Derby Six for 1/31/16

1. Mohaymen 
Tapit- Justwhistledixie by Dixie Union
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Owner: Shadwell Stable

Career Statistics: 
Starts: 4
Wins: 4
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $559,830

Derby Points: 20 

Absolutely love his Holy Bull win. He showed a fantastic ability to relax on the inside of runners and finish with an absolute flourish. Kiaran has even said this colt is ahead of Frosted and Cairo Prince at this stage in the game those are some pretty talented horses. He easily crushed Greenpointcrusader who I thought would give him more of a challenge then he did. The way Mohaymen re-broke at the top of the stretch gave me goosebumps this is one very special racehorse. Hopefully he stays sound and we will see just how incredibly special this colt is.

Last Race: Holy Bull Stakes
Last Race Finish: 1st
Last Win: Holy Bull Stakes
Race Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzdsNY5aL0g



2. Brody's Cause 
Giant's Causeway- Sweet Breanna by Sahm
Jockey: Corey J. Lanerie
Trainer: Dale L. Romans
Owner: Albaugh Family Stable

Career Record:
Starts: 4
Firsts: 2
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 1
Earnings: $523,138

Derby Points: 14  

I don't like this horse any less than Mohaymen, but considering he hasn't started yet and the connections are aiming for the Tampa Bay Derby I'm going to leave him at #2 for awhile. Tampa is a notoriously speed favoring track which is slightly concerning for this deep closing colt. The other thing is he cannot get to far back in the Kentucky Derby otherwise he will be in a heck of a lot of traffic. Don't get me wrong I still absolutely love this colt and his chances at the Kentucky Derby there are just a lot of concerns on if he will get into to much traffic trouble.

Last Win: 2015 Breeders Futurity
Last Race: 2015 Breeders Cup Juvenile
Last Race Finish: 3rd 

3. Sail Ahoy 
Bernardini- Matlacha Pass by Seeking The Gold

Jockey: Joel Rosario
Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III
Owner: Phipps Stable

Career Statistics: 
Starts: 5
Firsts: 1
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 2
Earnings: $114,300

Derby Points: 2 

Only going to get better as he gets older and as the races get longer. He has the pedigree to be a superstar going long being a half sibling to the very good grass horse Point of Entry. With the Bernardini on top he will be blooming later as well I fully expect him to start peaking at Belmont time. That being said I still think he is a serious threat to the Kentucky Derby picture. Hasn't put in a work since the Remsen which is slightly concerning, but who knows he may have been turned out for awhile which would only help this late developing colt.

Last Win: Maiden Special Weight 9/12/15 @ Belmont Park
Last Race:Remsen Stakes

Last Race Finish: 4th


4. Mor Spirit 

Eskendereya- I'm a Dixie Girl by Dixie Union
Jockey: Gary L. Stevens
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Michael Lund Petersen 

Career Statistics
Starts: 4
Firsts: 2
Seconds: 2
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $288,400

Derby Points: 14  

Toews On Ice didn't exactly flatter his win in the Los Alamitos Futurity which is slightly concerning. He is still a very talented colt, and one that just keeps on grinding away which is what you want to see in a Derby horse. He's still working steadily towards his return in the Robert B. Lewis which should set him up well for either a run in the San Felipe or Santa Anita Derby. 

Last Race: Los Alamitos Futurity 

Last Win: Los Alamitos Futurity 

Last Race Finish: 1st 

 

5. Lets Meet In Rio 

Flatter- Rio Carnival by Storm Cat
Jockey: Kent J. Desormeaux
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Juddmonte Farms, Inc.  

Career Statistics
Starts: 4
Firsts: 1
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $48,290 

Derby Points: 4 

Love the way he finished in the Sham and fully expect this one to improve once he gains some maturity and gets in longer races. He seems to have loads of potential and I only expect this one to go up from here. 

Last Race: Sham Stakes 

Last Race Finish: 2nd 

Last Win: 12/5/15 Maiden Special Weight @ Los Alamitos


6. Shagaf 
Bernardini- Muhaawara by Unbridled's Song
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
Owner: Shadwell Stable 

Career Statistics: 

Starts: 2
Firsts: 2
Seconds: 0
Thirds: 0
Earnings: $58,800 

Derby Points: 0 

This colt has a beautifully long stride and looks like he will have the ability to go long. His two wins were incredibly impressive, and the thinking here is he will be in stakes next out only question is which way he will go New York or Florida as his owners also own Mohaymen. Thats a very very talented one two punch that Shadwell has, and I hope they're just as excited as I am about this two very special colts. 

Last Race: Allowance @ Gulfstream Park on 1/30/16 

Last Race Finish: 1st 

Last Win: Allowance @ Gulfstream Park on 1/30/16