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Spartan Prevails in the Queen's Derby
Original article written by Fanta Arcadia posted 12 years 1 week agoAs Spartan’s familiar rival Sword finished third in the Long Island Classic, War Daddy’s “other” son proved just how talented he truly was in any weather condition. The Eric Nalbone owned Spartan was shipped north to Canada to compete in the prestigious Grade 1 Queen’s Derby.
Downpours had drenched the track, and produced bog like conditions that would slow down even the greatest of front runners. Yet none of those front runners were named Spartan and with a warrior’s spirit, Spartan proved just how tough he was. Spartan in his last start emerged from his rival’s shadow and is now looking to capitalize on the moment, and what better way to capitalize then with a win on Monday night of Week Ten while his rival falls prey Akon and Home Run Derby the following Friday.
In my last article, I predicted that Contrary would put in a fantastic run and he did, but it wasn’t him that proved a true challenge to Spartan. It was late entry (or should I say late as in he was entered after I submitted my preview for the race) Expect the Best that was giving his owner Keith Maidlow the run of a lifetime that would fall just short of upsetting Spartan.
All seven of the entrants are standing quietly in the gate awaiting the start. Expect the Best tosses his head and shifts impatiently while Spartan and Seek Up remain calm. Then, like the calm before the storm, the gates clang open and the field is sent on their way in a hurry. Four of the field of seven had troubled starts Spartan breaks poorly while Apollo Seventeen and Parenthesis break outwards, meanwhile Expect the Best is given anything but the best as he falls to his knees and struggles to regain balance.
They are quick to regain their feet as Spartan surges up to challenge Seek Up for the lead. Seek Up had broken well from the gate and he begins to duel Spartan who takes command on the outside by a quarter of a length. Apollo Seventeen is tracking little less than a length behind Seek Up, Expect the Best has to settle in fourth after his troubled start. Contrary settles in between rivals while Parenthesis is on his outside, and Whitewood is down along the rail.
The field is relatively unchanged by the second call. Spartan has begun to extend his lead but is still to Seek Up’s outside. He is content to run along little less than two wide off the rail, where the mud is deep and determined to drag speed horses down. The field is beginning to stretch itself out, as Whitewood over takes Parenthesis for sixth.
By the third call things are really starting to heat up. David Faulkner aboard Spartan begins to angle his mount out so he’ll have the choicer part of the track in the stretch. Seek Up is still holding second while Expect the Best is coming on with a strong move. Apollo Seventeen is now fourth and the rest of the field is unchanged as Expect the Best is roaring past Seek Up to make his charge on Spartan.
David Faulkner is begging Spartan for every last ounce of speed the chestnut can offer. Contrary has now moved into third, just two lengths behind Expect the Best who is at Spartan’s hip now. Expect the Best is giving it all he’s got but time has run out for the challenger, as Spartan proves to be much the best under vigorous urging from Faulkner. Expect the Best lost by a quarter of a length, as Spartan stops the clock in a time of 1:59.31 on the muddy track. Spartan was in the lead at every pole, and proved his tenacity with the win.
Spartan (by War Daddy-Terrific [Oak Park]) now has six wins in eight starts with two seconds. Both seconds are to the Louisville Derby winner Sword. Spartan now has over $2.2 million in earnings and is entered for the Midsummer Classic next Friday night. He will be squaring off against the Long Island Classic winner Home Run Derby.