Kentucky Derby Final Prep Races: Cliff's Edge Derby Trial & Withers Stakes
by Patricia Woo | Apr 19 2010
Two final prep races will be run this Saturday, April 24, in anticipation of the
Triple Crown series. Though the $200,000 Gr. 3
Cliff's Edge Derby Trial at Churchill Downs is technically a last-chance race for Kentucky Derby hopefuls like Caracortado, Eightyfiveinafifty and Aikenite are among those likely be pointing toward the second race of the Triple Crown, the
Preakness Stakes, instead. At Aqueduct on the same day, horses like D'Funnybone and Remand will also be working toward the Preakness in the
$150,000 Gr. 3 Withers Stakes.
With only $153,000 in graded stakes earnings, Michael Machowsky's Caracortado has one last outside change to qualify for the
Kentucky Derby. This 3-year-old gelded son of Cat Dreams was once a top Derby prospect after capturing his first graded stakes win in the $150,000 Gr. 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 13. He followed up that effort with a promising third-place finish a month later in the $150,000 Gr. 2 San Felipe Stakes. But in the $750,000 Gr. 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3, Caracortado needed a big score – like the $450,000 first-place purse – and only managed fourth place. Without the needed late kick in his last two outings at longer distances, Caracortado might find the 1-mile Derby Trial right up his alley. Only a win and some Derby defections would send Caracortado to the starting gate of the Kentucky Derby.
Todd Pletcher's Aikenite was also considered an early Derby contender with his second-place showing in the $500,000 Gr. 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in Oct. 2009. But a series of disappointments followed, including a sixth place in the $150,000 Gr. 3 Holy Bull Stakes to kick off 2010 and a shocking eighth in the $750,000 Gr. 1 Blue Grass Stakes on April 10. With the Kentucky Derby out of the question, Aikenite will now target the Preakness Stakes off what Pletcher is hoping will be his charge's breakout race.
The aptly named Eightyfiveinafifty co-owns the second highest Beyer Speed Figure posted by a 3-year-old so far - he earned a 100 in his first graded stakes win, the $200,000 Gr. 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct. But despite Eightyfiveinafifty's penchant for sprinting, trainer Gary Contessa is still hoping his charge can qualify for the Derby – though he will need several defections from those already qualified, as well as the winner's share of the Derby Trial's purse.
Pleasant Prince, Drosselmeyer and Miner's Reserve may also be on-hand for the Derby Trial.
Over at Aqueduct, another slew of horses have turned their attention to prepping for the Preakness Stakes in the Withers Stakes. Confirmed as a true threat at shorter distances, Rick Dutrow Jr.'s D'Funnybone has won five of his last seven starts, and each has been at a distance of 7 furlongs or less. The son of D'Wildcat collected his fourth graded stakes title on March 20 in the $150,000 Gr. 2 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park and should be the frontrunner in the Withers Stakes on Saturday.
Remand, third in the Bay Shore Stakes, as well as Castaneda, winner of the Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes, are also possible.
The Triple Crown is right around the corner!
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