Kentucky Derby Report: Eventful Thursday Morning Beneath the Twin Spires

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With no shortage of racing fans, horsemen and media lined up along the outer rail, the Churchill Downs backstretch got awfully quiet in a hurry as Verifying (Justify) lost his exercise rider leaving the five-eighths marker during Thursday morning's special training session for GI Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

A big tip of the cap goes out to outriders Greg Blasi and Lee Lockwood, who did a fantastic job of apprehending the GI Blue Grass S. runner-up at the quarter pole.

Trainer Brad Cox later reported that Verifying was in fine form following the mishap and remains on target for the Derby.

The siren went off for a second time just moments later as last term's GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S. heroine And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) beelined for her current digs at Barn 24 after rearing up and losing her rider exiting the track. Trainer Peter Miller said that all was O.K. with the 15-1 Kentucky Oaks longshot afterwards.

Practical Move (Practical Joke)–the subject of plenty chatter after just jogging the past few days–made his presence felt while out for a routine gallop. Nearly six hours later, however, trainer Tim Yakteen broke the gut-punching news that Practical Move would be scratched from the Derby due to an elevated temperature. Really doesn't get much rougher than that.

On a much lighter note, it was business as usual for Todd Pletcher's imposing trio of Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Forte (Violence), unbeaten Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) and Tapit Trice (Tapit), who all galloped a mile and three eighths at 7:30 a.m.

If anyone stood out on the sunsplashed morning during Thursday's trackwork, it had to be the stunning chestnut Disarm (Gun Runner). He just couldn't be looking any more locked and loaded for the first Saturday in May.

With the late defections of Practical Move and the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained Lord Miles (Curlin), Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief) and Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby) have drawn into the body of the Derby field.

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For Spirit of Makena’s Connections, Patience Is a Virtue Rewarded In San Carlos

For owner/breeder Bruce Chandler, patience was a virtue rewarded when his eye-catching Spirit of Makena captured the GIII San Carlos S. in just his four career start.

A head shy from perfection in his spaced-out career, Spirit of Makena debuted late in his 4-year-old season; not seen until an Aug. 5 maiden special at Del Mar last season. He was hounded every step of the way on his step up to allowance optional company Sept. 11 in his first trip at the mile and just couldn't hold off Holden the Lute (Midnight Lute) on the wire. Gone until Feb. 11 this year, he outdueled GSP Anarchist (Distorted Humor) in a six-panel optional claimer dash at Santa Anita to return to the winner's enclosure as his prep for this graded contest.

Taken off the front as Forbidden Kingdom was allowed to set his own pace, Spirit of Makena was never far behind and content to track off the rail to avoid hooking into a speed duel. Urged along by Joe Bravo as the pair rolled into the turn, he hit the lead by the three-sixteenths and left Forbidden Kingdom in his wake to pull clear under steady handling by 1 1/2 lengths. Forbidden Kingdom kept open ground on the rest of the field as Get Her Number rolled in from the back to close out the trifecta.

“Coming out of the last race he won, he came out of it great and he's been training great,” said conditioner George Papaprodromou, who notched his second stakes win of the meet. “He was doing great leading into this race and we tried.  Obviously, it was a tough spot [but] we gave it a shot. He ran huge and what can I say? He's a nice horse.”

Pedigree Notes:

Spirit of Makena becomes the 94th stakes winne/50th graded winner for his leading sire Ghostzapper. The Ghostzapper cross over Gilded Time is also responsible for MGISW Shaman Ghost.

The most accomplished runner from his three-time winning dam, Spirit of Makena has a 3-year-old unraced half-sister by Merit Man. He hails from the extended female family of 10-time victor and Canadian staple GSP Spigot (Plugged Nickel).

Saturday, Santa Anita
SAN CARLOS S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL-GIII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 3-11, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.06, gd.
1–SPIRIT OF MAKENA, 120, h, 5, by Ghostzapper
          1st Dam: Win for M'lou, by Gilded Time
          2nd Dam: Take the Picture, by Doneraile Court
          3rd Dam: I'vegotthatfeeling, by Regal Classic
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Bruce Chandler (KY); T-George Papaprodromou; J-Joe Bravo. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $227,600. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Forbidden Kingdom, 124, c, 4, American Pharoah–Just Louise, by Five Star Day. ($300,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $40,000.
3–Get Her Number, 124, h, 5, Dialed In–Fancier, by Bernstein. ($45,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Gary Barber; B-Philip & Brenda Robertson (KY); T-Peter Miller. $24,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 2.50, 1.80, 1.70.
Also Ran: Howbeit, Holden the Lute, Clem Labine.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Vazquez, Miller Take Santa Anita Autumn Meet Titles

Jockey Ramon Vazquez, a 38-year-old native of Puerto Rico, finished with 25 victories through the 18-day stand Santa Anita Autumn meet to capture the riding title, finishing five wins ahead of runner-up Juan Hernandez. Vazquez, who started riding in California in March after stints at Prairie Meadows and Oaklawn, took his first-ever Santa Anita title on the meet's closing day Sunday.

“I'm grateful to be here and to the owners and trainers who have supported me,” said Vazquez. “I'm blessed, this is big for me because not everybody who comes to ride at Santa Anita has made it [leading jockey] in such a short time. I'm so blessed and I thank everybody who has supported me.”

Miller, a 56-year-old native Angelino who bases primarily out of San Luis Rey Downs Training Center, collected his fourth Autumn Meet title and his sixth overall Santa Anita training crown.

“We're very excited to win another title at Santa Anita,” said Miller. “It's always a great accomplishment to win there. It's a team effort. The people in the barn did a great job all meet and really special thanks to my owners for being just the best, the most loyal group of owners a guy could ask for. Looking ahead, we'll have a small string at Oaklawn but our main focus will be at Santa Anita.”

Live racing will return to The Great Race Place with opening day for the 2022-23 Winter Spring Meet on Monday, Dec. 26.

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And Tell Me Nolies Gives Arrogate 2yo SoCal Stakes Sweep

In a replay of four weekends ago at Del Mar, juveniles by Arrogate swept the major 2-year-old stakes Saturday in Southern California. About an hour before Cave Rock doubled up on Grade I events in the American Pharoah S., And Tell Me Nolies posted a mild upset in the GII Chandelier S. at Santa Anita, a “Win and You're In” race for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 4 at Keeneland. Uncontrollable (Upstart) rallied late for second at 24-1, while Justique (Justify), the 6-5 favorite making her first appearance since a buzzed-about, 'TDN Rising Star'-garnering debut at Del Mar July 31, could only mount a mild bid and settled for a distant third.

“It's very exciting to have a filly that wants to run long like this so hopefully we get to the Breeders' Cup and I'm just thrilled with the way she ran today,” said winning trainer Peter Miller, who trains And Tell Me Nolies for Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd. out of San Luis Rey Downs.

Fresh off her head score in the seven-furlong GI Del Mar Debutante S. Sept 10, which followed a narrow neck maiden win at second asking Aug. 14 going 6 1/2 furlongs over the same track, And Tell Me Nolies was trying two turns for the first time in the Chandelier. The bay stumbled at the start, but was soon positioned in the clear while third from last behind a :22:85 first quarter. After a half in :46.71, she inched up, extended her stride, and looming threateningly in third on the turn. She entered the lane wide and took several extra strides to change to her proper lead, but the filly was clearly in her element as she comfortably held off a fast-closing Uncontrollable.

“She stumbled very badly at the break,” said winning rider Ramon Vazquez, who has been aboard the filly for all four of her career starts. “She did the same thing in the Debutante. We settled in, she knows not to move too early. She got a little tired late, but she knows what to do. She is getting better and better after every race. She can handle the distance. I think she is going to be a superstar later.”

It was the second win on the Santa Anita card Saturday for the trio of Vasquez, Miller, and Redekop with an offspring of Arrogate as they also took the second race, an optional allowance, with Apprehend. Redekop had purchased And Tell Me Nolies through agent Bryan Anderson for $230,000 as a 2-year-old at this April's OBS sale after she worked in :10 flat. D.J. Stable, who had purchased her for $70,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, pinhooked her to OBS. D.J. Stable has their own “Win and You're In” contender for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, having captured Friday's GI Darley Alcibiades S. with Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief).

Pedigree Notes:

The late Arrogate is the sire of three Grade I winners from his two crops to race, as well as another three black-type winners. The Juddmonte stallion died at age seven in 2020 and has a final crop of yearlings still waiting in the wings. Interestingly, both And Tell Me Nolies and Cave Rock are by Danzig-line broodmare sires, while Secret Oath, Arrogate's GI Kentucky Oaks winner, is from a Fappiano-line broodmare sire. Exchange Rate, the Chandelier winner's damsire, has 25 stakes winners out of his daughters, including this year's GI New York S. winner Bleecker Street (Quality Road).

Be Fair, a half to 2009 GI Stephen Foster S. winner Macho Again (Macho Uno), has a yearling colt by Gun Runner and was bred to Mo Town for next term. Lara Run bred And Tell Me Nolies in Kentucky after purchasing her dam for $50,000 in 2018 at Keeneland November, then resold the mare at the 2021 OBS Winter Mixed Sale for $35,000 to Jim H. Ballinger. Ballinger sold that Gun Runner colt as a weanling last year at Keeneland November for $150,000 to McMahon & Hill Bloodstock.

Saturday, Santa Anita
CHANDELIER S.-GII, $201,000, Santa Anita, 10-8, 2yo, f,
1 1/16m, 1:46.15, ft.
1–AND TELL ME NOLIES, 122, f, 2, by Arrogate
     1st Dam: Be Fair (GSW & GISP, $313,517), by Exchange Rate
     2nd Dam: Go Donna Go, by Wild Again
     3rd Dam: Proud Nova, by Proud Birdie
($70,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $230,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Peter
Redekop B. C., Ltd.; B-Lara Run, LLC (KY); T-Peter Miller;
J-Ramon A. Vazquez. $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISW,
4-3-0-0, $352,800. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus. Click
for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Uncontrollable, 122, f, 2, Upstart–Behavioral, by Include.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($20,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $130,000
2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Repole Stable; B-Fountian of Youth
Breeding, LLC (CA); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $40,000.
3–Justique, 122, f, 2, Justify–Grazie Mille, by Bernardini.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'
($725,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-John D.
Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs.
$24,000.
Margins: 3/4, 4 3/4, HF. Odds: 8.40, 24.20, 1.20.
Also Ran: Ice Dancing, Home Cooking, Naughty Lottie, Huntingcoco. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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