Feature Presentation • Grade I Wood Memorial
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www.natc.cc SUNDAY, APRIL 4, 2010 For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. LIKE CANDY FROM A BABY FEATURE PRESENTATION • GRADE I WOOD MEMORIAL It was going to be hard to steal any thunder from Eskendereya (Giant’s Causeway), but J “TDN Rising Star” J Sidney’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) did just that with a runaway victory in the GI Santa Anita Derby yesterday afternoon. The speedster slowed things down a bit as he led them along through fractions of :48.50 and 1:12.33, and when jockey Joe Talamo went to work at the top of the lane, the chestnut left his rivals in his wake, galloping away to win by 4 1/2 lengths. “He actually stumbled a tad at the start, NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET but he is such an unbelievable animal,” Talamo said. Eskendereya (Giant’s Causeway) soared to the top of “He was going through the fractions so easy. Every the charts after taking the Feb. 20 GII Fasig-Tipton time the horses came to his hip on the backside, it did- Fountain of Youth S. at n’t really make him want to go. We’ll see how good he Gulfstream Park by 8 1/2 em- is in the [Kentucky Derby], but the way he handled phatic lengths. His stock rose himself today was unbelievable.” Cont. p3 even higher after yesterday’s sparkling performance in the GI GOOD “EVENING” Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct. She might not have had it in another jump, but Eve- Taken in hand off pedestrian frac- ning Jewel (Northern Afleet) held off longshot It’s Tea David Alcosser photo tions of :24.32 and :49.21, the Time (Dynaformer) to take Saturday’s GI Ashland S. at lop-eared chestnut was as threatening as a thunderhead Keeneland by a neck. It was the first graded score for as they raced around the final bend. Jockey Johnny the bay, who was second by a nose to Blind Luck (Pol- Velazquez let him out a notch as they straightened into lard’s Vision) in the Feb. 13 GI Las Virgenes S. last time the stretch and the race was over. Eskendereya rolled out. As for what’s next, trainer Jim Cassidy said, “More down the lane to win by 9 3/4 lengths. Cont. p2 than likely we’ll go to the [GI Kentucky] Oaks [Apr. 30 at Churchill Downs].” Cont. p3 Saturday, Aqueduct WOOD MEMORIAL S.-GI, $750,000, AQU, 4-3, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49 4/5, ft. 1--sESKENDEREYA, 123, c, 3, by Giant’s Causeway 1st Dam: Aldebaran Light, by Seattle Slew 2nd Dam: Altair, by Alydar 3rd Dam: Stellar Odyssey, by Northern Dancer ($250,000 yrl '08 KEESEP). O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Sanford R Robertson (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-John R Velazquez; $450,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, $725,700. *1/2 to Balmont (Stravinsky), G1SW-GB, $474,382. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Foaled, Raised & Sold by WOODS EDGE FARM 2--Jackson Bend, 123, c, 3, Hear No Evil--Sexy Stockings, by Tabasco Cat. O-Robert V LaPenta & Fred J Brei; B-Jacks or Better Farm Inc (FL); T-Nicholas P Zito; $150,000. 3--Awesome Act, 123, c, 3, Awesome Again--Houdini's Honey, by Mr. Prospector. ($240,000 yrl '08 KEESEP). O-Mrs Susan Roy & Vinery Stables; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd (KY); T-J Noseda; $75,000. Margins: 9 3/4, HD, 1HF. Odds: 0.50, 7.70, 2.70. Also Ran: Schoolyard Dreams, Carnivore, Most Happy Fella. TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 4/4/10 • PAGE 2 of 12 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Wood Memorial cont. What a Bargain... Zayat Stables went to $250,000 to acquire Eskendereya at the 2008 Keeneland September sale, and connections initially thought the colt would be best suited to the grass. The chestnut debuted on the Saratoga lawn last September, closing ground late to be the runner-up. He made his sec- ond career start in the Oct. 4 Sarah K Andrew photo Pilgrim S. at Belmont, and saw his fate changed when that race was taken off the weeds and moved to a good main track. Rated in fourth early, the maiden forged to the lead in the stretch and powered away to a 7 1/4-length triumph. Eskendereya made his next appearance on the synthetic in the Nov. 7 GI Breeders= Cup Juvenile, but was steadied sharply on the first turn and never factored thereafter, finishing ninth. A two-month vacation followed, and he opened his sophomore campaign with a workmanlike wire-to- wire score in a Gulfstream allowance test Jan. 7. But his performance in the Fountain of Youth opened some eyes, as he spanked Jackson Bend and company, and he stamped himself the one to beat in the ARun for the Roses@ at the Big A yesterday. AIt=s amazing,@ said trainer Todd Pletcher, who will be looking to break an 0-for-24 streak in the Kentucky Derby. AThe further he goes, the stronger he gets.@ Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Chance of a Lifetime... Video, sponsored by Taylor Made. Pletcher was pleased that his charge was able to sit just off the slow pace. AHe=s not at the mercy of any- one=s pace--he sets his own pace,@ he remarked. AWe just wanted him in his rhythm. I thought he settled very well today. In the Foun- tain of Youth, Johnny 2009's Leading Freshman Sire by Winners [Velazquez] thought maybe 2010's Leading 2nd Crop Sire by Winners he could have settled a little more. Today, he couldn t Including Saturday’s Multiple Stakes Winner = have been more professional.@ DANCES WITH ASHLEY Although Team Pletcher has 2010 Fee: $8,000 S & N fielded as many as five start- ers in a single Derby, the con- ditioner insisted yesterday, We ve never had a horse we GI Wood Memorial S. (AQU) Eskendereya (Giant=s A = knew could handle the mile Causeway) rolls into the Kentucky Derby a deserving Sarah K Andrew photo favorite. and a quarter, and we=ve GI Santa Derby (SA) TDN Rising Star Sidney=s Candy never had one put together a couple of preps like this (Candy Ride {Arg}) romps as the best in the west. one. We=ve had some good prep wins, but none as GI Ashland S. (KEE) Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet) impressive as these two.@ Eskendereya has a two-year- hangs on to get the nod. old half-sister named Wear Red (Henny Hughes) and a GI Carter H. (AQU) Warrior=s Reward (Medaglia d=Oro) yearling half-sister by First Samurai; his dam was bred gets up in the final jump. back to Henny Hughes for 2010. He will now ship back GIII Bay Shore S. (AQU) Eightyfiveinafifty (Forest Camp) to Palm Meadows, and is expected to head to Churchill goes gate to wire to winner=s circle. Apr. 20. P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 4/4/10 • PAGE 3 of 12 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Saturday, Keeneland Race Course Saturday, Santa Anita CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND S.-GI, $400,000, KEE, 4-3, SANTA ANITA DERBY-GI, $750,000, SAX, 4-3, 3yo, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:43 2/5, ft. 1 1/8m (AWT), 1:48, ft. 1--@sEVENING JEWEL, 121, f, 3, by Northern Afleet 1--sSIDNEY'S CANDY, 122, c, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg) 1st Dam: Jewel of the Night, by Giant's Causeway 1st Dam: Fair Exchange, by Storm Cat 2nd Dam: Jeweled Lady, by General Meeting 2nd Dam: Exchange, by Explodent 3rd Dam: Excellent Lady, by Smarten 3rd Dam: Wooly Willow, by Irish Stronghold ($8,000 yrl '08 KEESEP). O-Braly Family Trust; O-Sid & Jenny Craig Trust; B-Jenny & Sidney H Craig B-Betty L & Larry Mabee (CA); T-James M Cassidy; (KY); T-John W Sadler; J-Joseph Talamo; $450,000. J-Kent J Desormeaux; $240,000. Lifetime Record: Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0, $673,560. Werk Nick 8-3-4-0, $410,600. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for Rating: A+++ >Triple Plus= Click for the the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. A GARY YOUNG 2-YEAR-OLD-IN-TRAINING SALES RECOMMENDATION 2--Setsuko, 122, c, 3, Pleasantly Perfect--Dance With Grace, by Mr. Prospector. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere 2--It's Tea Time, 121, f, 3, Dynaformer--Prof. (KY); T-Richard E Mandella; $150,000. McGonagall, by Storm Cat. O/B-Alex G Campbell Jr 3--Lookin At Lucky, 122, c, 3, Smart Strike--Private (KY); T-George R Arnold II; $80,000. Feeling, by Belong to Me. ($35,000 RNA yrl '08 3--She Be Wild, 121, f, 3, Offlee Wild--Trappings, by KEESEP; $475,000 2yo >09 KEEAPR). O-Karl Watson, Seeking the Gold. ($19,000 RNA 2yo >09 OBSAPR). Michael E Pegram & Paul Weitman; B-Gulf Coast O-Nancy Mazzoni; B-M & N Mazzoni (KY); T-Wayne Farms LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; $90,000. M Catalano; $40,000. Another IBS Mating Recommendation WERK Thoroughbred Consultants Recommended Mating! Margins: NK, 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 5.30, 18.50, 2.90. Also Ran: Protesting, Upperline, Apple Charlotte, Negli- Margins: 4HF, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.80, 12.10, 0.80. gee, Beautician. Also Ran: Caracortado, Skipshot, Alphie's Bet, Thomas Evening Jewel was sixth in an open-company maiden Baines, Posse Power, Who's Up, Cardiff Giant.