Friday, November 30, 2018

Remsen Stakes Racing Roundup


©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us to the Empire State Saturday where MAXIMUS MISCHIEF will go to the starting gate as the 6-5 morning line favorite in the 103rd running of the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Post time is 3:12 p.m. ET.
Undefeated in two starts, Maximus Mischief comes into this race for trainer Robert Reid, Jr. off an impressive allowance win at Parx on October 20. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

MAXIMUS MISCHIEF ducked out while breaking like a bullet, bore out and was rank in the opening furlong while under a stout hold, settled nicely as he was steered closer to the rail on the backstretch, remained in hand, easily shook loose of ABSENTEE entering the stretch and extended his lead through the stretch in another eye-catching performance.

Maximus Mischief was just two much the best as he cruised to an easy six-length victory to run his combined total win margin to 14¾ lengths in two starts.
Into Mischief, the sire of Audible, was a precocious colt and multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 3-3-0 record in six starts with $597,080 in career earnings.
As a two-year-old, Into Mischief easily won his maiden debut by 2½ lengths at Santa Anita Park on October 21, 2007. He went on to finish second in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) and followed that with a win in the 8½-furlong CashCall Futurity (G1). His finish time of 1:40.82 was just a few ticks off of the record time of 1:40.74 set by Afternoon Deelites and the second fastest time of 1:40.78 set by Valiant Nature.
In his debut as a three-year-old in February 2008, Into Mischief finished second to Georgie Boy in the San Vicente Stakes (G2). He came out of that race with an injury to his right-hind foot and he was taken off the Triple Crown Trail.
After an extended break, Into Mischief returned to racing in October winning the Damascus Stakes by two lengths. In December, Into Mischief finished his racing season with a second-place finish in the Malibu Stakes (G1).
Into Mischief’s best runners on the Kentucky Derby Trail have been Audible, Goldencents, Practical Joke, Vyjack and Vicar’s in Trouble. Audible won the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) en route to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Goldencents won the Santa Anita Derby and finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Practical Joke finished second in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and fifth in the Derby. Vyjack finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) and 18th in the Derby. Vicar’s in Trouble won the Louisiana Derby and finished 19th in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Harlan’s Holiday, the grandsire of Audible, won the Florida Derby (G1), Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Maximus Mischief has a low H Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index potentially makes him competitive in this race. Time will tell if he can if he can successfully stretch out to nine furlongs like previous Into Mischief colts have on the Kentucky Derby Trail.
A long shot I like is GLADIATOR KING (15-1) who ships in from Gulfstream Park West with a 2-1-0 record in four starts for trainer Jaime Mejia. Here’s the video and chart call of his last race which he won by a nose.

GLADIATOR KING vied three wide for early lead and then lost some ground on CAROTARI when inside rival checked at three eights pole, re-challenged rival approaching quarter pole then lost some ground on out of the turn, roused back to duel outside path of CAROTARI, foe held slight edge then pair exchanged noses nearing wire and got nose up in time.

I like the way Gladiator King kept running with determination to finally prevail by a nose at the wire.
Curlin, the sire of Gladiator King, was an outstanding racehorse that compiled an 11-2-2 record in 16 career starts with $10,501,800 in career earnings.
Curlin did not start as a two-year-old. But, at the age of three, Curlin was 6-1-2 in nine starts with $5,102,800 in earnings including wins in the Rebel Stakes (G3) and Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to a third-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1). He went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and he finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Other important stakes wins include the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice, Dubai World Cup (G1), Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), Woodward Stakes (G1), and the UAE Jaguar Trophy Handicap.
In six crops as a stallion, Curlin has sired the 2013 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Palace Malice and the 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Exaggerator. In addition, Curlin produced the classic-placed runners Good Magic (second, 2018 Kentucky Derby), Tenfold (third, 2018 Preakness), Ride On Curlin (second, 2014 Preakness), Keen Ice (third, 2015 Belmont) and Irish War Cry (second, 2017 Belmont).
Gladiator King has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he’s the best-bred colt in this herd of runners. He has good speed and his breeding indicates that he should be able to extend his speed in the stretch out to nine furlongs.
I look for Gladiator King run another good race and, perhaps, upset at a nice price.
JUNGLE WARRIOR (8-1) comes into this race for new trainer James Jerkens off a fifth-place finish in the Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

JUNGLE WARRIOR, rated off the pace, came four then three-wide through the turn, chased into the stretch and rallied gamely.

Jungle Warrior ran at the back of the herd until the stretch when he made a move to improve position and get up for fifth-place at the finish.
Animal Kingdom, the sire of Jungle Warrior, was a multiple-graded stakes winner and Classic Champion Thoroughbred that compiled a 5-5-0 record in 12 starts with $8,387,500 in career earnings. In my December 2010 Kentucky Derby Outlook blog I wrote that Animal Kingdom would perhaps be my 2011 Derby favorite.
As a two-year-old, Animal Kingdom only made two starts, breaking his maiden on the second start. As a three-year-old, he compiled a 2-2-0 record in five starts with wins in the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (G3) and Kentucky Derby (G1). He finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Animal Kingdom made only two starts as a four-year-old and he finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). As a five-year-old, Animal Kingdom made three starts finishing second in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) and winning the Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airlines.
Animal Kingdom was a versatile, world-class runner that won on dirt, turf and artificial surfaces and he won races on two continents.
Jungle Warrior has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and his finish time in the Summer Stakes (G1) is what I like to see young colts run on the Kentucky Derby Trail.
He’s been training well at Belmont Park and has room to improve in his third start of the season.
I look for Jungle Warrior to run a good race.
TAX (15-1) comes into this race off a maiden claim for $50,000 for new owners Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable. To date he’s compiled a 1-1-0 record in two starts and in his last race he broke his maiden at Keeneland Racecourse. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

TAX tracked the pace early, shifted into the three path in the far turn then drove past the leader down the lane and cleared the field in the final stages.

Tax tracked the leader in second place until the far turn when he made a move and took the lead in the stretch to win by two lengths.
Arch, the sire of Tax, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 5-1-0 record in seven starts with $480,969 in career earnings.
Arch made only one start as a two-year-old easily winning a maiden special weight at Keeneland in October 1997. As a three-year-old, Arch won an allowance race at Keeneland in April 1998 and compiled a 4-1-0 record in six starts including wins in the 10-furlong Super Derby (G1) and the 9½-furlong Fayette Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3).
As a stallion, Arch’s best Top Lifetime Runners include: Blame, Grand Arch, Arravale, Hymn Book, Art Trader, Les Arcs, Archarcharch and Pine Island.
Tax has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and the breeding to finish in the money or hit the board. However, his finish time last out was a bit slower than what I like.
Tax has been training well at Belmont Park and has room to improve in his third start of the season. A recent bullet workout could have Tax ready to run a good race and only time will tell if he can step up to earn graded stakes honors.
Honorable mention goes to maiden winner Bourbon War (5-1). He also has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and the breeding to finish in the money or hit the board. However, his final time for the mile in his maiden debut was slower than what I like, and, stretching out to nine furlongs in his second start may be a bit much too soon.


*****

A total of 35 prep races comprise the USA Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road and four races on the Japan road to Derby glory.


2018/2019 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Game Winner, 30, Bob Baffert, $1,460,000
2. Knicks Go, 18, Ben Colebrook, $656,085
3. Signalman, 18, Ken McPeek, $392,840
4. Complexity, 10, Chad Brown, $275,000
5. Cairo Cat, 10, Ken McPeek, $86,490
6. Gunmetal Gray, 4, Jerry Hollendorfer, $120,000
7. Code of Honor, 4, Shug McGaughey, $100,000
8. Tight Ten, 4, Steve Asmussen, $67,900
9. Plus Que Parfait, 4, Brendan Walsh, $36,400
10. Call Paul, 2, Jason Servis, $194,000
11. Mr. Money, 2, Bret Calhoun, $100,000
12. Rowayton, 2, Jerry Hollendorfer, $96,000
13.+Standard Deviation, 2, Chad Brown, $50,000
14. Limonite, 2, Steve Asmussen, $18,200
15. Pole Sitter, 2, Brad Cox, $17,950
16. Sombeyay, 1, Todd Pletcher, $158,500
17. Tobacco Road, 1, Steve Asmussen, $63,400
18. +Aurelius Maximus, 1, Chad Brown, $30,000
19. Jefe, 1, Keith Desormeaux, $18,000
20. King for a Day, 1, Todd Pletcher, $9,100
          + = Horses picked as yearlings on our 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sales list.



EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Royal Marine (IRE), 10, Saeed bin Suroor, $264,968
2. Magna Grecia (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $185,000
3. Mohawk (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $128,702
4. Japan (GB), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $75,316
5. Phoenix of Spain (IRE), 4, Charlie Hill, $157,944
6. Broome (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $140,871
7. Sydney Opera House (GB), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $40,956
8. Mount Everest (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $24,254
9. Anodor (FR), 2, Freddie Head, $99,215
10. Western Australian (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $43,084
11. Cape of Good Hope (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $41,515
12. Power of Now (IRE), 2, Michael O’Callaghan, $11,489
13. Boitron (FR), 1, Richard Hannon, $44,917
14. Victory Command, (IRE), 1, Mark Johnston, $35,108
15. Circus Maximus (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $24,368
16. Sovereign (IRE), 1, Aiden O’Brien, $5,106


JAPAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer
1. f-Make Happy, 10, Koichi Shinkai
2. Kingen (JPN), 4, Kunihide Matsuda
3. Johaan (JPN), 2, Yasuyuki Takahashi
4. Romantico (JPN), 1, Kazuo Fujisawa

Friday, November 23, 2018

Kentucky Jockey Club Racing Roundup


©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us this Saturday to Churchill Downs with its’ iconic Twin Spires where KNICKS GO has been tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite in 92ndrunning of the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2). Post time is 5:56 ET.
Knicks Go comes into this race for trainer Ben Colebrook with a 2-1-1 record in five starts including a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

KNICKS GO hopped at the start, tracked the pace early from the three path, stayed on the three path to the lane, inched clear in the stretch but drifted out and yielded in the final stages.

Knicks Go was a prominent presence from the start but could not prevail and finished 2¼ lengths behind the victor, Game Winner.
Paynter, the sire of Knicks Go, was a graded stakes winner that compiled a 4-4-0 record in 11 starts with $1,101,924 in career earnings.
Paynter did not race until he was three years old and he compiled a 3-2-0 record in six starts with a graded-stakes win in the Haskell Invitational (G1). He finished second in The Cliff’s Edge Trial Stakes (G3) and the Belmont Stakes (G1).
As a four-year-old, Paynter was 1-2-0 in five starts with second-place finish in the San Diego Handicap (G2) and the Awesome Again Stakes (G1).
Knicks Go has an F Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®. His Behavior Index potentially makes him competitive but there are others I like better in this race.
A long shot I like is CURRENT (15-1) who comes into this race with a 2-0-1 record in four starts, all on the turf, for trainer Todd Pletcher. In his last race, he finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

CURRENT, unprepared as he had his head turned slightly at the gates, rated back off the pace, angled five wide past the quarter pole, was soundly bumped in upper stretch, regrouped but failed to make a significant impact.

Current was never a factor as he had a troubled trip and he may not have liked the yielding ground.
 Curlin, the sire of Current, was an outstanding racehorse that compiled an 11-2-2 record in 16 career starts with $10,501,800 in career earnings.
Curlin did not start as a two-year-old. But, at the age of three, Curlin was 6-1-2 in nine starts with $5,102,800 in earnings including wins in the Rebel Stakes (G3) and Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to a third-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1). He went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and he finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Other important stakes wins include the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice, Dubai World Cup (G1), Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), Woodward Stakes (G1), and the UAE Jaguar Trophy Handicap.
In six crops as a stallion, Curlin has sired the 2013 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Palace Malice and the 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Exaggerator. In addition, Curlin produced the classic-placed runners Good Magic (second, 2018 Kentucky Derby), Tenfold (third, 2018 Preakness), Ride On Curlin (second, 2014 Preakness), Keen Ice (third, 2015 Belmont) and Irish War Cry (second, 2017 Belmont).
Current was a yearling (Hip 1149) we profiled at the 2017 Keeneland September sale and with an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® he’s the best-bred colt in his herd. He has the breeding to be competitive and time will tell if he can step up to win his first graded stakes race on the dirt.
DUNPH (6-1) comes into this race for trainer Michael Maker undefeated in two starts with a combined win margin of 16¼ lengths including a win in the Spendthrift Juvenile Stallion Stakes. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

DUNPH pressed the pace early, shifted into the three path in the turn, took over command down the lane and drew off under a steady drive.

Dunph looked good stalking the leader until the far turn when he took the lead and pulled away to an easy 7¾-length victory.
Temple City, the sire of Dunph, was a graded stakes winner that compiled a 4-2-4 record in 15 starts.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Temple City won his only start as a three-year-old and followed that with a third-place finish in the Del Mar Handicap at the age of four.
Temple City earned graded stakes honors as a five-year-old with a win in the Cougar II Handicap (G3) and second-place finishes in both the American Handicap (G2) and the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G1).
Dunph was a yearling (Hip 114) we profiled at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Sale but he was not in my blog write up of A and A+ yearlings because he has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®.
Dunph’s profile score ranks him fourth in this herd and I look for him to run a good race.
KING FOR A DAY (8-1) comes into this race off a nice maiden win at Belmont Park for trainer Todd Pletcher. Here’s the video and chart call of his race:

KING FOR A DAY broke in at the start bumping KENTUKY WILDCAT solidly into WILL DANCER, vied three to four wide early before emerging with sole albeit narrow command under pressure from COUSIN PETE to the outside, shook off that rival half a mile from home and was confronted by TACITUS to the outside through the turn, came under coaxing three furlongs out, held that rival at bay clinging to the front, swung three wide into upper stretch, edged clear under a drive kept to task.

King for a Day ruled this race leading from gate to wire, setting fast fractions, with the mile split at 1:35.08 and the final racehorse time of 1:41.66.
Uncle Mo, the sire of King for a Day, was undefeated in three starts as a two year old with wins in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) and he was picked as the 2010 Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Colt.
As a three-year-old, Uncle Mo won the Timely Writer Stakes and finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1). The Friday before the Kentucky Derby, Uncle Mo was scratched from the race with a mysterious ailment which was later diagnosed as a liver disease called cholangiohepatitis.
King for a Day has an E Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.
Regular jockey John Velazquez retains the mount and King for a Day has room to improve in his third start of the season.
Honorable Mention goes to Plus Que Parfait (20-1), Signalman (5-2) and Mick’s Star (30-1). With an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® Plus Que Parfait is the second-best bred colt in this herd and one to keep an eye on.


*****

A total of 35 prep races comprise the USA Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road and four races on the Japan road to Derby glory.


2018/2019 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Game Winner, 30, Bob Baffert, $1,460,000
2. Knicks Go, 18, Ben Colebrook, $654,085
3. Complexity, 10, Chad Brown, $275,000
4. Cairo Cat, 10, Ken McPeek, $86,490
5. Signalman, 8, Ken McPeek, $280,000
6. Gunmetal Gray, 4, Jerry Hollendorfer, $120,000
7. Code of Honor, 4, Shug McGaughey, $100,000
8. Tight Ten, 4, Steve Asmussen, $67,900
9. Call Paul, 2, Jason Servis, $170,000
10. Mr. Money, 2, Bret Calhoun, $100,000
11. Rowayton, 2, Jerry Hollendorfer, $96,000
12.+Standard Deviation, 2, Chad Brown, $50,000
13. Pole Sitter, 2, Brad Cox, $17,950
14. Sombeyay, 1, Todd Pletcher, $158,500
15. Tobacco Road, 1, Steve Asmussen, $52,400
16. +Aurelius Maximus, 1, Chad Brown, $30,000
17. Jefe, 1, Keith Desormeaux, $18,000
          + = Horses picked as yearlings on our 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sales list.



EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Royal Marine (IRE), 10, Saeed bin Suroor, $264,968
2. Magna Grecia, 10, Aidan O’Brien
3. Mohawk (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $128,702
4. Japan, 10, Aidan O’Brien, $75,316
5. Phoenix of Spain, 4, C. Hill
6. Broome (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $140,871
7. Sydney Opera House (GB), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $40,956
8. Mount Everest (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $24,254
9. Anodor (FR), 2, Freddie Head, $99,215
10. Western Australian (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien
11. Cape of Good Hope (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $41,515
12. Power of Now (IRE), 2, Michael O’Callaghan, $11,489
13. Boitron (FR), 1, Richard Hannon, $44,917
14. Victory Command, (IRE), 1, Mark Johnston, $35,108
15. Circus Maximus (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien
16. Sovereign (IRE), 1, Aiden O’Brien, $5,106

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes Racing Roundup


©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us Friday to Churchill Downs with it’s iconic Twin Spires where GAME WINNER has been tabbed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the 35th running of the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1). Post time is 6:05 p.m. ET in what appears to be a contentious race.
Undefeated in three starts, Game Winner comes into this race for Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert off a win in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

GAME WINNER had speed three deep then dueled outside a rival, took a short lead into the stretch, inched away under urging past the eighth pole and won clear.

Game Winner dueled with Rowayton to the far turn then pulled away in the stretch to win by 4½ lengths.
Candy Ride, the sire of Game Winner, was bred in Argentina and during his racing career he was undefeated in six starts.
In his maiden debut as a three-year-old, Candy Ride won the Premio El Quimico, a six-furlong sprint, by 12 lengths. He went on to finish the season with a win in the one-mile Gran Premio San Isidro (G1) by eight lengths and another win by eight lengths in the one-mile Joaquin S de Anchorena (G1).
As a four-year-old, Candy Ride was shipped to America where won his U.S. debut in an 8 ½ furlong Allowance Optional Claiming race at Hollywood Park on June 7, 2003. A month later, he ran on the turf winning the 9-furlong American Handicap (G2) and in August, Candy Ride was able to carry his speed to a 3¼-length victory in the 10-furlong Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) in a record time of 1:59.11.
Game Winner has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him competitive in this race.
A long shot I like is STANDARD DEVIATION (12-1) who comes into this race with a 1-0-1 record in two starts for trainer Chad Brown including a third-place finish in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

STANDARD DEVIATION was back early along the four path, fanned into the seven path entering the lane, rallied in the stretch, made a bid but flattened out late in the drive.

Standard Deviation ran wide throughout at the back of the herd and made a powerful move on the far turn to get up for a third-place finish.
Curlin, the sire of Standard Deviation, was an outstanding racehorse that compiled an 11-2-2 record in 16 career starts with $10,501,800 in career earnings.
Curlin did not start as a two-year-old. But, at the age of three, Curlin was 6-1-2 in nine starts with $5,102,800 in earnings including wins in the Rebel Stakes (G3) and Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to a third-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby (G1). He went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and he finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Other important stakes wins include the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice, Dubai World Cup (G1), Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), Woodward Stakes (G1), and the UAE Jaguar Trophy Handicap.
In six crops as a stallion, Curlin has sired the 2013 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Palace Malice and the 2016 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Exaggerator. In addition, Curlin produced the classic-placed runners Good Magic (second, 2018 Kentucky Derby), Tenfold (third, 2018 Preakness), Ride On Curlin (second, 2014 Preakness), Keen Ice (third, 2015 Belmont) and Irish War Cry (second, 2017 Belmont).
With an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, Standard Deviation is the best-bred colt in this herd and he was a yearling (Hip 1630) we profiled at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Standard Deviation has the breeding to win and he has room to improve in his third start of the season. It remains to be seen if he can step up to earn graded stakes honors.
CODE OF HONOR (5-1) comes into this race with a 1-1-0 record in two starts for trainer Claude McGaughey including a second-place finish in the Champagne Stakes (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

CODE OF HONOR brushed with SUCCESSFUL ZIP after stumbling badly at the break, moved over into path two by the conclusion of the backstretch, came under a ride for the drive home, angled out approximately five wide, was momentarily errant acting to some stick work in mid-stretch, continued onward in a more professional manner afterwards and rallied for the place.

Code of Honor stumbled at the start and was at the back of the herd, early on, but he made a “strong” rally to get up for second at the wire.
Noble Mission, the sire of Code of Honor, is a full brother to Classic Champion Thoroughbred Frankel and multiple Group Stakes winner that compiled a 9-6-2 record in 21 starts with $2,202,887 in career earnings.
Noble Mission finished second in his only start as a two year old racing in the United Kingdom.
As a three-year-old, Noble Mission was 3-3-0 in seven starts with wins in the maiden weight for age race, Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes and Bet365 Gordon Stakes (Group 3). He finished second in the Popetelecom.com.co.uk Fairway Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) and the Worthingtons Champion Shield Navigation Brewery St. Simon Stakes (Group 3).
At the age of four, Noble Mission was 1-0-2 in six starts with a win in the Tapster Stakes. He finished third in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise John Porter Stakes (Group 3) and the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3).
Noble Mission was 5-2-0 in seven starts at the age of five with victories in the Betfred Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3), Betfair Price Rush Huxley Stakes (Group 3), Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1), Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Group 1) and the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Group 1). He finished second in the John Porter Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Group 3) and the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (Group 1).
With an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, Code of Honor is the second-best-bred colt in this herd. If he starts good and runs closer to the pace, I look for Code of Honor to be tough in this race.
COMPLEXITY (5-2) is also trained by Chad Brown and he comes into this race undefeated in two starts with a win in the Champagne Stakes (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

 COMPLEXITY away in good order, quickly established control, was confidently ridden showing the way towards path two, was still on hold as the third fraction was being finalized, even with many pursuers now being called upon for much more themselves, scampered away to his largest lead when switched over to a drive in the vicinity of the three sixteenths pole, appeared to switch back to the wrong lead, that is the left one, a few strides beyond the eighth pole, held sway.

Complexity looked good and led from the start to earn graded stakes honors and a trip to winner’s circle.
Maclean’s Music, the sire of Complexity, was an exceptionally fast colt that, in his one and only career start, recorded a 114 Beyer Speed Figure – “The highest debut Beyer since the advent of Beyer Speed Figures.” To see his debut race, click here.
Currently, Maclean’s Music stands stud for $25,000 at Hill ‘n Dale farm and he’s the sire of Classic Champion Thoroughbred Cloud Computing (2017 Preakness Stakes), California Music (G2W), Wicked Lick (G2PL), Rockshaw, Swing and Sway, and Made Me Shiver.
Complexity has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® ranking, but his Behavior Index could potentially make him competitive in this race.
Honorable mention goes to Mind Control (20-1), Well Defined (20-1), Tight Ten (30-1) and Gunmetal Gray (10-1).


*****

A total of 35 prep races comprise the USA Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road and four races on the Japan road to Derby glory.


2018/2019 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Game Winner, 10, Bob Baffert, $360,000
2. Knicks Go, 10, Ben Colebrook, $314,085
3. Complexity, 10, Chad Brown, $275,000
4. Cairo Cat, 10, Ken McPeek, $86,490
5. Signalman, 4, Ken McPeek, $100,000
6. Code of Honor, 4, Shug McGaughey, $100,000
7. Tight Ten, 4, Steve Asmussen, $67,900
8. Gunmetal Gray, 4, Jerry Hollendorfer, $60,000
9. Call Paul, 2, Jason Servis, $170,000
10. Rowayton, 2, Jerry Hollendorfer, $96,000
11.+Standard Deviation, 2, Chad Brown, $50,000
12. Pole Sitter, 2, Brad Cox, $17,950
13. Sombeyay, 1, Todd Pletcher, $158,500
14. Tobacco Road, 1, Steve Asmussen, $52,400
15. +Aurelius Maximus, 1, Chad Brown, $30,000
16. Jefe, 1, Keith Desormeaux, $18,000
          + = Horses picked as yearlings on our 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sales list.



EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Royal Marine (IRE), 10, Saeed bin Suroor, $264,968
2. Magna Grecia, 10, Aidan O’Brien
3. Mohawk (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $128,702
4. Japan, 10, Aidan O’Brien, $75,316
5. Phoenix of Spain, 4, C. Hill
6. Broome (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $140,871
7. Sydney Opera House (GB), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $40,956
8. Mount Everest (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $24,254
9. Anodor (FR), 2, Freddie Head, $99,215
10. Western Australian (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien
11. Cape of Good Hope (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $41,515
12. Power of Now (IRE), 2, Michael O’Callaghan, $11,489
13. Boitron (FR), 1, Richard Hannon, $44,917
14. Victory Command, (IRE), 1, Mark Johnston, $35,108
15. Circus Maximus (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien
16. Sovereign (IRE), 1, Aiden O’Brien, $5,106