Racetrack Lenny

The Bad Cat

El Gato Malo, Spanish for "The Bad Cat" turned out to be a bad cat in the Sham Stakes run at Santa Anita yesterday at a mile and an eighth. The race, run on the all-weather track, had two scratches. Both scratched horses were speed types; so, the race was now deprived of a legitimate pacesetter leaving limited chance for a closer like El Gato Malo. Ridden by jockey David Flores, El Gato Malo was sent off at 3/5, and was the victim of a paceless race. The quarter went in just shy of 25 seconds with a half in 50 seconds. When it came time for the real running to begin, the other Derby hopeful in the race, Colonel John, Garrett Gomez up, stalked the pacesetter, Victory Pete, and had enough left to hold off the late run by El Gato Malo, who was steadily gaining but running out of racetrack.

Meanwhile at Turfway Park in Kentucky, three Derby hopefuls ran in the John Battaglia Stakes run at a mile and a sixteenth on their all-weather track. Favorite Briarwood Circle, Patrick Husbands up, threw in a real clunker and was wide throughout finishing last. Big Glen, James Lopez up, sat mid-pack throughout, began making his move but had to steady when Halo's King began to back up. I don't think that cost Big Glen the win; but, it may have gotten him third had he not been impeded. The stewards did not flash an inquiry. Big Glen wound up finishing 4th. The other Derby hopeful, Your Round, ridden by Victor Lebron, was went off 7/2 and actually had a 2 length lead at the top of the stretch and was beaten by nearly 2 lenghts when longshot Absolutely Cindy went by to score at 19/1.

So, like last year at this time, the Derby picture is very fuzzy. We'll try to clear it up some next time.

May the horse be with you,

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 6:42 PM