Derby Six for 1/5/14

Derby Six for January 5th 2014  

1. Honor Code
A.P. Indy - Serena's Cat by Storm Cat
Career Statistics:
Starts: 3
Firsts: 2
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $388,000

Jockey:Javier Castellano
Trainer:Claude R. McGaughey III
Owner:Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm LLC
Breeder:Dell Ridge Farm, LLC 

The reason Honor Code continues to top my Derby Six every week is simply this no horse has shown the same amount of brilliance and grit, that you look for in a top Kentucky Derby contender. Shug has himself loaded with talented three year old this year and this one tops the list. He showed a new dimension in the Remsen Stakes and if he continues the same forward progression be prepared for him to make waves wherever he goes wether its New York or Florida. 

Race Shown: Remsen Stakes
Finish: 1st
Race Link: http://youtu.be/6gCn7m4MKhc 

2. Shared Belief 

Candy Ride (ARG)- Common Hope by Storm Cat
Jockey:Corey S. Nakatani
Trainer:Jerry Hollendorfer
Owner:Jungle Racing LLC, Hollendorfer, J., Litt, J., Solis II, A. and Todaro, G.
Breeder:Pam and Martin Wygod

Career Statistics:
Starts: 3
Firsts: 3
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $451,200 

By far the best of the west this gelding showed sheer brilliance in his three starts so far. Only worry with this one is his ability to handle the dirt and wether he wants a mile and a quarter or not. He may have snatched up an Eclipse Award for Champion Two Year Old Male after his scintillating win in the Cashcall Futurity. That being said a Champion Two Year Old Male hasn't won a Classic race since Lookin At Lucky in 2010 and most of them haven't fared well in the Kentucky Derby. According to Jerry Hollendorfer his next start will be the Robert B Lewis Stakes and not the Sham which will give him a much needed break. 

Race Shown: 2013 Cashcall Futurity
Finish: 1st
Race Link: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/BHP/2013/12/14/9/cashcall-futurity-gr-i 

3. Cairo Prince 

Pioneer Ofthe Nile- Holy Bubbette by Holy Bull
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Owner: Namcook Stables, Braverman, Paul, Clarke, Harvey A. and Robertson III, W. Craig
Breeder: Richard L. Elam & Katherine H. Elam

Career Statistics:
Starts: 3
Firsts: 2
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $272,000

We learned a lot about Cairo Prince in the Remsen and he certainly ran a huge race and showed some heart when fighting Honor Code looks like he may like added distance and he answered a lot of questions in his loss. He is a classy colt and he most likely wont have to face Honor Code again until the Derby, because this one will probably end up staying in New York and run in the New York preps. I fully expect him to dominate those and can't wait to see this one stretch out farther.

Race Link: http://youtu.be/6gCn7m4MKhc
Race Shown: 2013 Remsen Stakes
Finish: 2nd 

4. Tapiture Tapit- Free Spin by Olympio
Jockey:Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer:Steven M. Asmussen
Owner:Ron Winchell
Breeder:Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC

Career Statistics:
Starts: 4
Firsts: 1
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 2
Earnings: $140,838

This one impressed in his win in the Kentucky Jockey Club though he seems a little green he will get better with racing experience. He has the pedigree to get a mile and a quarter and he has the trainer to get him to the Kentucky Derby this one will get better with racing experience. Breaking your maiden in a stakes race is something you cannot ignore. He will probably take the Louisiana route to the Kentucky Derby and I expect him to do well there. He will need to get everything figured out but that comes with racing experience he obviously is talented or he wouldn't have been entered in the Kentucky Jockey Club as a maiden.


Race Link: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/CD/2013/11/30/11/kentucky-jockey-club-s
Race Shown: 2013 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
Finish: 1st

5. Top Billing
Curlin- Parade Queen by A.P. Indy Jockey: Alex Cintron
Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III
Owner: Farish, William S. and Hudson, Jr., E. J.
Breeder: W. S. Farish & E. J. Hudson, Jr. Irrevocable Trust

2013 Statistics:
Starts: 1
Firsts: 1
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $22,800

Just when you thought Shug only had one Derby bullet in Honor Code, this one breaks his maiden impressively at Laurel Park on December sixth, and after a dissapointing performance by Kobe's Back in the Cashcall this one joins by Derby six. I love his breeding by Curlin he will get better as he gets older, and having A.P Indy on the bottom side this one is going to love distance. I have never seen a horse more bred for the Triple Crown than this one. He destroyed his maiden field by five and a quarter lengths, when good horses get the time they need they become dangerous and this is one to look out for and hold in high regard. Thanks to New Years Day's premature retirement this one moves up a spot and expect him to continue moving up as he gets more starts under his belt. 

6. Noble Moon  

Malibu Moon- Mambo Bell by Kingmambo

Jockey:Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer:Leah Gyarmati
Owner:Treadway Racing Stable

Breeder:Estate of Edward P. Evans 

Career Statistics:
Starts: 3
Firsts: 2
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 1
Earnings: $193,000 

This one caught my eye after his closing rush in the Nashua but he affirmed my beliefs in him after a hard fought win in the Jerome Stakes yesterday. He has shown he is an incredibly versatile colt and with his pedigree this one will run all day. Malibu Moon might have a second derby winner in a row with this colt leading the helm. 

Race Shown: 2014 Jerome Stakes 

Finish: 1st
Race Link: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/AQU/2014/1/4/8/jerome-s-gr-ii