Todd Pletcher went into the weekend without a surefire shot at strolling within the 2019 Kentucky Derby, then locked in horses in as many preps whilst Cutting Humor held off Anothertwistafate to win Sunday’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby. Under jockey John Velazquez, the colt ranged through the flip 3-huge, placed pace-putting Mucho Gusto away at the pinnacle of the stretch, and had just sufficient to top Anothertwistafate in a photo in New Mexico. The very last time for nine furlongs turned into a song report 1:46.Ninety-four. “Once I was given to the quarter pole, I concept he changed into going pretty clean,” winning jockey John Velazquez stated after the neck victory. “Then I asked him, and as quickly as he observed himself on the lead, he began waiting. He idled pretty badly, and I’m questioning, ‘Come on, friend. You’ve got to get your thoughts back on strolling.’ “I waited until the 8th pole, switched to left-handed, and he responded.”
With Derby points paid out on a 50-20-10-5 scale to the Top 4 finishers, Cutting Humor is on to Churchill Downs must Pletcher and proprietor Starlight Racing determine that course. Starlight is also a co-proprietor of Grade 1 winner Improbable, who will whole his prepping within the April sixteen Arkansas Derby. Mucho Gusto ran 0.33 using six lengths after establishing spits of twenty-two. 76, forty-five. Sixty-three and 1:09.Sixty-three. Pressed a good deal of the way via neighborhood stakes winner Hustle Up. Wicked Indeed hit the wire fourth behind him. Cutting Humor, the 2-1 shot, went preferred however bumped into a hard journey in his last start, the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. He provides to Pletcher-skilled Spinoff, second in Saturday’s Louisiana Derby (G2), as in all likelihood Derby contenders for the barn.
On Sunday, Velazquez observed a comfy spot early with Cutting Humor, a chunk wide, but in the clear, in which they superior from two-huge in fourth into the flip earlier than making the triumphing move. “He’s a huge horse, and I think the two turns helped him lots,” Velazquez stated. “It becomes a fast pace nowadays. He held in there pretty excellent. I guess it’s an excellent experience.” By First Samurai, Cutting Humor turned into a $400,000 yearling buy for Starlight, which additionally went on Justify’s Triple Crown adventure a yr in the past as a co-proprietor with WinStar Farm and China Horse Club, among different partners. The Sunland Derby victory marked Cutting Humor’s second win in six professional starts.
Well, I in no way stated that I appreciated him for winning the derby. From his maiden win, I posted how plenty I like the way this horse moves and that he has lots of room for development…His effortless stride caught my attention …I attempt to take it to race using the race. I become hopeful that he will do properly based upon what I saw. Sometimes they disappoint now, and again they do t. However, given that his maiden breaker, he saved showing up. I can’t see why most desired to see him carry out on the sand to determine. That’s bandwagons.
Yes, you did say that. This yr’s derby shaping up to be a doozy! Have to present lots of credit to ATAF’s connections even though. They had the pony prepared; he took to the dust simply pleasant, and consistent with my difficult calculations, ran his very last eighth in about 11 three/five seconds, gaining on the leader with each stride. He made up approximately three lengths in the final 8th.
