08/06/2012 2:24PM

West Virginia Derby winner's next stop yet to be determined

By Marty McGee
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Coady Photography @ Mountaineer
Macho Macho, with Corey Nakatani riding, wins the West Virginia Derby.

Macho Macho returned Sunday to Saratoga following his victory in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby the previous day in excellent shape, but his next race has yet to be decided, trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday morning.

Asmussen, having deputized Darren Fleming, watched from Saratoga when his runners swept the two richest races on the Saturday program at Mountaineer Park in Chester, W.Va. He also won the $200,000 Governor’s Stakes with Tapizar.

“I’m extremely pleased with how both horses came back,” said Asmussen. “They’ll go back to the track in the next couple of days, and we’ll try to decide off their training where to run them next.”

Corey Nakatani, in from Del Mar, was aboard both Asmussen winners, and both got great trips. Tapizar, an odds-on choice making his first start in nearly five months, led all the way in the 1 1/16-mile Governor’s, pulling away late to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Macho Macho, the 9-2 second choice in the 1 1/8-mile West Virginia Derby, tracked a pair of front-runners, including odds-on Hansen, before outfinishing Bourbon Courage and Called to Serve in the final furlong.

Macho Macho earned a 79 Beyer Speed Figure in posting his first stakes victory while allowing Asmussen to extend his own record of West Virginia Derby wins to four. Tapizar got a 101 Beyer.

Meanwhile, owner Kendall Hansen said Monday he was very disappointed with the fourth-place finish from his stable star, Hansen, but said the defeat was partly accountable to the fact the colt was hounded from the start by longshot Hero of Order. Hansen the colt was permitted to race with a streak of blue painted in his tail and was the center of attention in prerace discussions.

“It’s pretty embarrassing when you go sticking your neck out and you don’t get the job done,” said Hansen.

Hansen the colt has returned to the Trackside training center in Louisville, Ky., for trainer Mike Maker, and “is 90 percent” to run next in the 1 1/4-mile Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga, said the owner.

“We haven’t given up on the distance,” said Hansen. “If not the Travers,” he added, possibilities included the Smarty Jones at Parx and the Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park.

More disappointment

Hansen is a minority owner in Blueeyesintherein, who was scratched early Saturday after coming up lame as the even-money program favorite for the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies. The good news, said Hansen, is that the filly did not appear to be unsound Sunday, although she has been transported from Mountaineer to a Lexington, Ky., equine clinic for further diagnostics. Trainer Garry Simms was unavailable for further comment Monday.

All in all, it was a bummer of a trip to West Virginia for Hansen, Simms, and company. Simms also sent out the 2-5 favorite in the Juvenile, Circle Unbroken, who was beaten a half-length by Maybe So. Hansen also has a minority share in Circle Unbroken.

Maybe So, trained by Al Stall Jr., earned a 95 Beyer. The colt returned to Keeneland after the race.

Handle well short of record

All-sources handle on the nine-race Saturday card, all of them stakes, was nearly $2.1 million, well short of the record $3.6 million bet in 2009 when Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird finished third in the West Virginia Derby before a crowd of 21,218. Mountaineer did not release attendance for Saturday, although it seemed well short of the 2009 figure. General admission is free at the track.

In the West Virginia Derby show pool, $196,232 of the $237,098 total was bet on Hansen, resulting in respective show payoffs of $11, $15.40, and $23 on the first three finishers.

Correction: An earler version of this article misstated the Beyer Speed Figure earned by Macho Macho in his West Virginia Derby victory.

marcferrell More than 1 year ago
BREAKING PAYNTER NEWS: My horse "Called to Serve" was scheduled to take a flight back to California today with Paynter. I was told this morning that the flight was being cancelled as Paynter spiked another temperature and had to be placed back on medication. I was told that every time they remove the medication, his temperature spikes again which is not a good sign. This obviously effects his preparation for his next race.
Grass Is Greener More than 1 year ago
Obviously you love gossips and rumors. Paynter is going to Saratoga, not California. He was never given medication to treat the fever. If they had to give him meds for the fever, they would have ruled out a start in the Travers already.
marcferrell More than 1 year ago
Are you for real? Stop hiding behind your screen name and tell us who you are since you know so much inside information about the horse and are telling me I do not know what I am talking about. I am telling you exactly what I was told by the airline who was taking both of us and had the flight invoice with both horses listed. My horse and Paynter were sharing a flight to CA and it was cancelled, not once by them but twice. They could still give him meds and make the travers. What I am reporting is not gossip but fact my friend.
marcferrell More than 1 year ago
Did you read the story posted this morning about Paynter going to a medical clinic (Horse Hospital) in New Jersey? Guess my information was not gossips and rumors?
morton erskine More than 1 year ago
Nakatani...the best rider in america today...Wake up California trainers!!!!!
marcferrell More than 1 year ago
I am curious; what you are basing that opinion on Mort? Your leaving Rosario, Dominguez, Leparoux, Bejarano and several others behind him? Nakatani left the sport a year ago and came back to hook up with Asmussen and he has done better since then. But to call in the best in America I do not agree with.
morton erskine More than 1 year ago
Look at all the top horses those jocks ride.Asmussen uses Nakatani on some of his best horses for a reason!!!
marcferrell More than 1 year ago
Ok Mort, good point, but there is a reason he is not at the top of the California or New York standings for quite a long time. He is a good rider but in my opinion certainly not the best in america.
morton erskine More than 1 year ago
I agree Marc with your opinion of the riders you refer to, but remember that Nakatani has had a long and winning career. Lets see how those riders do in the next ten or fifteen years!!!
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
Fractions were average at best. These 3 year olds aren't showing the progress needed to compete with the top 3's Neck N Neck and Paynter should be the best two going forward. Don't like Alpha going forward. Hansen doesn't seem to like any kind of company up front. So anyone could press him and he folds. He's gotta have a solo lead to be effective. Was expecting that he'd get rated but those fractions were average, so where does that leave him? Try the Pa Derby or better yet the Smarty Jones. He'd probably get beat in the Indiana, which usually features a good weight carrying colt, who would do well as a 4 year old going long. Hansen could still be shorted up, and run in the 7f Vosburgh.
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
Another Derby contender who succumbed to the grueling season which knocked out. IHA, Bode, CC, WTDW, Dullahan hasn't run well since, Gemologist, Betting against Alpha in the Travers.
Two400 More than 1 year ago
Sometimes speed horses don't run the same if you try to rate them too hard. I thought Mike Smith did okay and Hansen did not lose the West Virginia by much. The main thing challenge for Hansen connections is trying to predict what Paynter will do in the Travers and whether they are brave enough to challenge Hansen for the front or rate. Hopefully you are right and no one will want to lose the Travers by dueling with Hansen early.
unmarx1 More than 1 year ago
I think Doc's response to my post says he doesn't think Paynter will make to the Travers. "SEVERAL of the strongest 3yo will not make it.' Bode,Gem,Paynter ?
Sean Ali More than 1 year ago
Not so sure. He posted this reply to your comment in the other blog: 'well sorry about that!...but I think Paynter will be just fine for the Travers.'
unmarx1 More than 1 year ago
altho it would be to his advantage to say that ,so if Paynter doesn't run and people say, "oh,the only reason you're running is because Paynter isn't'",he can say,"no,I said BEFORE Paynter dropped that I thought he WAS running. It's a no-lose comment.
Sean Ali More than 1 year ago
I doubt it. I don't think he's that desperate to save face with US by playing such trivial mind games. Besides, he said before the Haskell that he planned to take them on in the Travers. w He also seems pretty sure he's not going to win anyway. Paynter, or no Paynter.
Sean Ali More than 1 year ago
Hey Doc, maybe if you asked the other jockey's to be nice to your horse and just let him lope along on the lead uncontested, and maybe wait til he kicks for home about 5 lengths clear before they start to make their run, then maybe we'll see the true champion Hansen that we keep hearing about.
Kendall Hansen More than 1 year ago
It was a perfect opportunity for ask Hansen to tuck in behind the front runner. Mike has been training Hansen to do that since March. This was the first time someone came out with us and we missed a good chance to try it. On replay we did not see any effort by Mike Smith to avoid the speed dual. Perhaps we did not communicate enough to Mike, but it is would have been embarrasising in the paddock to tell a HOF jockey not to get in a speed dual. I told many before the race ...that is the only way we get beat...speed dual.
Sean Ali More than 1 year ago
I'm sure you won't make that mistake again. HOF jock or not, forget embarrassment. 1st time aboard, I'd make sure he understood my horses weaknesses. But that's just hindsight talkin' anyway. I was a big fan of Tapit before he started showing his limitations. I guess Hansen just reminds me too much of him....LOL
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
Hey DOC. My apologies for judging on another forum. I have been an assistant to many graded winners. It always frustrates me when a horse loses their will or gets injured running in the wrong spots. Who am I? I am not around Hansen. You want him to learn to be behind horses, run in The KIng's Bishop. He can Run @ Trinniberg and prob get up with a possible dual with Pompay's colt. Then Indiana then BC mile. Just a thought. Good luck. And in case you wondering, I have no interests in Travers, just my outside opinions. Neck and Neck, Alpha, as they have run over the track. Neck and Neck has two 100+ beyers( if you put all your slock in that) and Alpha has the pedigree. Paynter? Baffert snake bitten @ the spa.
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
Not sure of the spacing of the races as I don't know Indiana dates, but at least in KB he would be able to "tuck-in" and learn a little??
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
They cannot run Hansen back in 3 weeks time. They'll only screw him up more.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Are you kidding me. First time someone has blamed a jockey for going 47.3 on a speed horse for getting in a duel. Bottom line, the horse has yet to win at 9 furlongs - this was not a great field.
Laura Coronado More than 1 year ago
I agree. A half in 47.3 is not a speed dual. Time to run the horse at a distance that is more suited to the horse.
Sean Ali More than 1 year ago
No one hates 'spelling & grammar correctors' more than me. But guys, three times is enough. It's speed 'duel', not dual.
Glenn Dupuis More than 1 year ago
All I know is I lost money and I'm not happy about it after the race IS TOO LATE TO COMMUNICATE and that's why the race was lost ......
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
To Sean Ali - if you are going to correct the speed dual users, make sure your grammar is correct. Your sentence should be "No one hates spelling & grammar correctors more than I (hate spelling & grammar correctors)". If you had said Steve Crist hates spelling & grammar correctors more than me - that's ok.
Sean Ali More than 1 year ago
Thank you for the correction. Like I said, no one hates the 'correctors' who will ignore everything being said in a post and focus their comment on one misspelled word, or missing punctuation mark more than 'I' do.. These are the ones I was referring to. No one is perfect, least of all me, so this is not hypocrisy. My correction was not intended to insult or show myself smarter than anyone as you imply. But when the same word is used and misspelled 3 times, I think correction is in order. I'm sorry if you feel that correction should only be given by perfect people or qualified experts. That would make for a pretty selfish & stupid world. So thanks again, although if I had not corrected someone else you would most likely not be correcting me.
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
Mike Smith has been run down in the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. maybe the owners need to look for a different Jockey when considering they're 3 yo. he's not doing so great this year in the big moment.
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
Hey Doc, Point your colt toward the 7f Vosburgh at Belmont, En route to the BC Mile. theres nothing to prove going long, but your colt hasn't shown any fight in the last 1/8th since the BC Juv at 1 1/16 He has exceptional speed, and can show what he can do at the distance he can handle.He ran a strong 2nd qtr in the Holy Bull against Algorithms and thats what got him beat, which was probably due to lack of seasoning. He's been in a couple of wars already, and would do well. at shorter distance. Maybe he deserves another chance in the Travers, then Ship to Belmont and train towards the Vosburgh G-1 7F Race before taking him west.
unmarx1 More than 1 year ago
Marty McGee, someone with apparent knowledge is saying flatly, connections have decided to run Hansen in the King's Bishop'. can you knock down or confirm with Dr.Hansen ?
Kendall Hansen More than 1 year ago
The Travers is a Classic. I was sad not to run in the Preakness and Belmont. This could be my only chance left to run a horse in a Classic. I was thinking the mile and sixteenth (Hansen undefeated this distance 4 for 4) Smarty Jones the week after the Travers, but Mike Maker gave me enough confidence from a talk we had yesterday to get me on board with the Travers. A significant fade in the Travers will end the distance quest and likely put us on the path for The Indiana Derby Oct 6 and Breeders Cup dirt mile Nov. 3. Two reasons to run in Travers:...several of the strongest 3 year olds are not going to make it and who the heck is going to go out and run with Hansen if they are serious about winning it, ....past performance says Hansen will fade anyway.
unmarx1 More than 1 year ago
Thank you Dr. Hansen for coming into this forum and giving us your thoughts and clarifying a few things. We all appreciate your efforts to keep us up to speed.
Paul_Tuon More than 1 year ago
Thanks, Dr Hansen for coming on.
Thomas Cook More than 1 year ago
Two days after I defended Mr Maker for his handling of Hansen, I have to ask you what he said to sell you on Hansen in The Travers? Whose agenda is he serving here? Hansen could run in this classic race and open daylight and relax w Paynter's new stalking approach. But he's still probably going to fade badly in the stretch. 1st or 2nd in KB pays more than 4th or 5th in Travers. And again he would learn to come from off the pace.
Ronnie Malo Rodriguez More than 1 year ago
If Paynter doesn't go he's got a shot to outrun Alpha, but he was having problems outrunning Macho Macho, so that raises a question mark.
PennNatRick More than 1 year ago
JMO...I think Hansen should run in the Smarty Jones at Parx...then shoot for the BC Mile. Well rested and has a heck of a shot in winning the Mile.
chad mc rory More than 1 year ago
Gotta feel really bad for these horses. This pill-pusher could screw up a wet dream...