Derby prospects go in Oaklawn feature
A New York racing correspondent learns today at Oaklawn Park about one of his early hunch plays for the 2016 Kentucky Derby.
Steve Haskin, former national correspondent for BloodHorse, still compiles a list of Triple Crown contenders each week for the magazine’s online edition. The only so-called “Oaklawn horse” on Haskin’s Derby Dozen makes his 3-yearold debut today in a $70,000 allowance/optional claimer with 11 going a mile and a sixteenth.
Unexplained is the 2-1 program favorite with Ramon Vazquez riding for trainer Chris Richard and owners Richard and Karen Papiese. whose horses race under the banner of Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc.
A Ghostzapper gelding produced by the Afleet Alex mare Alex’s Ali, Unexplained rallied from last to win by four lengths going seven furlongs at 13-1 in his Nov. 1 debut at Churchill Downs. On Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, in a special Churchill card devoted to 2-year-olds, Unexplained finished second, two lengths behind Conquest Big E , around a one-turn mile.
Digging into his results charts, Haskin picked Conquest Big E, a Tapit colt trained by Mark Casse, No. 9 and Unexplained No. 10 in his latest Derby Dozen. Conquest Big E, a maiden winner who did not embarrass himself when eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, saw his Nov. 28 performance flattered by stablemate Airoforce’s Kentucky Jockey Club victory later on the card at a mile and a sixteenth.
Haskin admits “going out on a major limb” picking Unexplained so high but says “if Conquest Big E is legitimate then you have to love this gelding, perhaps even more, with his monster closing kick.” Unexplained’s five-furlong breeze in 1:01 Jan. 12 encouraged Haskin, who posts at bloodhorse.com that the gelding “missed some training due to the weather, so he may not be 100 percent, and he does have to work on his lead changes, which should improve with maturity.”
Unexplained breaks from post 2, immediately outside Churchill debut winner American Dubai, whose trainer, Rodney Richards, chose this spot for the E Dubai colt owned by Richard Keith rather than Monday’s $150,000 Smarty Jones against more experienced rivals. Calvin Borel rides American Dubai, a widening winner by almost three lengths under Victor Lebron Nov. 13 and boasting four consecutive “bullet” workouts, the last two at Oaklawn.
Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg, with two wins opening weekend, sends out Cutacorner, whose last-out fourth in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park gained luster when winner Discretness repeated in the Smarty Jones going the same distance. Quincy Hamilton stays aboard the Even the Score colt, winning aboard Cutacorner in Oklahoma going a mile. A $13,000 buy at a Texas sale last year before making his first start, Cutacorner ran fourth in a turf stake at Kentucky Downs second time out and then third in a maiden race won by Springboard Mile runner-up Suddenbreakingnews.
One not to overlook is Deep in a Dream, a Quiet American gelding owned and trained by Wesley Ward with a route-going maiden victory at Keeneland last fall. Of particular interest is that 54-year-old Mario Pino, with more than 6,700 riding victories, is named aboard.
Completing the field are Torrontes, Channing Hill riding for Kellyn Gorder; Charming Deputy (Santo Sanjur for John Haran), Torn (Alex Canchari for Austin Gustafson), Walk Out (Ricardo Santana for Steve Asmussen), Reside (Luis Quinonez for Donnie Von Hemel), Infinite Mischief (Chris Emigh for Scott Becker) and Cotton Town (Terry Thompson for Wayne Lukas).
Walk Out and Cotton Town, both owned by Calumet Farm, are coupled in the wagering. Walk Out, a $50,000 Keeneland yearling buy, won his last by 14-plus lengths in the slop at Indiana Downs, a race taken off the turf, and is sired by Curlin, the Asmussen-trained 2007 Arkansas Derby winner in his first of two seasons as Horse of the Year.