Kentucky Derby Report

KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT

FEBRUARY 7, 2008

by James Scully

An unproven cast of five went to the post in Saturday's Robert B. Lewis S.

(G2), and a potential star emerged in CROWN OF THORNS (Repent). A seven-length

maiden winner on New Year's Day, the Richard Mandella-trained colt easily

transitioned to stakes company, registering an impressive 2 1/2-length decision

in the Lewis.

Crown of Thorns settled nicely in third entering the clubhouse turn and began to advance up the rail as the field reached the

final bend. Forced to wait briefly in tight quarters, he instantly

accelerated through a small opening to grab the lead approaching the stretch

drive, where he faced a challenge from COAST GUARD (Stormy Atlantic) on the

outside. That rival briefly tested him, but Crown of Thorns continued to find

more and drew clear in the final furlong.

Crown of Thorns is diminutive in size, but he's got a lot going for him. An

athletic colt with a beautiful way of moving, he displayed a dynamic middle move

in the Lewis and showed the ability to overcome trouble after being stopped on

the far turn. The talented bay quickly regained his momentum, and I like the way

he offered another strong move in midstretch to dispose of a game Coast Guard, accelerating away to win in hand. Crown of Thorns looked like a serious racehorse indeed.

He's bred to handle 10 furlongs and, with only two sprint starts to his credit prior to the

1 1/16-mile Lewis, the sky's the limit.

Of course, Crown of Thorns owns no dirt experience, and that's a major

headache nowadays. Anybody watching Saturday's Santa Monica H. (G1) at Santa

Anita could tell that Grade 1 winner Hystericalady (Distorted Humor) isn't the

same horse on synthetic tracks as she is on dirt -- she's 10+ lengths better on dirt. By

the same token, Hard Spun was as classy as they come on both dirt and Polytrack.

We just don't know whether synthetic-based sophomores will handle the transition

to a different surface in the Kentucky Derby (G1). And while it would benefit us

to see EL GATO MALO (El Corredor), COLONEL JOHN

(Tiznow) and other top-ranked California prospects receive a dirt start before

the first Saturday in May, that's hardly a concern for their conditioners. They

just want to get there.

That leaves us to speculate.

Thankfully, Crown of Thorns and INTO MISCHIEF (Harlan's Holiday) are both

trained by Mandella, who will probably split them up instead of running against

each other in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). At least one of them will

get the opportunity to test a dirt track.

Coast Guard finished well clear of third in a very solid performance. With

three seconds in four career attempts, it's tempting to diagnose him with a

severe case of seconditis. But Coast Guard remains a very promising

three-year-old for David Hofmans.

In Saturday's Swale S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park, EATON'S GIFT (Johannesburg)

proved to be a sharp 3 1/2-length winner. The Dale Romans runner flashed speed

from his inside post when the gates opened, opening a narrow lead down the

backstretch and into the far turn, and put his rivals away at the top of the

stretch. He cruised to the finish line in good fashion, notching a 101 BRIS

Speed rating in the 6 1/2-furlong event.

Eaton's Gift faltered badly when trying two turns in his previous outing, the

CashCall Futurity (G1), and distance looks like an imposing challenge for this

speedy colt.

SLEUSE (Grand Slam) owns a better pedigree for routes and made an excellent

impression when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream last Friday. The Todd Pletcher

pupil broke running under Edgar Prado and sat a close second until asserting his

superiority on the far turn, quickly drawing clear from his nearest rival en

route to a five-length decision. From the same female family of millionaire and

multiple Grade 1 winner Manistique, Sleuse recorded an excellent 103 Speed

rating in the seven-furlong test, as well as a 99 Late Pace rating, and he's one to

watch for in the coming months.

LING LING QI (Yonaguska) and FACE THE CAT (Tale of the Cat) were a pair of

good-looking allowance winners in South Florida last week. The former found

himself boxed in approaching the stretch drive and dramatically altered course

to the outside, closing well to win the seven-furlong event by a neck. Ling Ling Qi,

who earned a 100 Speed rating, edged a game REFEREE (Distorted Humor), who turned in an encouraging season

opener for Pletcher. Face the

Cat enjoyed a perfect trip in a one-mile allowance heat last Wednesday before

drawing clear to a four-length score. A winner of two straight at Gulfstream,

the Helen Pitts-trained colt received a respectable 98 Speed rating and is now

headed to stakes company.

Darley Stable didn't nominate BARRIER REEF (Mizzen Mast) to the Triple Crown,

but Saturday's Whirlaway S. likely changed their perception of the gray colt.

After rating about a half-dozen lengths off a slow early pace, Barrier Reef

commenced his rally on the far turn and hooked up with ROMAN EMPEROR (Empire

Maker) entering the straightaway of the 1 1/16-mile event. The two battled head

and head until the final sixteenth of mile, with Barrier Reef eventually edging

clear to a half-length decision, and the Tom Albertrani-trained winner garnered

a superb 103 Speed rating over the good Aqueduct inner track.

The outcome flattered Giant Moon (Giant's Causeway), who knocked off the

top two Whirlaway finishers in the Count Fleet S. on February 2. Barrier Reef finished a

well-beaten fourth while making his stakes debut that afternoon, but he took a

big step forward in the Whirlaway. He still has class and distance questions to

answer, but Barrier Reef is lightly raced (4-2-0-1) with room for improvement.

In other stakes action, BIG GLEN (Cactus Ridge) lagged far back in the early

stages of Saturday's WEBN S. at Turfway Park before rallying strongest of all

into the stretch. It looked momentarily like he was going to win for fun, but

YOUR ROUND (Distorted Humor) produced a late run in deep stretch to reduce the

winning margin to 1 1/4 lengths. An allowance victor in his previous outing at

Turfway Park, Big Glen was making his stakes bow for Frankie Brothers and

stamped himself as the probable favorite for the March 1 John Battaglia Memorial S.

over the Polytrack at Turfway. That race serves as the final local prep for the

Lane's End S. (G2) on March 22.

Upcoming

The Bob Lewis wetted the whistle, and the juices are flowing in anticipation

of Saturday's Risen Star S. (G3) at Fair Grounds.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Champagne S. (G1) runner-up PYRO (Pulpit),

who has been working forwardly with stablemate and Horse of the Year Curlin

(Smart Strike), will return to the races, and he will face another formidable

Steve Asmussen runner in Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz]). After capturing his first two

outings over New York-bred rivals, Z Fortune turned in a huge performance in the

January 12 Lecomte S. (G3), winning convincingly by 2 3/4 lengths.

The added ground figures to benefit Lecomte runner-up BLACKBERRY ROAD (Gone

West), and I'm excited to see SIGNATURE MOVE (Vindication) invade from the West

Coast. Trainer Eric Guillot believes Signature Move can win both the Risen Star

and Santa Anita Derby. The Risen Star also marks the stakes debut for VISIONAIRE

(Grand Slam), who exits a sparkling 5 1/2-length allowance win at Gulfstream for

Michael Matz.

Sunday's seven-furlong San Vicente S. (G2) at Santa Anita holds significance,

with CashCall Futurity hero Into Mischief expected to make his 2008 debut.

Top 10

1) COURT VISION -- Remsen (G2) winner is the likely Fountain of Youth (G2) favorite

2) TALE OF EKATI -- He will make 2008 bow in Tampa or Louisiana

3) PYRO -- Working well with Curlin in preparation for Risen Star

4) INTO MISCHIEF -- CashCall Futurity winner figures to be a prohibitive

choice in Sunday's San Vicente

5) CROWN OF THORNS -- Mandella holds a strong hand out west

6) COLONEL JOHN -- Anticipating his return in 3/1 Sham S. (G3)

7) WAR PASS -- Drilled a bullet on Saturday for Nick Zito

8) MAJESTIC WARRIOR -- Remains a very intriguing prospect

9) ATONED -- Repent has three sons with serious Kentucky Derby aspirations

10) EL GATO MALO -- Talented but untested