By Mike Farrell
The trio of Triple Crown prep races final Saturday produced three intriguing winners, spawning hope in every camp that they’ve a horse for the Kentucky Derby (G1) in lower than 9 weeks from now.
Simplification wins the Fountain of Youth Stakes – Picture courtesy of Coglianese Images
Every winner earned 50 Derby qualifying factors, sufficient to safe a spot within the race. And every will doubtless face yet another essential problem that may improve or discourage that journey to Kentucky.
Let’s unpack the outcomes, beginning with the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) the place Simplification lived as much as his billing because the 5-2 favourite with a 3 ½ size victory over In Due Time.
The six-wide sweep was one other high quality effort by the Florida-bred Simplification. He was the pacesetting winner of the Mucho Macho Man on New 12 months’s Day and rallied for second after a hesitant begin within the Holy Bull (G3).
His potential to navigate an 11-horse area with a robust rally ought to serve him effectively within the checks forward. His subsequent cease will doubtless be the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on April 2, in line with coach Antonio Sano.
“I’m pleased with my horse,” Sano mentioned. “I’m joyful for all of the help the folks gave me. I’m joyful for one more probability to win the Kentucky Derby.”
It was the second Fountain of Youth win for Sano, who scored with Gunnevera in 2017.
Gunnevera ran third within the Florida Derby and seventh within the Kentucky Derby.
It was chaos behind Simplification as Excessive Oak clipped heels and fell simply previous the quarter pole, tossing Junior Alvarado. Galt hurdled the fallen horse, unseating Joel Rosario, and finishing the whole wipeout of each Invoice Mott-trained runners. The 2 horses ran off after the incident and had been corralled with out obvious harm. The 2 jockeys had been shaken up however not critically injured.
The stewards carried out an inquiry and let the consequence stand as posted.
That call set of a firestorm of criticism on social media, because the on-line lynch mob needed Paco Lopez drawn and quartered. Lopez, aboard In Due Time, cut up horses whereas brushing with A.P.’s Secret who in flip made contact with Excessive Oak.
From this angle, there have been various horses in that hazard zone of very tight quarters. We ask horses and riders to seek out seams which might be the distinction between defeat and victory. It was a scary scene, however the upside is: everybody will return to struggle one other day.
Mandella appears to be like to have a high Derby contender in Forbidden Kingdom
Out west, Forbidden Kingdom dealt with his first two-turn project in excessive type, romping to a 5 ¾-length win within the $400,000 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita.
The even-money favourite blasted proper to the entrance and by no means confronted a problem.
“I used to be anxious to see this race and see if he would get two turns,” mentioned coach Richard Mandella. “He regarded even higher. I used to be just a little nervous after I noticed the :45 on the board for the primary half. He simply did what he likes to do. The subsequent step is the Santa Anita Derby (G1) subsequent month.”
Morello at The Gotham – Picture Chelsea Durand – NYRA
Gotham: Morello stays unbeaten
It’s been a very long time for the reason that Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct was related. Simply how lengthy, you may ask?
The final horse to win the Gotham on the best way to a Kentucky Derby victory was Secretariat in 1973. It’s been that lengthy.
Maybe the undefeated Morello can finish that drought. He was a dominant winner over Dean’s Checklist at even cash to enhance his report to 3-for-3.
Morello is unbeaten, and largely untested in his three races. The competitors will doubtless stiffen subsequent day out if he stays on the New York highway to the Triple Crown for the $750,000 Wooden Memorial (G2) on April 9.
On faucet: Tampa Bay Derby
Tampa Bay Downs has the 3-year-old highlight all to itself on Saturday with the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2).
The race could possibly be a showcase for Traditional Causeway, winner of the native prep, the Sam F. Davis (G3), in spectacular trend final month.
Tampa Bay Downs – Picture courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
After dueling for the lead by a brisk tempo, Traditional Causeway pulled away to a decisive 3 ¾-length victory within the Davis that affirmed and confirmed his standing as a strong Triple Crown contender.
Traditional Causeway captured his debut at Saratoga in September, an authoritative 13-1 upset for coach Brian Lynch that bought everybody’s consideration.
He was the 9-5 favourite subsequent day out within the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland the place he set the tempo and completed third.
Handicappers had been in a forgiving temper, as they despatched him off because the 7-5 selection within the Kentucky Jockey Membership (G2) at Churchill Downs the place he ran second.
The Davis was his season debut, and at 8-5, his third straight race because the betting favourite. Traditional Causeway lastly rewarded the chalk gamers with a victory and firmed up his credentials. If he builds on the Davis, Traditional Causeway will likely be very robust to catch. Probably rivals embody Belgrade, Main Common and Shipsational, the Davis runner-up.
The Tampa Bay Derby additionally gives the winner 50 Derby qualifying factors.
Mike Farrell has labored in thoroughbred and harness racing for a lot of his profession in journalism. Mike is a turf author, harness author, and handicapper, overlaying and analyzing races at dozens of racetracks across the nation. Based mostly on the East Coast, Mike has coated the Triple Crown races and the Breeders’ Cup for various publications, together with Each day Racing Type, in addition to The Related Press. He spends time at Gulfstream Park taking within the races, and in addition hits the harness racing circuit within the Northeast area. He’s been a fixture at The Hambletonian and the Haskell Invitational for longer than he’d like to recollect.
