Hutcheson Stakes and Holy Bull Stakes Recaps

by Patricia Woo | Feb 2 2009

It's time to update your selections for the 135th Kentucky Derby! A couple of high-profile stakes races - the Hutcheson Stakes and the Holy Bull Stakes - were run last weekend, and we'll take a look at the winners and the losers in anticipation of the Run for the Roses in May.

Hutcheson Stakes, Grade 2, 7 furlongs, Gulfstream Park, $150,000 purse

Hampered by an inability to relax, which likely cost him the win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November, Capt. Candyman Can showed improvement in the Hutcheson Stakes on Friday, Jan. 30, which bodes well for his journey down the Kentucky Derby trail. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Capt. Candyman Can took the lead into the stretch and then held off race favorite Hello Broadway to hit the wire first. Despite the win, jockey Julien Leparoux asserted after the race that Capt. Candyman Can still has a lot of maturing to do before he is ready to take on the Kentucky Derby: "A lot can happen between now and May. We still have a lot to do. The big difference today was he listened. His last race, he went to the front and wouldn’t listen. Today, he was good."

Though having to settle for second place, Hello Broadway also turned in a solid performance. He was the early pacesetter, and after battling Capt. Candyman Can for the lead till the end, he lost by a mere length and a half. The Barclag Tagg-trained 3-year-old's next target will be the 1-mile $250,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 28, where he may get the chance for a rematch against Capt. Candyman Can. Perhaps hindered by his inside post draw, Break Water Edison, who was sent off as the second choice, turned in a disappointing performance. After racing four-wide around the turn, he weakened down the stretch and finished last. Break Water Edison is pointing towards the Gr. 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park; where he will start next has yet to be decided.

Holy Bull Stakes, Gr. 3, 9 furlongs, Gulfstream Park, $150,000 purse

Post draws were also a factor in the Holy Bull Stakes, which took place on Saturday, Jan. 31. Highly regarded contenders Beethoven and West Side Bernie both had to contend with outside post draws, which paved the way for a surprise victory by Saratoga Sinner; Julien Leparoux also had the winning ride. This marked Saratoga Sinner’s second career win and earned owner Brereton C. Jones $90,000. He took over the lead from pacesetter Bear’s Rocket in the final furlong and won by three-quarters of a length.

Kentucky Derby prospects West Side Bernie and Beethoven both raced wide and encountered traffic problems, ending up third and fourth, respectively; race favorite Danger to Society could not find a clear lane into the far turn and finished seventh. Look for Beethoven in the March 28 Florida Derby, and possibly the Fountain of Youth Stakes in between.

It’s not too early to bet on Kentucky Derby futures with the Bodog Racebook!