NEWS
Trio of overnight stakes could help shape Triple Crown picture
Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2012 9:06 PM
ISN'T HE CLEVER
Sunland Park photo
by Joe Nevills
Though their purses will not count toward the graded earnings needed to enter the gates for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), a trio of overnight stakes on Saturday may serve as important starting points toward getting on the Triple Crown trail.
Arguably the biggest of the three races is the $150,000 Borderland Derby at Sunland Park, the local prep for the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) on March 25. The 1 1/16-mile race attracted a field of seven, led by stakes winner Isn’t He Clever.
The Smarty Jones colt competed admirably at racetracks across the Southwest during his two-year-old season, including a win in the Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland Park and a runner-up finish in the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park. He made his sophomore debut in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, where he was moved fifth to fourth following a disqualification.
Isn’t He Clever will be ridden by Alejandro Medellin for trainer Henry Dominguez and owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison.
Trainer Steve Asmussen will send Major Hope to Sunland Park in hopes of adding to his record five wins in the race, including last year’s edition with Fusa Code. The son of Lemon Drop Kid is winless in three career starts, most recently finishing fourth in a maiden special weight race at Fair Grounds on January 21. Major Hope is owned by Mary and Robert Zollars and will be ridden by Roman Chapa.
Not far away at Turf Paradise, a field of ten will compete in the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby. The 1 1/16-mile race produced last year’s Sunland Derby winner, and eventual Kentucky Derby starter, Twice the Appeal, who finished second in the Turf Paradise Derby, but was disqualified to fourth.
Taylors Deal enters the Turf Paradise Derby off a driving 2½-length victory in the Lost in the Fog Juvenile Stakes on December 26 at Turf Paradise. The Second in Command gelding has proven most effective setting the pace as he earned both of his career wins in front-running style. Taylors Deal is owned by North American Thoroughbred Horse Company, Inc., trained by Sandi Gann, and will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez.
A field of nine will challenge the $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park. Sweetnorthernsaint, the eventual post-time favorite of the 2006 Kentucky Derby, made his stakes debut in the Miracle Wood, which he won by ten lengths.
Impressive maiden winner The Lumber Guy heads up this year’s edition of the Miracle Wood off a 9¼-length debut victory on January 28 at Aqueduct. The Grand Slam colt is owned by Barry Schwartz and trained by Michael Hushion. He will be ridden on Saturday by Julian Pimentel.
Stakes entries available at Thoroughbred Times
Joe Nevills is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
