Kentucky Derby Day Review
A good-sized crowd was on hand to celebrate the "Run for the Roses" as Steve Henson continued his fast start to the Hastings season with a double
HIGHLIGHTS
Ridge Balgobin had a riding double.
Steve Henson saddled two winners.
The handle was an impressive $567,749.
Night racing resumes this Friday, May 10th with a 7:00 pm first post.
HIGHLIGHTS
Ridge Balgobin rides a double.
Steve Henson saddles two winners.
The handle was an impressive $567,749.
Night racing resumes this Friday, May 10th with a 7:00 pm first post.
A bumper crowd of race fans came out to enjoy the Kentucky Derby Day atmosphere and seven terrific races at Hastings. Weather-wise, it was a strangely balmy day with plenty of high cloud which, although threatening rain, delivered only the occasional drop.
Race 1.
The opener on the Saturday program went to Mark McGinnis and Michelle Roberts-Henson’s RACING RIVER ($9.40), who was away from the gate in good order and made the lead under Ridge Balgobin through easy fractions of 23.85, 47.26 before cruising home a clear winner in 1:11.45 for trainer Rob Henson. Mel Snow, Doug Corsan and Len Houweling’s SLEW’S DA BOSS ran a huge race at the six furlong distance considering the pace was slow and he did well to be second under Brian Boodramsingh. Jordan Froelich's READY HERO was tracking out wide for much of the trip and was a game third.
Race 2.
The second of the afternoon saw Stuart Carmichael and Mark Freeman’s WICKED NIGHT ($4.00) take advantage of a slow early tempo (23.64, 46.64) under Amadeo Perez, then sprint away to a big score in 1:11.57 for conditioner Mark Cloutier. Hastings Racing Club's PRINCE CAIRO was taken up shortly after the start and was content to settle on the rail behind the speed and showed good courage, running on strongly in the stretch to be second under Antonio Reyes for trainer John Snow. Rob and Sheena Maybin's LOGICAL AL missed the start by three or four lengths, making his task a whole lot tougher, but he showed his class and closed late to be a good third under Ridge Balgobin.
Race 3.
The third of the day was won by Willow Creek Farm’s HOAX ($9.60), who catapulted out of his number five gate slot to easily get to the lead, setting splits of 23.61 and 46.86 before drawing off late to win in an impressive 1:11.15 for trainer Steve Henson. Praven Sorensen and Mort Hall's DREAMB settled a little off the pace and produced a good late run to get up in deep stretch to get the runner-up spot under Amadeo Perez for trainer Barbara Heads. Swift Thoroughbreds LICORICE was in a good spot early under Scott Williams, chasing a comfortable pace and just got nailed late for second, ending up a close third for trainer Dino Condilenios.
Race 4.
The fourth race on the program went to WYN Racing Stables’ DRILL BABY DRILL ($8.30) who, under Kimal Santo, was content to settle in behind a tearaway leader before engaging at the far turn and cruising to big win in 1:12 flat for trainer Larry Grieve. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ PETERSON LANDING was not as quick as the top two and settled nicely on the rail under Amadeo Perez, closed up sharply through the stretch to get the runner-up spot. G.O. Stables’ PENALTY TO RANGERS was fast away from the latch and controlled things (23.16, 46.44) until the far turn before she was collared by the winner and holding on to finish third for trainer Erick Gutierrez.
Race 5.
The fifth was dominated by Rob and Sheena Maybin's ARIKARA, relaxed nicely by Ridge Balgobin through fractions of 23.58, 46.42, before powering away on the final turn for the victory in 1:11.25 for trainer Rob Maybin. Bob Leffler, Bryan Killins and Gord McCormick’s ANOTHERSUNNYDAY, who was checked back early and forced to come from off the pace under Amadeo Perez, ran-on well to be second for trainer Dino Condilenios. Dreamtime Stable’s AMANDA turned in a strong late kick to be third under Antonio Reyes for trainer Greg Beneen.
Race 6.
The sixth on the card saw a superior performance from Willow Creek Farms and Lorie Henson’s HOME RUN GIRL ($6.20) as she did everything right in her debut under Silvino Morales, breaking alertly and quickly taking command before drawing off to an easy win in 1:12.41 for trainer Steve Henson. Sandra Corsan’s BORROWED EQUITY was nestled on the rail early and stayed there for most of the trip and rallied late to be second. Triple 8 Racing's DEANARROW was sharp early and got into a nice spot and gave good showing in her 2024 debut to be third under Kerron Khelawan for conditioner John Snow.
Race 7.
The seventh race of the afternoon was won by Joe and Gloria Russo's DON'TPASSTHEPEPPER ($16.00) as she settled on a sensible pace (24.01, 47.18) with Kerron Khelawan in the irons as they resiliently ground out out the victory in 1:11.64 for trainer Patty Leaney . Rob and Sheena Maybin's JERSEY LILLIE ran huge in defeat, racing three-wide throughout, and still managed to gain he runner-up spot under Chris Mamdeen for Rob Maybin. Hastings Horsepower and Minnaloushe Stables’ LASTING LIGHT battled on the pace and barely gave in late, ending up a game third under Learie Seecharan for trainer Dave Milburn.
Mystik Dan Holds On in Kentucky Derby Thriller
In what will go downs as a thriller for the ages and the narrowest finish for many a year, MYSTIK DAN was all-out to hold off the late challenges of highly-touted SIERRA LEONE and Japanese raider FOREVER YOUNG by a nose to give trainer Kenny McPeek a remarkable Kentucky Derby-Oaks double, writes Nigel Reid.
Kept down on the rail in a handy and ground-saving position behind horses by Brian Hernandez junior, MYSTIK DAN was always going easily enough but had to be forced through the narrowest of gaps as the field swung into the top of the lane. Hernandez’ brave decision, which could easily have ended in calamity, proved to be the race-winning move as the pair burst through to the front and kept on resolutely to the line to repel all challengers by a nose and the same.
Talking afterwards about his life-defining weekend, trainer Kenny McPeek said: “For three weeks, I’ve felt like we were going to win both races. I can’t tell you why. Both horses have been easy to deal with, the team has done such a great job every day. There’s been no drama. I just believe in mojo, in positive energy and we’ve had a lot of it.”
Hernandez’ rail-hugging, daredevil ride was inspired by the exploits of Calvin ‘Bo-Rail’ Borel, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner famous for taking the shortest way around Churchill Downs.
Hernandez said: “It still hasn’t sunk in, it’s so unbelievable. We came into the weekend thinking that we had a really big chance at winning both Friday and Saturday. For the horses to pull it off for us, we have to thank the guys back in the barn. It’s definitely a surreal moment. The last 20 years I’ve ridden in Kentucky, and as a young kid out of Louisiana, I had the chance of sitting in the same corner as Calvin Borel. Watching him ride all those Derbys all those years, and today with Mystik Dan, being in the 3 hole, I watched a couple of his rides, with Super Saver and Mine That Bird, and I decided that we were going to roll the dice. That’s the nice thing about Kenny (McPeek), he lets me make those decisions. We had the right kind of horse to give him that kind of trip.”
Favourite Flops as Godolphin Land Guineas
In what proved to be something of an upset, the first “Classic” of the European Season, the Group 1 2,000 Guineas, run over a mile on the turf at Newmarket, went to the Godolphin homebred NOTABLE SPEECH, as the Aiden O’Brien-trained long-time winter favourite for the race, CITY OF TROY, failed to fire. The winner, a son of former Godolphin superstar, Dubawi, was kept towards the rear by rider William Buick before bursting through at the furlong marker and quickly putting distance between himself and his rivals. CITY OF TROY, described last year by O’Brien as possibly the best two-year-old he’d trained, ran inexplicably poorly, leaving connections scratching their heads. Unraced as a two-year-old, the winner was making his debut on turf after three wins on the Kempton all-weather over the winter.
Bloodhorse Daily — Sunday, May 5
Hastings Racing Club
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