VA Derby-GII

7/16/2011   CNL   Race #4   1 1/4m   Turf   Graded Stake Purse $600.000 For Three Years Olds

There is a rich purse on the line this Saturday as the sixth running of the GII VA Derby takes place. Clown Killer won the inaugural race back in 2006. The following year, legendary multiple graded stakes winner Fusion took home the trophy. The stakes record belongs to the late Basic Force who won here in 2009 with a time of 1:58.02 for the 1 1/4 mile turf course.

The 2011 Derby is the second graded event on the CNL race card. The race is packed with talent including rivals Votes For Sale and Bold Pretender, meeting again for the first time since the former edged out the latter in the GIII Jefferson Cup. The pair will take on five other talented sophomores for the trophy and the $600.000 purse.  There is plenty to like in this field, making handicapping quite a challenge.

Here are the entries:

1    Individual   Diablo Diablo   Alvarado R Jr   122 This son of Mr Hollywood was bred by the owner. He won five of nine career starts including the GIII Transylvania Stakes last April. He missed the board in his last when he finished fifth behind Loookin Goood in the GII American Turf. A closer with four wins in a row prior to this race, a wide trip and a slow pace upfront cost him any chance of a payday despite a strong finish. His late speed should serve him well at this distance and he looks to figure here.

2    Estastisticos Munez   Maxmillion Farm   Lopez C C   122 This autogen gelding was developed by Angel G Stables Llc. He was claimed the second time around on 1/19/2011 for $15.000 by his current connections. Since switching silks, he picked up two wins including his black type debut in the New York Stallion Stakes Times Square. He ships in from BEL where he took on tough older rivals in the GI Manhattan Handicap and faded off the lead to wind up last. He returns to his own age group here, but his front running ways could spell trouble again at this distance.

3    Loookin Goood   Team Furey   Velazquez J R   122 This gelded autogen was developed by the owner. The handsome gray has a near perfect build which no doubt explains the name. He has three wins in his nine-race career and seems to be sharpening just at the right time. He won the GII American Turf but lost to lesser in a shorter statebred stakes after lugging out following a wide trip. Built for distance and a natural closer, he looks well placed here.

4    Diamond Cut   Captinj   Court J K   122 This gelded autogen was developed by the owner. It took eight tried for him to break his maiden, but the good-looking smallish bay has blossomed since then and ships in off a sharp long sod allowance win at CD, where he earned a 98 career high speed figure.  His bloodlines and build point to a natural distance runner and his improving form suggests he could prove tough on Saturday.

5    Bold Pretender   Pan Farms   Desormeaux K J   122 This gelded son of Flaming Pretense was bred by Barcelona Farms. His current connections claimed him for $35.000 6/19/2010. He won the Cradle Stakes at RD last fall, but has yet to win another. A late bloomer, he dueled up front with Votes For Sale throughout the GIII Jefferson Cup to finish a close second last June. Another handsome distance specimen, he worked a string of bullet preps and looks good to go. Can he take his speed to the finish remains a question.

6    Soviet Flash   Ken Allan   Sutherland C   122 This gelded son of Soviet Ambassador was bred by the owner. He has just three wins in ten races. However, like many youngsters his age, he seems to be just now coming into his own. He placed in the GIII Vinery last spring, but missed the board in the GIII Coolmore Lexington when the dirt track came up muddy. He ships in off a nice long sod allowance win and worked a turf mile in 1:35 last June. He was caught late at the wire before and will need to hold his speed at this distance to score. Top connections are always a plus.

 7    Art For Success   Threshold   Borel C H   122 This gelded son of Bred For Success was bred by Kingelleinc and claimed for $50.000 last November by his current connections. Another good looker in a field of handsome distance types, he is already a multiple stakes winner. He missed the board in both prior graded efforts and ships in off a show finish in the LA Derby. A closer that earned a 98 speed figure in his last, he should take to the added distance and provide some spirited competition.

8    Votes For Sale   TwinTowersRacing   Leparoux J R   122 One of two colts in a sea of geldings, this autogen was developed by the owner. He broke his maiden at first asking then hit the board in four allowances including a win at WO. He made his black type debut in the GI CC Futurity but proved unready in a last place finish. Winless since last spring, He switched to the long sod and won back-to-back races including the GIII Jefferson Cup. He wired the field to set a new stakes record and earned a career high 96 speed figure. He looked great in his last but like other front-runners, he will need to hold that speed longer to win here.

PICKS:

7. Art For Success

4. Diamond Cut

1. Individual/ 3. Loookin Goood