By Richard Rosenblatt
Coach Richard Mandella – Photograph courtesy of AP Photograph / Gregory Bull
He’s a Corridor of Famer, and some of the well-respected trainers within the enterprise — ever. Fairly profitable over the previous 30 years or so, too, primarily in southern California.
Each every now and then, although, Richard Mandella has a 3-year-old that rounds into type on the street to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
In 2019, Omaha Seashore could have been his finest, successful the Insurgent Stakes (G2), the Arkansas Derby (G1), and changing into the darling of Derby week in addition to the 4-1 morning-line favourite.
Three days earlier than the race, Mandella needed to scratch Omaha Seashore as a consequence of an entrapped epiglottis (a respiration problem). It was a tragic morning when Mandella broke the information, someway managing to retain his dry wit.
“I’ve accomplished this for 45 years,” he advised the Louisville Courier-Journal. “So, I’ve seen the film and starred in it. You understand, that’s a part of coaching horses. However I had a pleasant message from Arthur Hancock yesterday and he mentioned, ‘Richard, (Charlie) Whittingham was 73 when he received his first one.’ So, who am I to suppose I must be doing this now?”
After Forbidden Kingdom demolished his rivals in successful the San Felipe Stakes (G2) by 5 ¾ lengths on Saturday (March 5), Mandella now trains the No. 1 contender on this week’s usracing.com Kentucky Derby Prime 10.
“I’m due,’’ he mentioned on Sunday (March 6) when requested about his Derby historical past.
Basic Causeway shook off all challenges on the result in win the Sam F. Davis Stakes. Photograph curtesy of SV Pictures
Mandella additionally mentioned he was shocked how simply Forbidden Kingdom received, and now that he’s collected 50 Derby-qualifying factors, the son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah clinched his spot within the Derby on Might 7.
Mandella mentioned the subsequent cease for his colt is the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9. In his 48th 12 months as a coach, Mandella has saddled six Derby starters – his finest end was fifth with Soul of the Matter in 1994, his final Derby was 18 years in the past, when Motion This Day ran sixth, and Minister Eric 16th.
Perhaps he’s due.
The one Derby prep on Saturday (March 12) is the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), with qualifying factors of 50-20-10-5 to the primary 4 finishers. Basic Causeway, winner of the Sam F. Davis (G3), is the seemingly favourite for coach Brian Lynch, with Main Common and Shipsational among the many prime challengers.
Dropping out of our new Prime 10 are Rattle N Roll (sixth within the Fountain of Youth) and D. Wayne Lukas’ filly Secret Oath (a little bit of uncertainty concerning a Derby run). New this week are Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification and Gotham (G3) winner Morello.
Right here’s the Derby Prime 10
Word: Derby future wager odds listed as of Feb. 13; BUSR odds are present as of March 7.
Forbidden Kingdom 2022 San Vicente – Photocourtesy of Evers / Eclipse Sportswire
1 Forbidden Kingdom (Richard Mandella, Juan Hernandez)
A blinding 5 ¾-length gate-to-wire San Felipe win strikes this son of American Pharoah into the highest spot … Received San Vicente at 7 furlongs, and now has a win at 1 1/16 miles … Derby qualifying factors: 50 … Subsequent begin: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 9 … Derby future wager odds: 5-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1.
2 Epicenter (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario)
Risen Star winner labored 5 furlongs in 59.60 on the Honest Grounds on March 7, quickest of 21 on the distance … No motive to drop him to No. 2, however oved the best way Forbidden Kingdom was let free to indicate his expertise … Derby qualifying factors: 64 … Subsequent begin: Louisiana Derby, Honest Grounds, March 26 … Derby future wager odds: 8-1 … BUSR odds: 12-1
3 Simplification (Antonio Sano, Jose Ortiz)
Simplification – Photograph courtesy of Ryan Thompson
Not tough to incorporate him excessive on the listing after his thrilling run to victory within the Fountain of Youth towards a tricky subject … Ran second to White Abarrio within the Holy Bull (G3) o
n Feb. 5 … Proprietor: Tami Bobo … Breeding: Not This Time-Merely Confection, by Twirling Sweet … Derby qualifying factors: 50 … Subsequent begin: … Florida Derby, Gulfstream, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 12-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1
4 Mo Donegal (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz, Jr.)
Scratched from Fountain of Youth with slight fever, however don’t actually suppose house owners wished to run on this spot, plus he drew exterior put up 12 … A quick-closing third within the Holy Bull (G3) and a win within the Remsen (G2) in December make him a powerful Derby prospect. Derby qualifying factors: 12 … Subsequent begin: Wooden Memorial, Aqueduct, April 29 … Derby future wager odds: 12-1 … BUSR odds: 22-1
5 Basic Causeway (Brian Lynch, Irad Ortiz, Jr.)
Sam F. Davis winner set for giant check this weekend … labored 5 furlongs in 59.95 at Palm Meadows on March 5 (2nd of 30 on the distance) … Derby qualifying factors: 16 … Subsequent begin: Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday … Derby future wager odds: 16-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1
Ethereal Highway breaks his maiden at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 29, 2022. Pho to courtesy of Coady Pictures
6 Ethereal Highway (D. Wayne Lukas, Luis Contreras)
Labored 5 furlongs in 1:01.4 at Oaklawn on March 6 (7th of 14 on the distance) … Plans are to maneuver ahead by way of Arkansas on the street to the Derby … Derby qualifying factors: 20 … Subsequent begin: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 15-1 (mutuel subject) … BUSR odds: 16-1.
7 Smile Joyful (Kenny McPeek, Corey Lanerie)
Labored 4 furlongs in 49.02 at Gulfstream (33rd of 76 on the distance) … Runner-up in Risen Star to Epicenter … Derby qualifying factors: 30 … Subsequent begin: Florida Derby, Gulfstream, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 6-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1
8 Messier (Bob Baffert, John Velazquez)
Powerful to say what’s subsequent for a colt that might be rated a lot larger if not for Baffert’s suspension by Churchill Downs … Horse has accomplished nothing flawed: received Robert B. Lewis by 13 lengths … Labored 4 furlongs in 48.60 at Santa Anita on March 7, 13th of 40 on the distance … Derby qualifying factors: 0 … Subsequent begin … Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 9 … Derby future wager odds: 2-1 (mutuel subject) … BUSR odds: 12-1
9 Morello (Steve Asmussen, Jose Lezcano)
Morello – Photograph courtesy of Chelsea Durand
Regardless of being bumped at begin from put up 9, he nonetheless stalked leaders and received 1-mile Gotham by 4 ½ lengths … Query now could be whether or not he can stretch out to get 1 ¼ mile Derby distance … $250,000 buy on the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale final Might … Proprietor: David Lyon’s Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing … Breeding: Basic Empire-Cease The Marriage ceremony, by Congrats … … Derby qualifying factors: 50 … Subsequent begin: Wooden Memorial, Aqueduct, April 9 …. Derby future wager odds: 10-1 (mutuel subject) … BUSR odds: 16-1
10 White Abarrio (Saffie Joseph, Jr., Tyler Gaffalione)
Holy Bull winner coaching up for another prep earlier than Derby … Labored 4 furlongs in a blazing 47.12 at Gulfstream on March 6 (2nd of 125 on the distance) … Derby qualifying factors: 12 … Subsequent begin: … Florida Derby, Gulfstream, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 15-1 … BUSR odds: 20-1
Through the years whereas working at The Related Press, Wealthy Rosenblatt grew to become a well-known identify to legions of the horse racing followers and trade insiders along with his award-winning articles on horse racing and his tales from the backstretch.
Along with being an astute observer of sports activities, Rosenblatt is the co-author of The All-American Chili Cookbook. His work has been seen in nearly each publication on the earth, together with The New York Occasions, The Washington Submit and Time Journal.
