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Home , Blue Grass Stakes, Hansen (horse), In Lingerie, Martin Garcia (jockey), Strike the Gold, Sunland Park Oaks

THE WOODFORD SUN, Versailles, Ky. March 29, 2012 B8

Hansen to run in

Went the Day Well, Daddy Nose Best win big

BY RICK CAPONE WOODFORD SUN SPORTS EDITOR Two big three-year-old races took place across the country from each other this past weekend. Last Thursday, March 22, the connections of , On Saturday, March 24, the 2011 Two-Year-Old Champion and one of the top Went the Day Well, with three-year-olds on the Derby trail, called an John Velazquez riding, won the audible. $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Instead of running in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) Stakes (G3) on ’s on April 7 at Aqueduct, his connections decided to run synthetic Polytrack surface. their colt in the 88th running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue The win should give the colt Grass Stakes (G1) on April 14. enough graded stakes earn- Hansen, who is out of -Stormy Sunday, by Sir Cat, ings to get into the Kentucky is currently boarded at , where he will prep Derby. for the Blue Grass Stakes and the . Went the Day Well is owned “There are several reason why we elected to run Hansin by Team Valor and trained by in the Toyota Blue Grass,” said Dr. Kendall E. Hansen, Graham Motion, the team who Hansen’s owner and breeder in a press release. also won the Spiral Stakes last “Foremost is that the horse will have to travel less and we year with , think that is safer for him. If we win, Hansen will have who went on to win the Ken- Grade I victories on both all-weather and dirt surfaces. tucky Derby with Velazquez It also allows us to stay home in familiar surroundings. riding. Could history repeat And, very importantly, since a majority of his fan base is itself? in Kentucky, it gives them a chance to see him run.” Then, on Sunday, March “We’re extremely pleased to have the two-year-old 25, the -trained champion from last year in the Toyota Blue Grass,” added Daddy Nose Best, with jockey Roger Beasley, vice president of racing at Keeneland, in riding, won the the release. $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) Hansen had an undefeated two-year-old campaign in at Sunland Racetrack in Sun- 2011, scoring two wins at Turfway Park, then pulling land Park, N.M., which earned off an exciting victory in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup him a spot in the Kentucky WENT THE DAY WELL, top, won the Vinery Rac- Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs, where he beat favored Derby as well. . Baffert has won the Ken- ing Spiral Stakes (G3) at To start his three-year-old season, he fi nished second tucky Derby three times with Turfway Park on Saturday, in the Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream in January, in 1997, Real March 24, which gave Team then rebounded with a solid victory in the Quiet in 1998 and Valor its second consecu- (G3) at Aqueduct in March. in 2002. Teamed with Garcia, tive win in the race. With Down through history, 21 horses that have run in the the duo won the 2010 Preak- the win, the Proud Citizen Blue Grass Stakes have gone on to win the Kentucky ness with . three-year-old earned a Derby. Most recently, in 2007, fi nished Could Baffert, who suffered spot in this year’s Ken- second in the Blue Grass Stakes and then won the Derby a heart attack in Dubai on tucky Derby. Team Valor under jockey Calvin Borel. Monday and is recovering won the Spiral Stakes last Some other horses that have run in the Blue Grass Stakes well, win his fourth Kentucky year with Animal King- and then won the Derby include Thunder (1995), Derby this year? dom, who went on to win (1993), (1991), (1990), The performances of both the Kentucky Derby. Then (1987), (1982), horses this past weekend were on Sunday, March 25, at (1979), (1972) and (1970), impressive. Here’s how they Sunland Racetrack in Sun- to name just a few. unfolded. land Park, N.M., Daddy At Turfway, Went the Day (Photo by Adam Mooshian / Coglianese Photos) Well stayed in mid-pack of Nose Best, middle, also the 12-horse race, took the earned a spot in the Ken- lead in the stretch and then tucky Derby with his win pulled away for a 3-1/2 length in the $800,000 Sunland PERFORMANCE Horse victory over second-place Derby (G3), while Princess Textured or Pelleted Feed fi nisher Holiday Promise, and Arabella, bottom, scored third-place finisher Heavy an eight-length victory in 11% PROTEIN • 10% FAT • 12% FIBER Breathing. the $200,000 Sunland Park at Versailles Farm, Home & Garden The Proud Citizen-Tiz Oaks. (Photo of Went the Maie’s Day, by , colt Day Well by Bryan Oliver; Dealer fi nished the 1-1/8th-mile race photos of Daddy Nose Best 124 Frankfort Street • Versailles • 873-8126 in 1:51.33. and Princess Arabella by “I was very impressed with Coady Photography) him,” Motion said. “Apart from a little greenness (in the Promise, who had overtaken impressive six lengths over Best now has four wins in 10 stretch), he couldn’t have been Heavy Breathing in the stretch, second-place fi nisher Dancing starts, two seconds, one third better. When Animal Kingdom who dropped back to third. Solo. Toxis fi nished third. and $633,623 in earnings. He won this race last year, he was “When he got the lead, Out of -a also won the El Camino Real very explosive, but this horse he started waiting (on other Chat, by , Derby (G3) at Golden Gate was a little explosive, too. I horses) and lugging in, and ran the one mile race on the Park earlier this year. hate to compare the two be- then (he switched leads and) Polytrack in 1:38.28. In the Sunland Derby, he cause they are such different just went on,” Velazquez said Owned by Eclipse Thor- broke from the gate and then horses. in describing the colt’s green- oughbred Partners and Gary settled in sixth place in the “The beauty of (the timing ness mentioned by Motion. Barber, and trained by Pletcher, eight-horse field down the of) this race is you have the “He still doesn’t know very In Lingerie now has two wins, back stretch. option to run him one more much. You can tell. As soon one second and $82,265 Coming around the fi nal time or not run him one more as he pulled out at the quarter in earnings in three career turn, Velazquez guided him time,” he continued. “Probably pole and he found himself on starts. between horses, then angled the only option (if he does run the lead, he didn’t know what Then at Sunland Park on him out three wide into the again) is the Lexington Stakes to do. So, I just encouraged him Sunday, Daddy Nose Best stretch, still back in the pack (at Keeneland on April 21). I to keep going forward. He did came charging down the in fi fth place. feel confi dent telling you this everything great today.” stretch, passed the race leaders Meanwhile, Isn’t He Clever, SPEEDACIOUS, left, with Miguel Mena aboard, horse will run in the Kentucky Holiday Promise, who is and drew away for a three- who had been up near the front and INSPIRED, right, ridden by Shaun Bridgmo- Derby.” owned by WinStar Farm near quarter length win over Isn’t of the pack in fourth, then third han charge down the stretch together to fi nish in a With the win, Went the Day Versailles, and Heavy Breath- He Clever in second and Stirred heading into the stretch, came dead heat in the 26th running of the Happy Ticket Well now has two wins and ing, the race favorite, are both Up in third. on strong and took a short lead, two seconds in fi ve starts and trained by . Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday, March 24. Trained by Steve Asmus- which he held for most of the (Photo by Hodges Photography / Lynn Roberts) $315,344. “I thought (Heavy Breath- sen, the Scat Daddy-Follow stretch. In the race, Went the Day ing) held on very well, con- Your Bliss, by , But, the day belonged to Well broke from the gate, sidering the quick fractions, colt ran the 1-1/8th-mile race Daddy Nose Best, who was According to Asmussen, 1-1/16th-mile dirt race in then was forwardly placed and I was pleased with his on the dirt in 1:48.59. roused by Velazquez nearing Daddy Nose Best will now ship 1:43.52. off the rail by Velazquez in performance,” Pletcher said. “I “We have plenty of reason the sixteenth pole, responded to Churchill to rest and prepare Princess Arabella, who is the fourth spot, while Heavy was (also) very happy with how for optimism,” said Asmussen well, then stormed down the for the Kentucky Derby, which out of - Breathing took the lead and Holiday Promise ran. I think after winning his fi rst Sunland track chasing the leaders. In the will be his next start. Tortuga Lady, by Thunder set the pace. he handled the (Polytrack) real Derby. “We feel good about end, he got past Isn’t He Clever Also on Sunday at Sunland, Gulch, now has three wins in Coming around the fi nal well. Elliott Walden (president, him handling the one-and- deep in the stretch to win the Princess Arabella continued to three starts and $188,400 in turn, Went the Day Well began CEO and owner of WinStar one-eighth-mile distance in race by just three-quarters of show she is one of the top fi llies earnings. She won her debut to move up in the pack, then Farm) and I are discussing a respectable time. This is a length. in the nation, as she scored a race, a $56,000 Maiden Special came out three-wide, moved shipping him to Keeneland everything we had hoped for. Behind them, Stirred Up very impressive eight-length at Santa Anita last Dec. 31, then between horses and challenged and possibly running him in The spacing of his races was rallied from fi fth place in the romp over her seven com- won another allowance race at for the lead. the Blue Grass Stakes (on right. This race fi t perfectly stretch to take third place. petitors to win the $200,000 Santa Anita on Feb. 12. With a furlong to go, he April 14).” with his timing. He showed a “I got a fantastic effort from . If all goes well, a start in the gained a short lead, hesitated Also at Turfway on Satur- great degree of maturity today the horse (Daddy Nose Best),” Owned by Peachtree Stable, on the Friday a little, then pulled away with day, In Lingerie, who was also and has improved a lot since Velazquez said. “The pass was trained by Baffert and ridden before the Kentucky Derby at some encouragement to win ridden by Velazquez, won the his two-year-old season.” set up perfect for him. He had by Garcia, the undefeated Churchill lies in her future. by 3-1/2 lengths over Holiday Bourbonette Oaks (G3) by an With the win, Daddy Nose plenty left at the end.” three-year-old filly ran the Mat Jackets honored at awards banquet

BY RICK CAPONE Hurst, Damon Reed, Jordan Jordan Doyle (30), Wesley Doyle and Chad Goodrich. WOODFORD SUN SPORTS EDITOR Morris (31). All-in-all it was a very good • 40 Match Winners: Wyatt The Woodford County High season for Woodford, espe- Courtney (43) and Chad Go- School wrestling team held its cially considering they were odrich (40). season-ending awards banquet not ranked in the Top 10 in the • Rookie of the Year: Jordan on Thursday, March 22. preseason and were not able to Doyle. During the banquet, the fi ll a complete team, as they • Most Improved Wrestler: team celebrated its 2012 were always short three weight Wesley Morris. season, which saw them win classes at every meet. • Most Takedowns: Jordan the Region 7 Championship However, behind the top- Doyle (70). and send eight wrestlers to notch coaching of Joe Carr Sr., • Most Pins: Chad Goodrich the KHSAA State Wrestling Joe Carr Jr., and Rusty Parks, (25). Championships. the team practiced hard week- • Coach’s Award: Tucker At the state, Woodford’s top in and week-out, even during Hurst. fi nishers were Wyatt Courtney, the offseason, then pulled • Todd Gordon Award: Wesley who came in fourth; Shane together and came up with Morris. White and Corey McCall, some solid results all during • 100-Career Wins: Corey Mc- who fi nished fi fth; and Wesley the season. Call (143). Morris, who took home sixth The 2012 award winners • Captain Awards: Chad Go- WOODFORD COUNTY MAT JACKET AWARD WINNERS FOR 2012. At their place. that were announced at the odrich and Corey McCall. season-ending award banquet, several Woodford County High School wrestlers Other Mat Jackets who banquet are: • Most Valuable Wrestler: were honored for their performances during the season. Shown in the photo are wrestled at the state champion- • 30 Match Winners: Tucker Wyatt Courtney. six of the seven Mat Jackets honored. From left are Chad Goodrich, Tucker Hurst, ships this year included Tucker Hurst (31), Corey McCall (30), Wesley Morris, Jordan Doyle and Wyatt Courtney. Not shown is Corey McCall. (Photo by Y.R. Morris)