NEWS
Pleasant Prince surges to Ohio Derby victory
Posted: Saturday, July 31, 2010 7:33 PM
To view the Ohio Derby, click here.
by Ron Parker
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Pleasant Prince snapped a seven-race winless stretch and recorded his first stakes victory when he charged from between horses to collar Worldly by a nose in the $100,000 Ohio Derby (G3) on Saturday at Thistledown.
Pleasant Prince had only a maiden win as a two-year-old at Churchill Downs to his credit entering the race, but it only took a cursory glance at the competition the Indy King colt had faced this season to see that he had shown plenty of class during the first half of the year.
Pinched back at the start of the Preakness Stakes (G1) in his previous start, Pleasant Prince failed to make an impact in that race, which was his fifth consecutive start in graded stakes company during a stretch that included a nose second to Ice Box in the Florida Derby (G1). Also third in The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial Stakes (G3), Pleasant Prince was the 9-to-5 favorite for the 1 1/16-mile Ohio Derby and he did not disappoint.
Slewzoom was quickest out of the starting gate in the ten-horse field, but Mykindacandy quickly took over as jockey Alex Solis settled Pleasant Prince in seventh then sixth through a half-mile in :48.16.
Mykindacandy continued to lead the field leaving the final turn and approaching the eighth pole before Capitol Appeal, Worldly, and a rapidly advancing Pleasant Prince engaged the leader in deep stretch.
Worldly held a slim advantage nearing the finish line but Pleasant Prince surged from between horses to snatch the victory and the $60,000 winner’s share. Pleasant Prince completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.90 on a track rated as fast.
Worldly finished three-quarters of a length in front of Capitol Appeal with Mykindacandy another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth.
Bred in Florida by Adena Springs, Pleasant Prince has proved a bargain for the Ramseys, who purchased him for $30,000 at the 2008 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. August yearling sale and sent him to trainer Wesley Ward. The chestnut colt’s first stakes victory increased his earnings to $284,398 with two wins from 11 starts. He is the first starter out of the unraced Pleasant Tap mare Archduchess, a half sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Mark One.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
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Posted by: Bellwether, Chesapeake, VA on August 01, 2010 at 02:54 AM
SARA & KENNY R LUCKY & REEL GOOD HORSE PEOPLE...ty...
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