The Triple Crown Trail reached an important crossroads on Saturday, with Magna Entertainment hosting 3 major prep races at their two premier winter tracks. Derby hopefuls coming out of these races will have to make one more start before the first Saturday in May, but these events are very important as graded stakes earnings are the determining factor for the Churchill Downs field.
The stakes action began at Gulfstream Park in Florida, with the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (G2), a 7 1/2 furlong sprint over the main track. 7-1 shot King of the Roxy got away slowly, then stayed to the outside down the backstretch avoiding traffic trouble. Entering the stretch, he took over the lead and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 12-1 longshot Bold Start in a time of 1:28.00 over the fast track. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to 5-2 second choice Out of Gwedda in third, while 2-1 favorite Forefathers broke slowly, raced near the rear of the field and had no rally at the end, finishing a disappointing seventh.
Results chart
Winning jockey Edgar Prado said, "My only concern was coming out of the gate. But it was okay, because I wanted to be outside. By the half he was well clear. He didn't really come out of the gate running. He kind of hopped out, and was galloping along easy. He had plenty left." Trainer Todd Pletcher, winning his third straight Hutcheson added, "He showed last year he was a quality horse, so this was the logical starting point. I noticed in the paddock how much he's filled out and matured. We freshened him up after the Breeders' Cup and have been pointing for this race for awhile. I don't think he's done at 7 1/2 (furlongs), but I also don't know if he's a 1 1/4 mile horse. He crossed a big hurdle today."
Jockey Manoel Cruz aboard beaten favorite Forefathers said, "The plan was to break sharp, and then ride the race from there. Another horse got mad in the gate and I was the first horse to get in the gate. There goes the moment (last early)."
$350,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) featured 9 top 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles. 5-1 Scat Daddy raced in seventh early off the pace of 6-1 shot Stormello through quick fractions of 23.21 and 46.06, then rallied well out in the four path through the stretch to just get up by nose in 1:49.11. It was another 1/2 a length back to 3-5 favorite Nobiz Like Shobiz, who stalked the pace in third the whole way but could not improve position late.
Results chart
Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "I couldn't have planned it better. I wanted to get into good position early and follow Cornelio (on Nobiz Like Shobiz) to the head of the lane and run him down. (Scat Daddy) was running hard through the stretch. He was coming little by little and he got there." Trainer Todd Pletcher added, "We got the trip we wanted. Our plan was to stay right behind Nobiz Like Shobiz. We felt out best chance was to repeat out Champagne (Stakes) effort, and make a run at him late. I've never doubted he could go two turns. I wasn't confident we could get there in time until just inside the sixteenth. I didn't feel like our horse got the respect he deserved coming into the race. The owner wanted to make all three races down here, so we'll come back in the Florida Derby with five weeks to Churchill."
Cornelio Velasquez, aboard beaten favorite Nobiz Like Shobiz said, "My horse ran good. He got a little fussy. I had trouble with him in the gate. He broke slow. The number 4 (Stormello) was coming out a bit. He was bumping my horse, He ran a good race." Trainer Barclay Tagg added, "I think he's a good horse. I don't why he ran like that. The jock said he was lugging in at the top of the stretch, and you lose a little ground when you straighten him out. The whole thing surprised me, I thought he'd lay third, then go to the front and win. I thought we'd go to the Wood Memorial, but now I don't know."
Moving to the west coast, the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, formerly run as the Santa Catalina, is a local prep for the Santa Anita Derby. A field of nine went to the gate in this 1 1/16 mile trip over the main track. 9-10 favorite Great Hunter ran to expectation, racing wide near the back of the field in the early stages, then finding his best stride at the top of the stretch to easily take over the lead. He easily drew away to a 1 1/4 length victory over 6-1 Sam P. in a running time of 1:42.89 over the fast track. It was a long 2 1/4 lengths back to 5-1 Saint Paul in third.
Results chart
Winning trainer Doug O'Neill said, "Corey (Nakatani) rode him beautifully. We just wanted a good performance and something to build on, and he ran better than we expected. Paul (owner Reddam) is a huge advocate of synthetic tracks, so we might take him to Keeneland for the Blue Grass. I'm very happy with where he is at this time. He lost ground most of the way, which is good and bad. He didn't have any traffic troubles, but he went farther than he had to. I'm just so excited, not having been in this position ever." Owner J. Paul Reddam said, "We didn't really think he had to win today, because our goal is the first Saturday in May, but it sure was nice to win anyway."
Jockey Corey Nakatani added, "He came back full of run. Doug thought he would run to about 80% of his capacity today, so he should move forward off of this race. He just ran a tremendous race. The plan today was to kick clear and gallop out strong. He did just that. Stormello, who we've beaten twice, ran a huge one in the East today, so we're looking forward to a good first Saturday in May."
