard's Kid, who has lifetime earnings of
$2,332,259, has yet to reach the winner's circle.
|
"I really think he's been a lucky trip or two away," O'Neill said. " He could
have had a big Breeders' Cup Classic (finished fifth) and it's been a little bit
challenging to find good spots for him."
O'Neill said he will remove the blinkers from his charge for the Special
after sending his horses directly to Pimlico from Churchill Downs after the
Derby.
"All of them have settled in well," he said. "Richard's Kid is quite a
professional. It would be quite an honor if he goes off as the favorite."
Former Maryland riding star Rosie Napravnik, who rode Richard's Kid in his
first start on November 8, 2007 at Laurel, has the assignment.
The morning line odds list him as the third choice at 7-to-2 behind Last
Gunfighter (7-5) and local favorite Eighttofasttocatch (9-5), who is coming into
the race off an impressive gate-to-wire score in the Henry Clark Stakes here
last month where the Tim Keefe trainee earned a career-best 109 BRIS Speed
figure.
 |
| Eighttofasttocatch looks to follow up on his career-best romp in the Henry Clark
(Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club) |
"He came out of the race in fantastic order and is training phenomenally," Keefe
said. "He has put two of his best races together back-to-back. Coley (Pimlico
stakes coordinator Coley Blind) told me the race was coming up lighter than they
would have liked so I went to Arnold (Heft, husband of owner Sylvia Heft) and he
encouraged me to do the best for the horse so I told him I would enter and take
a look at it. I see no reason not to give it another shot."Eighttofasttocatch will be going up against graded company for the first time
since his ninth-place finish in last year's running of the race. The
seven-year-old gelding looks to maintain the same form he showed in his stakes
victory last out and Forest Bryce will be in the saddle again.
Last Gunfighter exits a nice score in the Excelsior on March 23 at Aqueduct
in his graded stakes debut. The four-year-old colt was switched over to Chad
Brown's barn after his first four starts and has been undefeated ever since. He
enters in here on a five-race win streak but will be making his first start over
the Pimlico track and will have Javier Castellano aboard for the first time.
The field is completed by Concealed Identity, third-place finisher in the
Henry Clark; Indian Dance, recent victor of an optional claimer here last month;
Brimstone Island, winner of his last three races; and Avenida Paseo, who sports
a win over the track in an optional claimer last year.
|
As for Handsome Mike, he will go instead in the Grade 3, $150,000 Maryland
Sprint Handicap on Preakness Day, almost a half-mile shorter than the 1 3/16
mile Special.
"He's a horse who can run just about any distance," O'Neill said.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
Send this article to a friend
| 
