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Louisville Derby and Oaks - Who Ran Into The Money?
Original article written by Lea McPherson posted 15 years 0 weeks agoLast night was a big night for SIMHorseRacing, as it was the night of the Louisville Oaks, Derby and the Dubai World Cup.
After much anticipation leading up to the Louisville Derby, the winner was the great grey, Buckingham, owned and bred by Alysse Jacobs. Buckingham is a son of End Of The Line, out of Tiara by Walkover.
As expected a blistering pace was set in this year’s Derby, the eventual winner broke nicely and settled well, unaffected by the pace, he moved forwards when urged by stable jockey Jack Farley and came home 2 ¾ lengths clear of Jolene Danner’s Fable, who went outwards on coming out of the gates and settled on the outside of the runners, making his move at the top of the home stretch and ran his heart out.
Back in third was popular white faced Sun Tzu, who went towards the back of the field in the early stages and came around the runners in the final turn and made a very encouraging effort to finish third.
One of the Eric Nalbone trained trio finished fourth, it was Voracious and he made an outside move round the final turn and came home in fine shape to finish where he did, not forgetting of course he was coming into the race on two weeks rest all the way from Dubai, so to finish in the money was a fantastic achievement in itself.
Fifth place went to one of the early favourites for the Derby, Fire Added Starter, who is trained by Larry Burndorf. In the hours prior to the race, Burndorf had showed some concern over his colt’s fitness when I spoke to him in chat, he had the lead coming into the stretch but probably tired after the blazing pace that had taken place through the race but ran a brave race to finish fifth.
Disappointments of the race included Same Old Plot, who could only manage seventh despite finishing very strongly, several bettors had Same Old Plot down to win this year’s Derby, but it wasn’t to be. My selection form earlier in the week was the previously undefeated Desert Classic, who only got sixteenth place, probably the fast pace got the better of several of the fancied horses in this race.
The other big race at Louisville Downs was of course the Oaks, a much closer finish took place than in the Derby as Bodega Bay held on to win the race by a quarter of a length. Bodega Bay is owned by Norman Architecture, bred by Laura Ferguson. The bay three year old is a daughter of California, out of Ballado’s Halo by Saint Ballado. The filly broke outwards and picked her way through the field and went strong when asked to battle it out.
In second was Vow End Later, owned and bred by Nathan Robert, she broke fast and settled in between horses a went with the eventual winner but never quite got her head in front. This filly is by End Result out of Vow by Loki Brilliance, an improvement showing as she wore blinkers and a tongue tie for the first time.
Back in third was Luis Polar owned Receptive, who was bred by Dave Shields. The daughter of Fighter Jet stayed between horses for much of the race before making her move up the inside to finish third 1 ½ lengths behind first and second.
Clearly Best ran into fourth place money, the filly owned by Susie Raisher, bred by The Steward, she settled on the outside early on but never quite got home as she mad her move wide round the field and tired out a little. She is a daughter of Fighter Jet, out of Cadeauje by Sports Jersey.
Last to run into money was Djembe, an Ali LaDuke owned filly bred by Dave Shields. The daughter of Throne, out of Wonder who also produced last year’s Triple Crown Winner Awake As I Am stumbled badly as she came out of the gates but appeared to recover and picked her way through the field but never had enough left in the tank to get herself nearer to the winner.
Congratulations to the connections of all the winning and placed horses in the Oaks and Derby, it must be fantastic to have a runner let alone a winner in such great races, best of luck with the rest of their careers!