Beyond The Crown: Prayer For Relief Wins Another Derby
- Updated: September 16, 2011
Prayer For Relief has turned into a decent sort for Bob Baffert. He followed up prominent throughout wins in the G3 Iowa Derby and G2 West Virginia Derby with an easy wire job in the G2 Super Derby (98 BSF). I am not sure how good he is since he was basically handed the Louisiana Downs showcase after walking through splits of :50.31 and 1:15.49. The thinking here is that any quality 3yo with early speed (Stay Thirsty, To Honor And Serve, etc.) would have beaten him in the Super Derby but his early-pressing versatility will frequently put him in the right spit throughout.
Awesome Bet and Populist Politics rallied nicely into tepid fractions to finish noses apart behind Prayer For Relief, with Alternation rounding out the Super Derby superfecta.
The biggest Super Derby disappointment was Meistersinger. He had early-pressing speed and the rail but steadily retreated after stalking the pace from the inside.
In other 3-year-old news, Boys At Tosconova posted his fifth workout since 8-11, breezing 4f in :48.93 at Aqueduct on Sept 14. He recently missed a week or so of training due to a quarter crack and is inching closer to his much anticipated return.
Former top ten member Smash, last seen finishing 2nd in the G2 Carry Back at Calder on July 9, worked 3f in :37.60 at Hollywood Park on 9-15. He has obviously had some sort of physical issue since the Carry Back because he shows a trio of well-space works (7-21, 8-17, 9-15) since that event.
Check out the top ranked Three-Year-Old Males on Horse Racing Nation.
Jarrod Horak’s Top Ten Three-Year-Olds
1. Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) – Jim Dandy and Travers winner remains on top of the heap. Breezed an easy 4f in :50.60 at Saratoga (dirt training track) on Sept 11. He will face older in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Oct 1.
2. The Factor (War Front) – Exciting sprinter beat older in his Pat O’Brien return at Del Mar. Zipped 5f in :59.60 at Santa Anita on Sept 14.
The Indiana Derby is next for Caleb's Posse - photo by Eclipse Sportswire
3. Caleb’s Posse (Posse) – Impressive Amsterdam winner also captured the King’s Bishop. Breezed 4f in :49 at Arlington on 9-10. He is expected to use the Oct 1 Indiana Derby as a springboard to the BC Dirt Mile.
4. To Honor And Serve – Back on track after big 9f allowance win at the Spa on 8-26. Breezed 4f in :48.16 at Saratoga on 9-10. The Sept 24 Pennsylvania Derby is probably next.
5. Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) – Ran too good to lose in King’s Bishop comeback. Breezed 4f in :48.30 at Saratoga (dirt training track) on 9-11. The G2 Kelso on Oct 1 is his next target.
6. Coil (Point Given) – The G1 Haskell hero threw in a Travers clunker. Returned to the worktab with a 4f move in :48.60 at Santa Anita on Sept 14.
7. Prayer For Relief (Jump Start) – Pulled off the Derby trifecta with wins in the Iowa Derby, West Virginia Derby, and Super Derby. Could the Indiana Derby be next?
8. Rattlesnake Bridge (Tapit) – Surprise place finisher in the Travers is clearly on the upswing for McLaughlin. Breezed 4f in :47.46 at Belmont on Sept 11. No word on his next start.
9. Wilburn (Bernardini) – Back-to-back wins including Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx Sept 3, the local prep for the G2 Pennsylvania Derby.
10. Shackleford (Forestry) – Preakness hero and Haskell runner-up looked tired in the Travers. No word on next start but he is back in Kentucky with an eye on the Breeders’ Cup.