 |
|
|
Montepulciano Gets Up, Takes IL Derby
By
COZMAN
Apr 10, 2011,
1:16:57 PM
|
|
4/9/11 HAW Post Time 6:05EDT
RACE 1 HAW IL Derby (GIII)
$250.000 3yo 1 1/8m Dirt
Like a murder/mystery? Then Montepulciano is the horse for you... the mystery is if the out-of-left-field closer will get to the wire in time... the murder, well, let's just say that the horse is killing the trainer, slowly but surely. Speaking of that, the bay colt slowly but surely closed past the field in the 2011 IL Derby (GIII) on Saturday, punching his ticket to Louisville in the process. Ken Allan's Team Spirit was second, nosing out Bright Navvy, who had done all of the heavy lifting. The final running time was 1:49 and three.
Away from the gate, Team Spirit and N Y Minute away well, Bright Navvy from the far outside and King Of The South on the rail. I Can Take Anymore tucked in on the rail with Montepulciano the early trailer.
Dashing into the clubhouse turn and six furlong to run, Bright Navvy was in front by two. N Y Minute between horses with Team Spirit towards his outside, King Of The South on the rail, then a long gap of seven back to Montepulciano, with I Can Take Anymore ten lengths from the leader.
Down the backside and nearing the far turn with a half mile to run, Bright Navvy still in front by two lengths. Team Spirit up three to take the second spot, N Y Minute between horses, King Of The South skimming the rail, then two more back to Montepulciano and I Can Take Anymore was way back, thirteen lengths from the front end.
Swing around the turn and into the lane, nearing the three-sixteenth's pole and Bright Navvy continued to show the way by a length. N Y Minute and Team Spirit were inching up but Montepulciano was now closing quickly down the center of the track. King Of The South was asked and I Can Take Anymore was all but pulled up.
Inside the furlong marker, Bright Navvy's lead was now just a neck - Team Spirit closing down the outside, Montepulciano even wider as N Y Minute was not doing enough - it was now time to find out who wanted it most.
Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, three across the track - Team Spirit had a nose on Bright Navvy, but Montepulciano was not done yet, and with one final surge from jockey C Velasquez, Montepulciano nailed them right on the wire, in the last jump. Team Spirit was second, just a whisker in front of Bright Navvy. N Y Minute was fourth, King Of The South fifth and I Can Take Anymore was a distant sixth.
Montepulciano is a bay 3yo colt by Nikkosan - Pisa Tower, by HRP-Volponi, and he was bred by his owner, Alabarda Stable, in NY. This was his fifth win from nine starts, and he now has $461.150 in earnings. This was his second graded stakes win of the season, third overall.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
Track: Fast Time: :473 1:113 1:364 1:493
$1 Exacta: 5 - 4 Paid 11.30 $1 Trifecta: 5 - 4 - 6 Paid 29.00
Scratched: None
RECAP Montepulciano was taken back after the break, inched up nearing the far turn, continued to move forward through the lane, reached the leader inside the final 100-yards, just up on the wire. Team Spirit contested the pace throughout, short lead in deep stretch, caught. Bright Navvy broke alertly, set the pace to deep stretch, could not hold off rivals. N Y Minute pressed the pace to the furlong marker, tired. King Of The South raced withing striking distance to the top of the lane, nothing left. I Can Take Anymore dull.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
