Anothertwistafate to get one more shot at making Kentucky Derby

Anothertwistafate, the Northern California-based colt with three runaway wins on the synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields, will race on a dirt surface next out in a one-shot attempt to earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby trainer Blaine Wright said Thursday.

“His next race is going to be on dirt, no matter what,” Wright said. “People are going to say, oh, he doesn’t like dirt. I’m not putting any stock in that. A racehorse is a racehorse. If he is going to be on the Derby trail, he’s going to have to overcome it.”

Wright and owner Peter Redekop are considering several options for the colt’s next start. A decision will be made after he resumes serious training following his emphatic victory last weekend in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, which earned Anothertwistafate 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Anothertwistafate also earned a fees-paid berth to the Preakness Stakes by virtue of his seven-length, 94-Beyer victory in the El Camino Real Derby. It was his third win since he stretched out and moved to synthetic. His previous starts at Golden Gate were a four-length maiden win, and five-length allowance victory.

“What we have decided is to run him one more time, to take our chances to get to the Derby,” Wright said. “With him getting an automatic berth in the Preakness, it doesn’t make sense to run him too much. If we don’t get into the Derby, we’ve got a super race right here at Golden Gate we can use as our prep to the Preakness.”

Wright was referring to the $100,000 California Derby on April 27.

A son of Scat Daddy, Anothertwistafate raced once on dirt, finishing ninth in his career debut at Santa Anita in November. Wright believes the colt was compromised by the six-furlong distance, rather than footing.

“We didn’t think he was a sprinter,” Wright said. “He’s not built like a sprinter, and we’ve seen what he is capable of as a router.”

Plans originally called for Anothertwistafate to launch his career in a maiden turf route in autumn at Santa Anita, but a minor foot issue set him back. “He missed about five days, he missed a workout, but I certainly felt he was fit enough for the six furlongs,” Wright said.

Anothertwistafate was forwardly placed for three furlongs, and backed up. “A lot of positives came out of that race,” Wright said. “We found out he could ship, and not get nervous. He acted professionally shipping, and schooling the paddock. And he cooled out well.”

In three subsequent starts, Anothertwistafate made it look easy. Wright said he the colt is more than 17 hands, and weighs 1,200 pounds. “I don’t think he’s done yet,” Wright said. “We’re hitting our stride at the right time.”

Anothertwistafate was purchased as a 2-year-old for $360,000 at the OBS June sale, with bloodstock agent Alistair Roden bidding for Redekop.