Vinceremos trying to recover best form
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Will Vinceremos ever return to the form that helped him qualify for the 2014 Kentucky Derby? That is one key question facing handicappers when it comes to solving the riddle of Wednesday’s $46,000 allowance feature, carded at a mile under mid-level optional-claiming conditions.
Vinceremos won the Grade 3 Sam Davis and finished second in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby to earn a spot in last year’s Kentucky Derby lineup. He finished 17th, beaten nearly 30 lengths by winner California Chrome, and was sent to the sidelines by trainer Todd Pletcher.
Vinceremos has made only two starts over the past 11 months. He finished third behind a couple of talented rivals, Bay of Plenty and Mosler, last fall at Belmont, and seventh here March 14.
Vinceremos was hung wide throughout while racing off the pace in his last start, a trip that would pay dividends should the main track continue to favor outside stalkers and closers when racing resumes Wednesday. That trend has prevailed here for the better part of the past three weeks.
Demander benefitted from a biased track and returned quick dividends off the claim March 15. He stalked the early pace from the better footing away from the rail and drew off over the 8-5 Dance Champion and 6-5 Indian Brut under slightly softer allowance conditions. Demander had been haltered for $50,000 by trainer George Weaver for owner Matthew Schera out of his previous start.
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Tampa Bay Downs invader Ghost Hunter will try to extend his winning streak to three while stepping up in company for his local debut. Dudeman, runner-up behind the odds-on Atredies in the Aventura Handicap in his 3-year-old finale, also is among the key contenders in a field that includes Cash Rules, Urban Cool and Golden Jason.
KEY CONTENDERS
Vinceremos (Last 3 Beyers: 77-89-55)
◗ He comes off a bullet half-mile work at Palm Beach Downs on April 3 in company with Grade 3 Razorback winner Race Day. He was second best of the team, finishing under slightly more pressure, according to DRF clocker Dave Norton.
◗ Pletcher has won at a whopping 25 percent rate with a $1.82 return on investment with horses making their second start off a layoff of 45 days or more over the past five years, according to DRF Formulator.
Demander (Last 3 Beyers: 92-64-78)
◗ He showed vastly improved speed in his last start and is well drawn again on the outside should the prevailing track bias remain in place.
◗ He worked a bullet four furlongs in 48.40 seconds, with a first quarter in 24.60, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.80 at Palm Beach Downs on April 3. He was under moderate to heavy urging, per clocker Norton.
Ghost Hunter (Last 3 Beyers: 93-79-80)
◗ Owns the best last-race Beyer in the field, 93, for his easy victory over a modest group of mid-level optional-claiming rivals at Tampa Bay Downs, including Urban Cool.
Dudeman (Last 3 Beyers: 33-82-80)
◗ Willing to toss his last start, when he was hung wide from an outside post around the clubhouse turn and was never able to establish any position against a pretty solid lineup of optional claimers, including Belmont runner-up and recent Grade 3 winner Commissioner.