Thursday, January 29, 2009

Serious Derby Colts in Action This Weekend at Gulfstream Park

South Ozone Park, NY, January 29, 2009--If you’re based on the East Coast, Friday marks the traditional first step on the road to Triple Crown glory, first stop Churchill Downs on May 2.

As Yogi might say, Saturday comes early this year.

At Gulfstream Park, the old school Hutcheson Stakes is the first race out of the three-year-old blocks. Why old school? Seven furlongs, that’s why.

“The Hutch” is back in its rightful place on the South Florida racing calendar--an important beginning, not the mid-meet after-thought it’s been in recent years.

Old schoolers believe that seven furlongs is a great wake-up call from season-ending juvenile slumber, a spot to shake out the physical and mental cob-webs.

At the highest levels, seven-eighths might be the most demanding distance there is, requiring a blend of condition, speed and class.

The many aspiring classicists that debut in a spot like this might not be fully cranked but they do need to be fit. A trainer could do more harm than good by getting his horse blitzed first time out, possibly requiring even more time to regroup. And how much can an under-trained, non-competitive horse truly benefit from the effort? Debuts are an interesting and delicate balancing act.

Having the Hutch horses race on Friday gives accomplished runners their moment in the spotlight so that fans can assess where their favorites are developmentally even with three more months remaining in the prep process.

Saturday’s featured Holy Bull at nine furlongs gives the more advanced sophomores a chance to get started for those trainers not wishing to turn their horses back into a sprint and getting them all speed crazy.

Actually, this is a great East Coast schedule that provides something for everyone, this weekend including supporting maiden and allowance races at meaningful distances that have attracted another serious horse or two.

In fact, a one-mile maiden race for three-year-olds on Saturday will mark the debut of Nicanor, the most hyped first time starter since The Green Monkey--and we all know how that turned out.

The well documented interest in Nicanor is because he’s the late Barbaro’s kid brother from the same human connections. If fact, Edgar Prado made a public pitch to ride the colt and will his wish from Michael Matz in Saturday’s eighth at Gulfstream.

The race drew 13 entrants and Nicanor will break from post four at 4-1 on the early line. I’m as interested as anyone, but I’m not up to all the hype.

Maybe it’s because of what tragically happened to his brother that I find the interest in him tinged with a certain ghoulish creepiness. Or maybe it’s just me. But first thing’s first.

Friday’s Grade 2 Hutcheson attracted eight entrants of which three are serious Derby aspirants at this point in the season: Hello Broadway (5-2), Break Water Edison (3-1) and Capt. Candyman Can (3-1).

These are three very good colts and it will be interesting to note their progress throughout the spring.

When last seen, Break Water Edison and Hello Broadway finished 1-2 in the one-mile G3 Nashua Stakes. Both colts raced well and their Equiform performance figures were among the fastest posted by a juvenile going a mile or farther in 2008.

Each coming off a layup from November 2, Hello Broadway has worked eight times and appears the sharper of the two coming into the race. More of a forward factor, he has an edge over Break Water Edison, who’s worked 10 times in the interim.

The bad news for BWE is that his rail draw likely means he’ll need to be hustled early, something trainer John Kimmel would rather avoid. However, Kimmel and Barclay Tagg, trainer of the early line favorite, will need to keep tabs on Ian Wilkes’ colt.

Capt. Candy Man has speed and stamina when he needs it, was toughened in three juvenile graded stakes, and arguably may be the most accomplished. A little closer to the race having finished second in the G2 Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs Thanksgiving weekend, he might prove sharpest of the three.

Saturday’s Holy Bull has also drawn a sizable field, 11, with early line choices West Side Bernie (3-1) and Beethoven (4-1) drawing posts 10 and 11, respectively.

West Side Bernie, a worthy runnerup in the Delta Jackpot, and Beethoven, winner of the Jockey Club Stakes, do not have the race to themselves, especially from out there in Big Brown land.

Danger To Society is undefeated in two starts, is well regarded by trainer Ken McPeek, who’s 31 percent in 2009, nicely drawn inside and is already a nine-furlong winner over the track. Regular rider Robby Albarado is aboard the 5-1 early-line third choice.

Saturday’s opener is interesting, too, as explosive Aqueduct maiden winner Well Positioned gets his season started for owner Paul Pompa Jr. and trainer Pat Reynolds. Pompa owned Big Brown before selling a major interest in the colt to IEAH Stable prior to the Derby campaign.

And so it’s January 30, and it’s Game On.

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