Wood or Illinois Derby for Mr. Fantasy
Mr. Fantasy, third in the Gotham after setting the pace, will run next in either the Wood or the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne the same day, said Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds, which owns the colt.
Finley said Mr. Fantasy would "have to run one-two in one of those spots to warrant taking the next step."
Both Finley and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin were slightly disappointed Mr. Fantasy didn't fare better. However, he was making just his third start and first outside of New York-bred company. He was beaten a neck for second by Imperial Council.
Mr. Fantasy, third in the Gotham after setting the pace, will run next in either the Wood or the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne the same day, said Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds, which owns the colt.
Finley said Mr. Fantasy would "have to run one-two in one of those spots to warrant taking the next step."
Both Finley and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin were slightly disappointed Mr. Fantasy didn't fare better. However, he was making just his third start and first outside of New York-bred company. He was beaten a neck for second by Imperial Council.
Wayne,
ReplyDeleteI misspoke, or typeeeed in the last e-mail, refering to him as not a synthetic type. I was thinking the Illinois Derby is run at Arlington.
If your goal is just to make it to derby day, Hawthorne is the easier spot and that track fits his running style very well. I am saying this even though I would loose breeders awards with him running outside NY, LOL. That field is almost always easier then the Wood. The Wood, however, will give you a closer approximation of what to expect for the first Saturday in May.
Has Artie or Kiaran had any ideas on why he was so hot? Just the Crowd? Maybe more paddock and gate schooling in the days prior? Would you guys fly him or ship by van? Tin Cup handled his flight to Japan very well. That was not an excuse I could use for that race. I think after all the triple crown stuff is over, come fall, we should do a match race between the two brothers. That would be fun. I wouldnt know who to root for I love them both so much.