Racing Roundtable: Stars of Tomorrow II
With the 2022 Churchill Downs fall meet in the books, James Scully, Kellie Reilly, and Vance Hanson think back on the last Saturday's adolescent activity in this week's Racing Roundtable.
Might you want to see Hoosier Philly take on males, or stick to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail?
James Scully: Assuming that she continues to progress over the colder time of year, Hoosier Philly will deserve the open door. I stated when I joined at Xat group that I like the Kentucky Derby (G1) boasting from mentor Tom Amoss, the dark filly has had everything completely under control so far, and Hoosier Philly appears very much situated for distances longer than Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Golden Bar (G2). Her Brisnet Speed ratings (vocation best 93 Speed figure) are qualified to continue to increase, and I've been impressed by Hoosier Philly's strong turn of foot in three profession starts.
Kellie Reilly: The a lot faster speed in the Golden Pole has to be calculated in while contrasting Hoosier Philly's last time with the colts' slower Kentucky Rider Club (G2). Still, the way that she did it under a hammerlock, unextended, is a strong clue about her capacity. I question, nonetheless, that the judicious Tom Amoss would pitch Hoosier Philly versus males until she's had more involvement with her own division. His post-race statement that he's "considered putting her Making a course for the Kentucky Derby" sounded more like a reasoning without holding back than an announcement of purpose. For sure, Amoss explained as a lot to Horse Racing Country's Ron Compliment on Monday. On the off chance that Hoosier Philly had come to the races sooner this season, perhaps a slant on the Derby trail would have been enticing the following spring. However, I'd favor the Rachel Alexandra/Rags to Riches program of progressing through the Kentucky Oaks, then, at that point, all being great, take on the boys.
Vance Hanson: I think sticking to the Kentucky Oaks trail is the judicious move until further notice. In the event that she runs out of rivalry in the filly ranks, and proves fast enough at the same time to be serious in Fair Grounds' later Derby preps, then, at that point, it very well may merit making an effort against the boys. With the genuine Derby points not available until late February and March, there is compelling reason need to rush a quality filly like her.
What are your takeaways from the Kentucky Rider Club?
JS: The ridiculously slow speed (six furlongs in 1:15.02) makes it hard to assess, and I need to see more from Instant Espresso prior to pronouncing him a strong competitor for the 2023 윈윈벳 Kentucky Derby, yet the Brad Cox-prepared yearling honorably crushed his direction to the lead in profound stretch after a less-than-great outing, racing great off the speed and wide on the two turns following a late start. Instant Espresso got a 105 Brisnet Late Speed number, and kept on progressing in the wake of keep a late fourth in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) previously. He remains a charming prospect entering 2023 despite the slow last time in the Kentucky Rider Club.
KR: The result was one more boost to the Breeders' Futurity structure. KJC victor Instant Espresso and unfortunate fourth Red Highway One had both run well in that Keeneland race. They revitalized to balance the Breeders' Futurity superfecta, yet at a respectful distance behind Strong point and Loggins. Strong point underlined his legitimacy by returning to win the Breeders' Cup Adolescent (G1) and surely wrap up an Eclipse Award; Breeders' Futurity fifth Newgate was sprinter up in the Sway Trust (G3); and seventh Two Phil's frolicked in the Street Sense (G3). Every one of that increases my interest in Loggins, who continues to strike me as Brad Cox's top Derby competitor. To be reasonable for Instant Espresso, he did very well to stimulate off a dallying pace in the KJC, while getting through a wide excursion all through.
However his presentation wasn't the sort of show-stopper to suggest he'll challenge the historical trends against KJC winners in the Derby.
VH: The one-two finish by Instant Espresso and Wavy Jack sure complimented presumptive division champion Strength, who finished well in front of both in the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Adolescent, respectively. Nonetheless, we could ultimately think back on this as a sub-standard reestablishment of the Kentucky 벳365 Rider Club, given the crude last time ended up being moresque than an entire second slower than the Golden Bar (and Hoosier Philly was trotting to the wire). Quite a bit of that was the capability of the slow early speed, however overall I don't completely accept that this will end up being the race's finest hour.
What else grabbed your attention on the Stars of Tomorrow II card?
JS: I'll focus upon a couple of lady winners by Weapon Sprinter: Point Demonstrated and Vahva. Point Demonstrated stylishly stretched out to a course, breaking his lady north of a 1 1/8-mile distance by an extending five-length margin, and the grandly reared yearling appears to be growing pleasantly for Todd Pletcher. Vahva looks like a filly with a future, offering a sharp move to take an unmistakable lead in upper stretch prior to cruising to a three-length decision in a seven-furlong test. Prepared by Cherie DeVaux, Vahva is still sorting things out at the starting door, and she's a promising sort for longer distances one year from now.
KR: To feature just one point from an enlightening day, Weapon Sprinter sired three promising lady winners — Firearm Pilot, Point Demonstrated, and Vahva. Firearm Pilot could be the most interesting subsequent to outflanking his 11.75-1 odds on debut. The Steve Asmussen student had the strategic speed to compel the speed from post 11, assumed responsibility, and opened up. The Todd Pletcher-prepared Point Demonstrated relished the stretch-out to 1 1/8 miles to break his lady by five lengths. The filly Vahva, last seen sustaining an extreme beat in a Saratoga lady, moved by three lengths for Cherie DeVaux... CHECK HERE
VH: Albeit not visually striking taking a first-level remittance, it's quite important Certainty Game ran the fastest 1 1/16 miles on the card, faster than the times posted in the Golden Bar and KJC. A son of Sweets Ride and out of a stepsister to Zenyatta, Certainty Game was making his fifth profession start for mentor Keith Desormeaux. The downside is that he was very much beaten in his main stakes attempt to date, in the Iroquois (G3).
I'll repeat the observations on Weapon Sprinter proceeding with his outstanding record with youthful runners by siring three of the 12 winners on the card. That included first-time starter Weapon Pilot in the nightcap, who coach Steve Asmussen snuck by the wagering public as much as $25.50 mutuel. Those sort of market oversights arise only very rarely.
