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Alpha, the Wood Memorial runner-up, passed a significant hurdle Saturday in his bid to make the Kentucky Derby by working a sharp five furlongs at Belmont Park and, more importantly, coming out of it in good shape.
In his first work since the April 7 Wood – a race from which he emerged with an infection from a wound to his left shin – Alpha breezed five furlongs in 59.54 seconds over the Belmont training track. He worked in company with the 3-year-old maiden Steele Road, starting about a length behind. The work started at the half-mile pole, and while Steele Road shut it down at the wire, Alpha went on through a final eighth of a mile of 12.39 seconds to the seven-eighths pole.
With jockey Rajiv Maragh up, Alpha went in fractions of 11.69 seconds, 23.22, and 47.15.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said that he was extremely pleased with the work and that he plans to ship Alpha to Kentucky on Monday.
“We’re where we want to be, I wouldn’t change anything where we’re at today,” McLaughlin said. “To me, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look better. He’s put on weight since the Wood; he’s bright, he’s happy, all systems are go.”
The infection kept Alpha off the track about two or three more days than normal after the Wood. Alpha had been on antibiotics until last Tuesday but since coming off them has had no inflammation to the aggravated area, McLaughlin said.
Alpha has trained in polo wraps and breezed wearing front bandages Saturday as a precaution.
McLaughlin said Maragh will “most likely” ride Alpha barring the availability of another rider due to a defection of one of the top Derby contenders. Last year, John Velazquez won the Derby aboard Animal Kingdom, a mount he picked up the day before the race. Maragh, third in last year’s Derby on Mucho Macho Man, will be at Churchill on Derby Day to ride Groupie Doll in the Humana Distaff.
whatever Alpha might be, he can not beat Bodemiester, period!
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A few weeks ago I looked over the possibles for the Derby, and this one stuck out like a sore thumb, because without Nafzger, Shug, or Zito, this was the one trainer I truly respected for bringing a runner along with improvement. But this infection deal is the sort of thing I don't like to see. Any little tiny problem becomes a complete stopper in the 1 1/4 over Churchill's rock hard surface. I just hope Kiaren is still the old fashioned complete trainer I think he is, and won't take even a fraction of a percent of a chance. No owner would risk it. So, figuring Kiaren is still class, I figure he won't run unless Alpha is 100%.
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Toying with Alpha?? Gemologist was all out for the win. If Alpha didn't
have an excuse, Gem may have beat him anyway, but say Gemologist
was out for a Sunday walk is quite a stretch. Stick to writine parade music
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this is just an opinion but gemologist was toying with alpha in their last race,they could have gone around again and the result would stay the same,i dont care what the trainer says this horse was not good enough to win the derby before the infections etc,and is still not good enough after,unless every one decides to give sheikh mo a present for spending over a billion dolars on us racing and single handedly keeping the kentucky breeding solvent (by purchasing some of the breeding farms gainsburogh etc) and purchasing multi milion dolar yearlings ,and stallions hard spun,street sense,any given saturday,jazil,bernadini and many more,no doubt sheikh mo deserves to win a derby and he will one day but not with this horse.
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wow these trainers are something else,he really shows confidence in his jockey,rajiv maragh will probably ride unlesss a another rider becomes available,i think he meand r domingues on hansen,even with a healing colar bone.
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been waiting for this workout.
i'm picking him to be the tripple crown winner.
must go to TJ sportsbook,been holding for he might not start because of the injury,but it looks OK now
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I didn't like Alpha at first,but do now...don't have to listen to much hype about
this colt like you hear everyday from the Union Rags bandwagon...think Alpha
could finish as far back as tenth in the derby,pass on the Preakness,then come
back and win my favorite race(the Belmont stakes) at a nice price! ...good luck
Alpha! ML
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Guy's !
Not finding a jock for this super horse is the beginning for a script in Hollywood.
It's another film similar to Seabiscuit or Luck that will be made after the Belmont.
That's all folks.
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I think ALPHA will surprise many on Derby Day by finishing ITM!
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6 days to go......and they don't have a jock???? this must be a real serious
contender!
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Best Bets
SLIGO JOE finished third, fourth, or fifth against classier company in each of his last four races. He ran fast enough in his last two starts to beat this type on the plunge from $10,000 optional claiming into this $5,000 N1Y field. LATCH LIGHTING only finished fifth as the favorite at this class level last time. He should be a factor today, but he seems more likely to contend in the minor exotic slots than he is to beat this field. STEALTH HERO ran a dull race when he beat just one opponent here on a muddy track in his last race.
