Kentucky Derby hopefuls were advancing over the weekend with wins in the Wither Stakes, the Holy Bull Stakes and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Which ones will go on is unknown at this time but there were clearly some questions answered around the country on February 4.
El Areeb, Irish War Cry and Royal Mo all passed these tests in flying colors.
El Areeb was simply too good against his other Kentucky Derby hopefuls in the Withers at Aqueduct. He basically toyed with the field and he was bet off the board paying just $3.10. Considering the second finisher True Timber stumbled at the break, that runner ran huge at 29-1. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, it would no shocked if True Timber turns into one of the serious Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
J Boys Echo was hung wide from his marooned post position but settle for third in a solid try.
As for the winner, he had the ideal three-hole trip and raced the mile and a sixteenth in 1:44.47 while earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. This was one of the slowest Withers in recent years.
El Areeb is trained by Irishman Cathal Lynch. The native of Derry in Northern Ireland raced horses in Maryland for years but switched his stable to Laurel recently. He has options for El Areeb’s next start. The Gotham in early March is possible as is the Wood Memorial on April 8. El Areeb has a nice foundation and he has a head start as far as Kentucky Derby hopefuls earning qualifying points. He has 20 points so far.
Classic Empire was upset in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream last Saturday by Irish War Cry. The winner was making just his third career start and first try against graded stakes company. The Graham Motion trainee was sent along by Joel Rosario and the tactics worked to perfection. When Classic Empire was asked for speed, there was nothing in the tank. Irish War Cry finished well clear of the runner-up Gunnevera despite bearing out in the stretch. Sent off at 4-1, Irish War Cry returned $10.80 and earned a 97 Beyer to run his career record to three for three.
Last year in the Holy Bull Mohaymen earned a 95 Beyer and parlayed it to a win in the Fountain of Youth.
Being by 2-time Horse of the Year Curlin, Irish War Cry could run back in the Fountain of Youth Stakes next month with the Florida Derby to follow.
As for the beaten chalk Empire Classic, he was defeated on the square. He may not have been himself as he was nervous in the post parade and balked at going into the gate. He still has earned 32 qualifying points as one of the valid Kentucky Derby hopefuls.
On the West Coast, trainer John Shirreffs, who conditioned the great Zenyatta, has a speedy colt ready to hit the Triple Crown trail by the name of Royal Mo. He cruised to a front-running score in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita in clever fashion. He set the splits of :23.86, :47.37, and 1:11.50, then kicked away late under jockey Victor Espinoza to win by 3 1/2 lengths. He raced the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.48.
Royal Mo got a break in this race because there was not a lot of speed in the contest. The favorite Sheer Flattery was hung wide and made just a mild late bid. This was the slowest Robert B. Lewis since Anthony’s Cross was clocked in 1:48.63 in 2011. Royal Mo earned a 93 Beyer for this efforts. It was the same number recorded by last year’s winner Mo Spirit, who is zero for five since but was second beaten a length in the Grade 1 San Antonio last Saturday at Santa Anita.
Royal Mo is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Moss. Moss is known for being a co-founder of A and M Records and this is just one of his Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Moss also owns Gormley, who is currently tied for second in Derby points at 20.
This is obviously and enviable position for an owner. Moss could possibly send one of his runners to Arkansas to pad his status while the other could stay in California.
