Feature Race | Auction | Breeding | General | Hall of Fame | Harness | Interviews | Mixed Breed | New Players | Racing | Site Updates | Steeplechasing | Steward's Cup | Triple Crown
Are Lions Real Goes Wire To Wire In Louisville Derby
Original article written by Jack Meyer posted 10 years 0 weeks ago
Even the cold brisk fall air couldn’t keep the massive crowd away from Louisville Downs in Kentucky for the annual Louisville Derby. The stage was set for quite a contest with a packed field of 18 that included every winner from the last group of major prep races including Owlpha, winner of the New York, New York Stakes, Anointed, winner of the Rivalry Stakes, Keyboard Courage, winner of the New Orleans Derby, Horcrux, winner of the Buccaneer Derby, and Are Lions Real, winner of the Southern California Derby just to name a few. With so many superstars gathered together at one place, the nerves were rattling and the teeth were chattering, and here’s how it all went down.
Lauren Haggerty’s Steward bred superstar Are Lions Real was among a ¼ of the field that were strictly speedsters, and was looking to get the early jump on Owlpha and Horcrux for the early lead. Though Horcrux likes the lead, he has been known to lay just off the leaders when the pace becomes too severe for him, and that’s what he did in the Derby. Owlpha managed to break cleanly, but the rail played a major part in how him and Are Lions Real focused early on, breaking from the 12 hole meant Owlpha had to outrun several horses to get position early, meaning he had to do a little more work that his counterpart on the inside. The Art Of Racing and Qeroth were the other part of the first wave that just couldn’t manage to gain any momentum from the 4th and 5th spot.
The second wave consisted of mid pack runners Capture the Flag, For Greater Glory, Iron Heir’s Throne, You Are I Am, Vanquish, and New Orleans Derby winner Keyboard Courage, this group fanned out quickly, which benefitted several as the race unfolded, saving them ground around the first turn. The top three of this group wound up a little closer to the pace than they wanted to be and spent some of their energy galloping along on the heels of the lead pack.
The last group was the deep closing combination of Mike Corona, Honorable Host, Anointed, Sword and Cross, Amboy Carter, Taste Of Shadows, and Rocking Steady, with only Anointed figuring in the later stages because the pace worked against the deep closers.
Are Lions Real never blinked an eye as they headed down the backstretch and into the far turn. Owlpha was giving chase 2 lengths back in 2nd, trying to save something in the tank for when the real racing started. Horcrux was beginning to feel the effects of his bout with the one two punch of Are Lions Real and Owlpha as he began to fade just a bit now facing a 3 ½ length deficit. The other two speedy colts threw in the towel by this time surrendering to the quick closing Keyboard Courage who found himself within 8 ½ lengths of the lead running in 5th. Anointed was following suit, chasing the steamrolling Keyboard Courage making his way into 6th.
As they hit the top of the stretch, Are Lions Real was maintaining his lead over Owlpha who saw his margin shrinking by the stride with Keyboard Courage and Anointed had dead aim on him. The race was down to these four, Are Lions Real was not giving an inch on the lead with an eighth of a mile to run still clinging to that 2 ¼ length lead. Owlpha was tiring late with Keyboard Courage gaining with every breathe and Anointed make one last push at the leaders.
As the wire came, Are Lions Real went away victorious with a 2 length score in the Derby. Owlpha held onto 2nd by a narrowing nose over Keyboard Courage, with Anointed finishing another 5 back in 4th. Horcrux managed to outgun the closing You Are I Am finishing 5th, with Vanquish, The Art Of Racing, Qeorth, and For Greater Glory rounding out the top 10. Capture the Flag never found is groove finishing 11th, with Sword and Cross, Mike Corona, Taste Of Shadows and Iron Heirs Throne finishing out the top 15. The trio of Honorable Host, Amber Cater, and Rocking Steady finishing out the field of 18 under the wire.
We saw speed dictate the pace and the race going wire to wire, so congrats to the winning connections of Are Lions Real. With the Derby winner already set for the Baltimore Crown, the hopes and dreams of SIM nation being able to see a Triple Crown winner now move on to one week from tonight. With the tighter turns of Baltimore Race Course, the all-important race placement in the early stages could mean sink or swim for many of those outside runners. I look forward to seeing round two of this year long battle for bragging rights among the 3YO dirt routing division, the score stands at 1-0 Are Lions Real, will anyone have something to say about that next week?
Jack Meyer