With Pharoah away, rivals seek big payday in Pennsylvania Derby
The Summer of Pharoah has not been easy for the Triple Crown winner’s contemporaries, who have been chasing him relentlessly for months.
On Saturday in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, a field of nine will get the opportunity to step out of American Pharoah’s shadow. Frosted, Upstart, Madefromlucky, Mr. Z, and War Story are a combined 0 for 13 against American Pharoah this season. The objective Saturday is to determine how they stack up against each other sans Pharoah.
Adding to the depth of the Pennsylvania Derby field are Iron Fist, a better-than-it-looked fourth while racing over the deeper inside part of the track in the West Virginia Derby; and Island Town, who romped in the Smarty Jones Stakes, the local Pennsylvania Derby prep.
On Friday morning, Gimme Da Lute was declared from the race due to a foot issue by trainer Bob Baffert, reducing the field to nine. Gimme Da Lute, a winner of four straight races, had shipped in from California on Tuesday evening.
Nobody tested American Pharoah harder this season than Frosted in the Travers. If the Kentucky Derby is the most exciting two minutes in sports, the roughly 30-second span on the far turn and into the stretch of the Travers, when Frosted looked American Pharoah in the eye and for a time put his head in front, isn’t far behind.
Jose Lezcano picked up the Travers mount on Frosted from trainer Kiaran McLaughlin after regular rider Joel Rosario was thrown from his mount two races earlier.
“We’ll have Joel back on for this race,” McLaughlin said. “He rides him very well. Jose rode him well in the Travers. He decided a few strides from the gate to go on with him. Joel is very patient and may have decided to sit back a few lengths. If he had, American Pharoah might have won by five.”
McLaughlin would like to see Frosted relax early and finish strong.
“Hopefully, Frosted won’t come bounding out of there,” he said. “They are creatures of habit. I’ll give Joel very few instructions. Hopefully, he’ll be able to settle him.”
Mr. Z is fast, and with the defection of Gimme Da Lute, should make the lead in the 1 1/8-mile race.
Frosted, Iron Fist, Island Town, and Upstart, the Travers fourth-place finisher, should not be too far back.
“We’re pretty tractable,” said Rick Violette, the trainer of Upstart.
The deeper closers figure to include Madefromlucky and War Story.
◗ In addition to the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, the Parx card includes the Grade 1 Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies; the Grade 3 Gallant Bob for 3-year-old sprinters; the $150,000 Bayern Stakes, named for last year’s wire-to-wire winner of the Pennsylvania Derby; and the $100,000 Alphabet Soup for statebreds.
Key contenders
Frosted (Last 3 Beyers: 102-104-98)
* Since winning the Wood Memorial in April, he has finished fourth in the Derby, second in both the Belmont and Jim Dandy, and third in the Travers. Although highly consistent, it should be noted that his record is 11-2-6-1.
* Carries the high weight of 124 pounds and will concede two to seven pounds to his rivals.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Frosted. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 14-0-1-0 over the past five years in graded stakes with 25 days or fewer since the previous start; also 8-0-2-1 over the past five years in graded stakes at Parx. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Iron Fist (Last 3 Beyers: 91-93-93)
* Raced closer to the inside than any of the three runners who beat him in the West Virginia Derby. Made a nice move between horses into the stretch and was just nailed for third by the late-flying War Story.
* Serious contender may be overlooked in the betting.
Mr. Z (Last 3 Beyers: 95-90-97)
* Chased an amazingly fast pace in the seven-furlong King’s Bishop on the Travers undercard and tired to finish seventh. Should be sharp while stretching back out around two turns.
* His Ohio Derby win and Indiana Derby second were good efforts. As usual, he will need to keep a straight course. May have cost himself the victory in Indiana when he lugged out entering the stretch.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Mr. Z. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is 19-0-0-0 over the past five years going sprint to route in graded stakes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Madefromlucky (Last 3 Beyers: 95-83-94)
* Improving colt has been well rested following his West Virginia Derby victory. He raced on the better outside part of the track that day from post 8.
Upstart (Last 3 Beyers: 98-100-17)
* He has a lot of class and has faced American Pharoah in three straight races. A little flat in the Travers. Needs his best race.
Tommy Macho (Last 3 Beyers: 79-95-95)
* Throw his West Virginia Derby out. He was buried on the inside against the bias from post 1. Holds value in exotics.
Island Town (Last 3 Beyers: 98-84-88)
* Late-developing 3-year-old has the advantage of a win over the track in the Smarty Jones.
* If you disregard his sloppy-track fifth in the Indiana Derby, he has three consecutive victories.
War Story (Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-77)
* Missed the break in the West Virginia Derby, lagged far back early, then finished fastest of all from far out on the track while beaten two lengths. Needs a blazing pace to set him up.
Battle Midway (Last 3 Beyers: 80-74-60)
* Finished a well-beaten third in the Smarty Jones.