2016 Pennsylvania Derby A Dozen Reasons to Watch
By: Laurie Ross, Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds
The
2016 Pennsylvania Derby (Grade 2) attracted a dozen three-year-old colts, among
them, the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby and a pretty gray colt
seeking to add a third Derby to his girth.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners earn $100,000 and $200,000,
respectively, just for stepping into the starting gate.
The
1 1/8 mile race will be contested around the Parx oval. While the Grade 2 event
isn’t a Breeders’ Cup challenge race, the top four finishers will likely use
this race as a stepping stone to either the Breeders’ Cup Classic or Mile.
Let’s take a look at the contenders, pretenders and logical longshots.
Contenders
#9 Nyquist (ML 5-2) picked a tough place to shake the dust out of
his coat. After receiving the first loss of his career in the Preakness Stakes
at the hooves of his nemesis, Exaggerator, Nyquist experienced the same thing
in the Haskell, this time finishing fourth. Both races were over a sloppy track and Nyqyist battled
on the front end through hot n’ heavy fractions before tiring. Trainer Doug O’Neil gave 2015’s two year old
Champ a break. In Nyquist’s favor, no
rain is expected and he drew outside the other speed. The colt has shown the ability to rate, so
perhaps the race will set up for him.
#2 Exaggerator (ML 7-2) will be facing Nyquist for the seventh time in
their careers. After finally getting the victory over Nyquist in the Preakness,
Exagerator did it again in the Haskell, both times on sloppy tracks. In between
those victories, Exagerator finished 11th in both the Belmont and
Travers Stakes over dry tracks. Not a
drop of rain is in sight for the Pennsylvania Derby, but the race has plenty of
speed, which sets up for Exaggerator’s late closing kick, if he can handle the
track.
#5 Cupid (ML 9-2) skipped the Triple Crown races after he tossed
in a clunker Arkansas Derby. He’s faced softer company in the Indiana and West
Virginia Derbies, both G2 events. Cupid likes to wing it on the lead and the
pretty gray colt may have company up front ensuring a fast pace.
Logical Longshots
#7 Gun Runner (ML 6-1) has been
ITM in every start over a dry track. His two off of the board placings were on
a sloppy track. He’s been successful against G2 and G3 company and was third in
the KY Derby and Travers. He’s another
one who likes to be on or pressing the pace, but he can also sit off the pace
when necessary. If Nyquist isn’t ready
for Prime Time, Exaggerator doesn’t like dust and Cupid tires, Gun Runner could
surprise.
#4 Connect (ML 12-1) was
brought along conservatively by Chad Brown earlier in the year. The son of
Curlin won his three year old debut in May. He stretched two-turns and won
against allowance types in June and a month later, won the 1 1/8 mile listed
Curlin Stakes by a measured length. Then Connect got tossed into the deep end
in the Travers Stakes. He didn’t embarrass himself, nobody except Arrogate was
running that day. Connect recorded his highest speed figure in the Travers and
the colt could continue to improve. He’s another who likes to be on the pace,
but will sit mid-pack if asked.
#3 Summer Revolution (ML 20-1) didn’t run a bad race in his first start
against more experienced G1 runners in
the King’s Bishop. After all, it was
only his third lifetime start, his first sitting behind horses, and three weeks
after he had beaten allowance foes.
Summer Revolution is a half to two stakes winners and his dam is a
multiple stakes winner, so the quality is there. The colt’s speed figures fit with the top
horses in here and should he handle the stretch out to 1 1/8 miles, Summer
Revolution has a decent shot of hitting the board.
#12 Hit It Once More (ML 20-1) won his maiden as an April three year
old. Hit It Once More has dominated NY
Breds by a combined 20 lengths. His only off the board finish in four races
since then was the Easy Goer Stakes in open company. So, this colt is outclassed, right? Not necessarily. Here’s the thing about his
pedigree. Hit It Once More is a son of
Hard Spun. The stallion’s offspring can
develop rapidly during their three and four year old seasons. Hit It Once More's first three dams are stakes winners and his dam is a half sister to a stakes winner, so there's class in his pedigree. Plus, Hit It Once More has nailed two triple
digit speed figures in his last two starts.
The drawback is his front running style, but the colt has settled off of
the pace successfully in the past. Take
a look at him in the Paddock, he could be worth an exotics play.
Pretenders
#8 My Man Sam (ML 20-1) has been oddly placed throughout his
career. He was second in the Blue Grass
Stakes (G-1), but also finished second in a pair of allowance races. The colt
was far back in the KY Derby and Travers. The one thing going for My Man Sam is
his stalkers running style. if the pace
is hot, he can pick off runners through the stretch.
#10 Sunny Ridge (ML 15-1) may have soundness issues. He’s raced just
three times since January. In his last
start in the Haskell, Sunny Ridge passed tired horses to grab third place by a
neck over an exhausted Nyquist, and 3 ½
lengths behind Exaggerator. Sunny Ridge
shows one recorded work since July. His
claim to fame is a victory in the Gotham Stakes. Sunny Ridge has a miler’s
pedigree and 1 1/8 miles may be too far for him.
#1 Awesome Slew (ML 12-1) ran away to win by ten
lengths in the Smarty Jones (G3), the local prep for the Pennsylvania Derby. This is a case of “who did he beat.” Finishing second in the Smarty Jones was Wild
About Deb, a maiden winner who was outclassed in both the Peter Pan (G3) and
listed Ohio Derby. Awesome Slew has the
ability to sit off of the pace, but his rail post position and the presence of
Paco Lopez, a jock noted for his deft handling of front runners, adds another
speed horse to the mix.
#6 Wild About Deb (ML 30-1) couldn’t catch Awesome Slew
in the Smarty Jones, bested 7 lengths.
#11 Discreet Lover (ML 30-1) finished 11 lengths behind
Cupid in the Indiana Derby and a zip code behind Awesome Slew in the Smarty
Jones.
SELECTIONS
Eight
of 12 contenders like to set or press the pace. Either some will have to take
back, or there will be a bumper car pile-up around the turn as everyone sorts
themselves out. Four of the last five winners of the Pennsylvania Derby either
set or pressed the pace.
If
Nyquist or Exaggerator don’t run their race, this opens it up for a nice
payout. Before betting, take a look at
the contenders in the paddock or on the track to see who looks like they’re on
top of their game. The coat will be shining, neck bowed, prancing along, but
not hot and bothered or raising a fuss.
#9 Nyquist (5-2)
#7 Gun Runner (6-1)
#2 Exaggerator (ML 7-2)
#12 Hit It Once More (ML
20-1)
Handigambling
I
like to play key boxes when there are 5+ horses who have potential to hit the
board. In this case, key the contenders (#9,
#2, #5) over the logical longshots (#7, #4, #3, #12). For multiple.10 cent, .50 cent or $1 key boxes for trifectas or
supers, you can spread around the money, have some fun, and not break the bank.
#9/ #2, #3,
#4, #5, #7, #12 / #2, #3, #4, #5, #7, #12
#2/ #3, #4,
#5, #7, #9 #12 / #3, #4, #5, #7, #9 #12
#5/ #2, #3,
#4, #7, #9 #12 / #2, #3, #4, #7, #9 #12
#7/ #2, #3,
#4, #5, #9 #12/#2, #3, #4, #5, #9 #12
#4/ #2, #3,
#5, #7, #9 #12 / #2, #3, #5, #7, #9 #12
#3/ #2, #4,
#5, #7, #9 #12 / #2, #4, #5, #7, #9 #12
#12/ #2, #3,
#4, #5, #7, #9 /#2, #3, #4, #5, #7, #9
No comments:
Post a Comment