PLENTY OF HMDC ACTION LEADING UP TO THE BIG STAKE ON DERBY DAY
- HMDC Editorial Team
- Apr 28
- 3 min read
If you’re looking for racing action leading up to the Kentucky Derby, we have plenty of while climbing up every rung of the racing condition ladder. HMDC and Taste of Victory Stables runners will take to the track at Thistledown Monday – Wednesday and Derby Day Saturday! All of our runners are well placed and look primed for solid efforts. Here’s a thumbnail sketch of each of these Mapleton-breds in their selected races.
Monday 4/28 – COMMISSIONER D. - “Class Relief” would be the handicapping phrase for this guy. Now 4-years-old, she’s always been “right there” with stouter competition. But they don’t take your picture in the winner’s circle for “right there.” The Fadlovich-trained miss will enter the claiming ranks for the first time in her career while facing Accredited-Ohio foes. She’s had a series of progressive works and will add blinkers for her seasonal debut and may outclass these running for $20,800 .
Tuesday – 4/29 – DR. GEORGE - This $33,900 Maiden Special Weight for Accredited-breds will be interesting. The now 3-year-old Mobil gelding will be making his first start in 9 months, gets first Lasix, adds blinkers, new jockey and drew the rail. Interesting enough for you? Megan has been stretching him out with a series of consistent morning works for his second start.
Wednesday – 4/30 – SMOKIN JOE – Referring back to our Blog on April 14th it stated, “…It looked like he was waiting for room when the appropriately named War On The River dropped an anchor that took him from first to last. According to the DRF chart, “…Smokin Joe did not respond while in the kickback.” Whatever the reason, the rider had to drop back quickly getting “Joe” out of trouble and running again, which he did willingly, but could only salvage the fifth spot. They don’t pay you for winning the gallop out.”
Trainer Mike Rone has obtained the services of Thistledown’s top jock Luis Rivera for the ride in this $35,800 allowance for Accredited-breds at 5 ½ furlongs.
Saturday – 5/3 – LUST FOR LIFE – The $75,000 Michael C. Rowland Stakes is the local stakes on Kentucky Derby Day. If you can’t make it to Louisville, there is nothing better than being around live racing on the first Saturday in May and we hope to see you in the winner’s circle at Thistledown. Our 4-year-old gelding is going for three wins in a row. The speedy son of Cowtown Cat closed out the ’04 season at Mahoning with a $35,000 allowance win and repeated in a $36,000 allowance in his seasonal debut. Jan Aviles, who has been aboard for three of his wins, gets a leg up from Mike Rone who is back to his familiar stomping grounds after a winter training at Oaklawn Park.
OVER THE FALLS put in a workman-like debut on April 21 that shows promise of things to come. Going into the Accredited maiden event, she had been displaying a work pattern evident of readiness for the $33,900 six-furlong affair: a bullet work besting 20 at the 4 furlong distance, followed by a breeze from the gate and a final touring 5 furlongs in the slop at Mahoning ten days previously.
With Joe Stokes up, Over the Falls broke very crisply and raced early in the third spot, when urged she made a nice move into the second spot, but how are you going to beat a 1-5 favorite named Coloryoureggs the day after Easter? You don’t.
Over the Falls engaged willingly in a battle for second but fell a head short at the wire. It looks as though she has responded well to Megan’s training regimen and certainly gives us plenty to look forward to this season.
