Sky T stretches out in CTBA Derby

Sky T makes the move to two turns Saturday in the $40,000 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Derby at Arapahoe Park, and he gets pedigree support for the new distance demands. He faces nine others, and most also will be making their first route starts. No horse in the field has ever won at two turns.

The CTBA Derby is a 1 1/16-mile route restricted to 3-year-olds bred in Colorado. Others set to start include Stratton, a half-brother to nine-time stakes winner Get Happy Mister, and Red Carpet Runner, a dominant winner of last year’s Silver Cup Futurity at Arapahoe.

KEY CONTENDERS

Sky T (Last 3 Beyers: 36-31-44)

He is a son of Mr. Trieste, who was a multiple stakes winner at two turns. His dam, Skyline Gal, defeated males in the CTBA Derby.

Sky T is seeking his second career stakes win after a 9 1/4-length romp in last year’s $48,000 CTBA Futurity at Arapahoe. His other win came in his debut, by 13 lengths in a trial race June 28 at Arapahoe.

Sky T is moving back into the Colorado-bred ranks after finishing eighth in the $40,000 Inaugural on May 23 at Arapahoe. The race has produced two next-out winners: the third- and fourth-place finishers both returned to take allowances at Arapahoe, earning Beyer Speed Figures of 70 and 73.

Vince Guerra has the mount for owner Richard Lueck and trainer Kim Oliver.

Dewey (Last 3 Beyers: 49-17-12)

He earned the field’s best last-race Beyer for a fourth-place finish in an open-company allowance June 13 at Arapahoe.

He moves to two turns for the first time and gets pedigree support as a son of Pleasantly Perfect and a half-brother to past CTBA Oaks winner Lucci’s Prize.