Kentucky Derby Report

KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

by James Scully

OLD FASHIONED (Unbridled's Song) returned a winner in Monday's Southwest S.

(G3), clearing the first hurdle in his pursuit of the Kentucky Derby (G1). His

performance is the focus of this week's column, but we'll also take a look at

the El Camino Real Derby (G3), Sam F. Davis S. (G3), San Vicente S. (G2), UAE

Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) and a

couple of allowance races for three-year-olds.

Southwest -- Fox Hill Farms' Old Fashioned solidified his status as

the early Kentucky Derby favorite, drawing clear in the stretch for a 3

1/4-length decision. It wasn't the flashy dominance we witnessed in the Remsen

S. (G2) last November, but that's not what trainer Larry Jones wanted. Jones is

laying the groundwork for the first Saturday in May and didn't need a monstrous

performance from his pupil in mid-February. Old Fashioned won going away and is

eligible to move forward in his upcoming starts.

Runner-up SILVER CITY (Unbridled's Song) made him work for the victory, and

his presence was a real benefit for the gray colt, who wasn't given the

opportunity to simply overwhelm his rivals on the front end. Old Fashioned broke

on top under Ramon Dominguez and was initially hesitant to cede the lead to the

speedy Silver City, dueling through most of a fast opening quarter-mile in :22

2/5 before settling in second, about a length off the pacesetter entering the

backstretch. Silver City continued to wing it up front, passing the half-mile

mark in :45 4/5, and Old Fashioned made his move for the lead on the far turn,

collaring Silver City and surging to a narrow advantage as they approached the

stretch. He came under a ride in the final sixteenth, but the outcome was never

in doubt.

After registering century-topping BRIS Speed ratings in his final two

juvenile starts, Old Fashioned earned a 97 in the Southwest. That's a very

legitimate figure among Kentucky Derby prospects so far this year, and I expect

to see his numbers continue to increase.

Old Fashioned has been knocked in comparison to Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia

d'Oro), who annihilated her competition in the one-mile Martha Washington at

Oaklawn on Sunday, registering a 103 Speed rating while running a full second

faster than Old Fashioned a day later. But any comparison is apples and oranges.

The filly had everything her own way against a weak group of overmatched rivals.

Old Fashioned had to get past Silver City, who had the benefit of a sharp recent

prep at Oaklawn and turned in a very respectable performance in the Southwest.

Now four for four overall, Old Fashioned will likely follow the proven path

in Arkansas, using the March 14 Rebel S. (G2) as a prep to the $1 million

Arkansas Derby (G2) on April 11. The American Graded Stakes Committee may not

recognize the Arkansas Derby properly, but it's arguably more important than

half of the Grade 1 races offered. Five of the last 15 Triple Crown races (33

percent) were captured by horses competing in the Arkansas Derby, and that stat

doesn't include the 2006 winner, champion and $2.7 million earner Lawyer Ron.

They must hate something about Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Ten furlongs may prove too far for Silver City, but he can continue to be

effective in upcoming preps. The Bret Calhoun trainee broke his maiden sprinting

on the Polytrack last October and recorded a 4 1/2-length score over allowance

rivals going 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs in November, registering a 103

BRIS Speed rating. The Clarence Scharbauer Jr.-owned colt romped by four lengths

when opening his sophomore season in the 5 1/2-furlong Dixieland S. at Oaklawn,

and he ran well in his two-turn debut Monday. Silver City is based at Fair

Grounds, and Calhoun can avoid Old Fashioned next time out in the March 14

Louisiana Derby (G2). That's probably a wise idea.

El Camino Real Derby -- Sid & Jenny Craig Trust's CHOCOLATE CANDY

(Candy Ride [Arg]) won the El Camino Real Derby as expected, but supporters of

the 1-2 favorite were likely holding their breath through the stretch. Chocolate

Candy advanced to the lead entering the far turn and reached the top of the lane

with a clear advantage before things got a little hairy. Stablemate RENDEZVOUS

(Victory Gallop) momentarily loomed as a threatening presence to his outside

before faltering, and maiden winner MASSONE (Menifee) then rallied into

contention along the inside, pushing the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained winner all

the way to wire.

After recording a convincing 1 3/4-length tally in the 1 1/16-mile California

Derby, Chocolate Candy didn't look as sharp posting a half-length victory at 1

1/8 miles on Saturday. His BRIS Speed ratings dropped as well, going from a 92

(California Derby) to a dismal 88, but it was an oddly run race. The

late-running colt was caught wide entering the first turn and was closer than

usual due to the slow pace. The Kentucky-bred unexpectedly found himself

contesting the lead when the pacesetter suddenly stopped early on the

backstretch, and jockey Russell Baze had no choice but to go on with his mount.

That left Chocolate Candy in a sustained drive for the final five-eighths of a

mile, and that's not his best running style.

Chocolate Candy registered century-topping BRIS Late Pace ratings in his

final three juvenile starts, but he's lacked the same late kick while stuck in

paceless races in two starts at Golden Gate Fields this year. Hollendorfer is

strongly considering running him back in the San Felipe S. (G2) at Santa Anita on March 14, and

that will give us a better indication of how Chocolate Candy stacks up among the

three-year-olds on the West Coast. With $220,000 in graded earnings, he's

assured a starting spot on May 2, and Chocolate Candy won't have a dirt start

before arriving at Churchill Downs.

Sam F. Davis -- GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) had dropped seven straight

starts since winning a maiden claimer at Churchill last summer, but the gray

colt displayed some promise at Tampa Bay Downs this winter, recording runner-up

finishes in the Inaugural S. and Pasco S. The Thomas McCarthy-owned colt finally

returned to the winner's circle with a 3 1/2-length score in Saturday's Sam F.

Davis S. (G3), surprising many observers at 13-1. Eighth in a one-mile turf

allowance at Churchill Downs last November, General Quarters was making his

first attempt around two turns on the main track.

The top three finishers were spread out at the wire, with the fourth-longest

shot in the 11-horse field, 33-1 SUMO (Fusaichi Pegasus), finishing three

lengths clear of Pasco hero MUSKET MAN (Yonaguska) in third. General Quarters

notched a commendable 100 BRIS Speed rating in the 1 1/16-mile event, but he

still has a lot to prove to be considered a legitimate Kentucky Derby candidate.

The disappointing efforts of fourth-placer FREE COUNTRY (Big Country) and

seventh-placer ATOMIC RAIN (Smart Strike) continued a trend. Gulfstream Park

offered a pair of 1 1/8-mile allowances on January 8 that looked like they could

have an impact upon upcoming stakes, but those races don't look as good as they

once did. DANGER TO SOCIETY (Harlan's Holiday), who rolled to a good-looking 3

1/2-length decision in one of the allowances, completely faltered as the 9-5

favorite in the Holy Bull S. (G3). Free Country edged Remsen runner-up Atomic

Rain by a neck in the other allowance, and both colts were no factor on

Saturday.

San Vicente -- Kudos to EVITA ARGENTINA (Candy Ride [Arg]) for her

one-length victory in Monday's San Vicente S. (G2), and the John Sadler-trained

filly was no surprise, leaving the starting gate as the 2-1 favorite over nine

male rivals. Sadler has no intentions of pursuing the Derby with the

late-running lass, stating pre-race that she is best served at middle distances

at this point in her career, and the seven-furlong San Vicente doesn't figure to

have any impact upon this year's Derby once again. Silver Charm (1997) is the

only San Vicente contestant to capture the Derby in the last 30 years, and

Imperialism (third in the 2004 Derby) is the only horse to hit the board from

the San Vicente since then.

UAE Two Thousand Guineas -- Last Thursday's UAE Two Thousand Guineas

featured the return of multiple Grade 1 winner VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace

[Arg]), who was reportedly sold to Godolphin for $12 million following his 5

3/4-length score in the Champagne S. (G1), but the gray colt never got on track

and checked in a disappointing fourth, beaten 12 lengths by DESERT PARTY (Street

Cry [Ire]). Winner of last year's Sanford S. (G2), Desert Party opened his 2009

campaign with a half-length score over stablemate REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor) in a

January 22 allowance at Nad al Sheba.

Regal Ransom finished second to Desert Party once again in the Two Thousand

Guineas, but this time the margin was 4 3/4 lengths as Desert Party struck the

front in midstretch and rolled to a convincing victory. With the status of

Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and champion two-year-old MIDSHIPMAN

(Unbridled's Song) still uncertain, Desert Party's victory established the

well-bred colt as a leading candidate from the desert overseas.

The UAE Guineas was contested over a mile, so he'll still have to prove at

longer distances, but there was a lot to like about Desert Party's effort. The

up-and-coming colt looks very promising indeed.

Allowances -- Last seen winning a maiden special weight at Belmont

Park in early October, IMPERIAL COUNCIL (Empire Maker) had been training at

Payson Park since December for Shug McGaughey and finally made his 2009 bow in a

6 1/2-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on Saturday, rallying boldly to a

two-length victory. Out of a Thunder Gulch mare and by a Belmont S. (G1) winner,

Imperial Council is bred to relish longer distances and figures to be headed right

to stakes company off this encouraging effort. The dark bay colt earned a 99

BRIS Speed rating.

CAPTAIN CHEROKEE (Sir Cherokee) won a tough-looking Fair Grounds allowance on

Saturday, grinding his way to a 2 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile event,

but he finished up slowly over the sloppy track, registering only an 87 Speed

rating. It was his first start since breaking his maiden on January 17, so the

late-blooming colt owns room for improvement, but Captain Cherokee received only

a 91 Speed figure for his maiden tally over a fast track. He needs to run faster

to develop into a serious threat.

Upcoming -- There are no graded events for three-year-olds this

weekend. The Turf Paradise Derby will be held in Arizona, and MAYOR MARV

(Distorted Humor) is scheduled to make his stakes bow. Second to eventual Bob

Lewis (G2) runner-up Papa Clem (Smart Strike) two starts back in a maiden

special weight event, the Bob Baffert-trained colt exits a visually impressive

maiden special weight score at Santa Anita on January 17.