After Derby try, Oliver plots next move for Hidden Stash
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hidden Stash was never a factor when 14th in the Kentucky Derby, but that’s okay. A good time was had by all.
“We’d do it all over again,” said Brian Klatsky, who with Brendan O’Brien heads the Big Blue Nation Racing partnership that owns Hidden Stash. “It was a great experience.”
Klatsky estimated BBN Racing accounted for more than 100 people at the May 1 Derby, including family and friends. Hidden Stash, dismissed at 39-1, raced near the back of the 19-horse field throughout, but the chestnut Constitution colt has been sharp and energetic since returning to serious training at Keeneland, said trainer Vicki Oliver.
“He came out of it in really good shape, no worse for wear,” said Oliver, who became just the 17th female trainer to run a horse in the 147-year history of the Derby. “It was definitely worth taking a shot. Everybody really enjoyed having a horse in the Derby.”
Oliver had seriously considered the Pegasus Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park as the comeback spot for Hidden Stash, but with Mandaloun, the Derby runner-up, expected to be heavily favored, she and Klatsky said Wednesday they most likely would pass.
“We can fit more races in as a 3-year-old not shipping all that way and running into a top horse like Mandaloun,” said Oliver.
Oliver said her ideal spot is a $104,000 allowance with a “never won three” condition for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Stephen Foster undercard June 26, closing day of the 38-day spring meet at Churchill Downs, but there’s always the chance the race won’t fill because of the narrow restriction.
“If it doesn’t go, we can run in the Ohio Derby the same day or wait for the Indiana Derby” on July 7, she said. “There are a lot of different ways we can go.”
Hidden Stash ended his 2-year-old season with back-to-back wins going 1 1/16 miles, then was third in the Sam F. Davis, second in the Tampa Bay Derby, and fourth in the Blue Grass, topping out with an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. He got a 79 Beyer when beaten nearly 17 lengths by Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby.
“You could run the Derby over and over again, and we weren’t going to be 1-2-3-4,” said Oliver. “Those top four horses are pretty good. Fifth and back, though, I think we’re as competitive as any of the others. Our goal now is to get a good race in him to set us up for a nice run into the fall.”
Besides Mandaloun and Hidden Stash, only four others from the Derby have yet to run back. Brooklyn Strong (15th) was said to be probable for the Pegasus; Highly Motivated (10th) goes next in the July 5 Dwyer at Belmont; and Dynamic One (18th) and Soup and Sandwich (19th) are getting time off. The other 13 have all run back exactly once, led by Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie, the division leaders following their respective one-two finish last Saturday in the Belmont Stakes.
Essential Quality, meanwhile, arrived early Tuesday at Churchill following an overnight van trip from New York and is expected to resume light training before the weekend is out. The Aug. 28 Travers at Saratoga is his next major goal.