Vicar’s In Trouble dominates the Super Derby
Vicar’s In Trouble sure does love Derby races run in the state of Louisiana, as he powered away to a convincing seven length score in the Grade 2 $400,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. Sent off as the prohibitive 6/5 favorite, Vicar’s in Trouble (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got away to a very good start running second in the early going as 30/1 long shot Ide Be Cool went out to set the early fractions. Vicars in Trouble was perfectly spotted by Rosie Napravnik on the outside and she bided her time until they arrived at the quarter pole, when she turned her horse loose and he quickly opened up. Vicar’s In Trouble poured it on down the lane, opening up to eventually win by seven and one quarter lengths over Declan’s Fast Cat who closed up to get second at odds of 88/1. Vicar’s in Trouble won this year’s Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds earlier in the year and is being pointed to the Indiana Derby for his next start.
Coalport finished in front of Benwill in the Unbridled Stakes, but it was Benwill who was on top after the stewards reviewed the final sixteenth of a mile and disqualified Coalport. Coalport (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) took command in mid-stretch and Benwill came right alongside as they came inside the sixteenth pole. The stewards viewed that Coalport drifted out into Benwill and cost him a chance at the win, thus the DQ. Sassy Kitten (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was an easy winner as the favorite in the $75,000 River Cities Stakes. Sassy Kitten broke beautifully on the lead for jockey Rosie Napravnik and cruised all the way around the oval, eventually winning by just under four lengths over Malibu Yankee (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was second.
My Afleet wins a thrilling duel in the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs
My Afleet and Medal Count hooked up about a half mile from the finish in the $250,000 Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs, and put on a memorable stretch battle all the way to the wire. My Afleet and Leandro Goncalves went to the lead in the mile and five sixteenths turf event and didn’t really receive any pressure until they went down the hill and into the final turn from Medal Count. They straightened away into the stretch and they put on a memorable show, nose-bobbing for the final quarter of a mile with My Afleet getting his nose down just in time to win by a nose. Medal Count was a valiant second and was four lengths clear of Can’thelpbelieving (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who finished in third.
In the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies it was Nicky’s Brown Miss who turned in a powerful closing effort coming up the hill to the finish to win by two and three quarter lengths. Aunt Sherri grabbed the lead as they started the uphill stretch run at Kentucky Downs, but that was short lived as Nicky’s Brown Miss blew on by to win. Croninthebarbarian closed from last to get up and win by two lengths in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Croninthebarbarian had to reel in favored Luck of the Kitten (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who shook loose by two in mid-stretch. But Luck of the Kitten got leg weary late and couldn’t hold off Croninthebarberian and Leandro Goncalves who got up for the win.
Christina’s Journey goes all the way in the Pocahontas
The two year olds were on center stage Saturday night at Churchill Downs and it was Christina’s Journey who got an impressive win, going wire to wire in the $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes. Christina’s Journey and Miguel Mena broke beautifully and went right out to the front and were able to navigate very reasonable fractions while getting some mild pressure. Favored Take Charge Brandi took a run at Christina’s Journey but was quickly turned away at the head of the stretch. Christina’s Journey opened up two and a half in mid-stretch as Pangburn (BetPTC.com Top Selection) started to run on into second, but it was much too late as Christina’s Journey held on by two.
In the Iroquois Stakes it was long shot Lucky Player (BetPTC.com Longshot) score a hard fought win at 11/1 odds. Lucky Player was second throughout much of the race and was headed when Bold Conquest came up alongside. But Lucky Player kept on fighting and battled back to win by a neck over Bold Conquest. Hashtag Bourbon (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was bottled up for much of the journey and finally got loose when it was too late.
Don’t Tell Sophia rallied from last to first to win the Locust Grove Handicap over Molly Morgan (BetPTC.com Top Selection). And earlier on the card Bradester (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who battled early on and pulled away late to win the Ack Ack Handicap over Carve (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection).