Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from the 149th edition of the $3 million, Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Tag: Racing
Teena Ella, Daughter Of Champion Beholder, Scores First Stakes Win In Senorita
Under patient handling from Edwin Maldonado, Spendthrift Farm's homebred Teena Ella prevailed by a neck over a fast finishing Tom's Regret in Saturday's $100,000 Senorita Stakes (G3), which was run at about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf course.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Teena Ella, a 3-year-old filly by elite sire War Front out of four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder, by Henny Hughes, got the trip in 1:12.36.
Although she broke sharply from her number two post position, Teena Ella was taken in hand by Maldonado, who was aboard for the first time today. Forwardly placed down the hill, she was about two lengths off pacesetter procrastination at the dirt crossing. Straightening for home, she had both Procrastination and Fast and Shiny to her inside and under aggressive handling, gained the advantage inside the sixteenth pole while just holding Tom's Regret safe.
“The instruction was to get her to settle,” said Maldonado. “Sometimes she likes to break sharp. I watched a couple of her replays, and she likes to throw her head out. When we settled, we got in a good spot, I was happy coming across the dirt. It is just an honor for me to have these opportunities, I'm blessed.”
Most recently second, beaten a half length down the hill in the ungraded Angels Flight Stakes March 26, Teena Ella was off at 5-2 in a field of six sophomore fillies and paid $7.00 for the victory.
Teena Ella, Beholder's third foal to race, becomes the superstar mare's first graded stakes winner while improving her overall mark to 5-2-1-1. With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $128,740.
“She showed a lot of heart because they hooked her and she could have given up and didn't,” said Hall of Famer Mandella, who also conditioned the great Beholder. “Edwin rode her really well for only being acquainted for two minutes. I think she'll go further now on the grass. I think she will go on, but as long as I can do this, I'll do this.”
The lone California-bred in the field, Tom's Regret flew late to just miss.
Irish-bred The Wild Grazer, who took blinkers off today and broke inward leaving the gate from her rail post, finished three quarters of a length behind Tom's Regret.
Fast and Shiny, the actual 2-1 favorite with Abel Cedillo up, broke a step slow but was quickly into stride but tired late to finish fifth, beaten two lengths for the win.
Fractions on the race were :21.85, :43.72. and 1:06.30.
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Oaklawn Horse For Course Skelly Lands Lake Hamilton For Fourth Victory Of Meet
Heavily favored Skelly became the first four-time winner at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting, cruising to a three-length victory in Saturday's inaugural $150,000 Lake Hamilton Stakes for older horses at 6 furlongs.
Under eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr., Skelly ($2.80) took command at the start and wasn't seriously challenged in winning his fourth consecutive race, all in front-running fashion. Skelly was being wheeled back in three weeks by Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen after capturing the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses April 15.
“He's a nice horse,” Santana said. “I've got to give a lot of credit to the exercise rider (Adolfo Garcia). That horse isn't easy, man. As soon as he figured that horse out, how to gallop, this horse has improved more and more. He did it easy today. He only had (three) weeks off and I knew he was going to be a little bit tired. I'm really happy with how the horse has developed.”
Sir Wellington finished second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Edge to Edge, who was followed, in order, by Tut's Revenge, Walker's Win, Joe Frazier and Morello.
Carrying equal top weight of 122 pounds, Skelly covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09. Skelly paid $2.80 for the win.
A 4-year-old gelded son Practical Joke out of the Bwana Charlie mare Adande, Skelly was bred in Kentucky by H. Allen Poindexter. He raised his career earnings to $642,513 following his fifth victory from nine starts. Skelly was purchased for $250,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearlings showcase by Red Lane Thoroughbreds (Chris Hicks). Wynnstay Sales consigned.
In addition to the Count Fleet and Lake Hamilton, Skelly won a first-level allowance Feb. 25 and a second-level allowance March 17. All four of Skelly's victories were at six furlongs.
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Quotes from the 2023 Kentucky Derby: What the Trainers and Jockeys Said
The 2023 edition of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve was an unforgettable one, as Mage, making only the fourth start of his career, came from far off the pace, rallied past horses wide on the turn and into the lane, and then caught Two Phil's in deep stretch to win the run for the roses by a length.
