Behindatthebar Snatches Lexington
Pletcher Colt Closes Derby Preps; Tesio's Icabad Crane to Return
Behindatthebar,a third Todd Pletcher colt, closed the Derby preps at Lexington. Federico Tesio Stakes winner Icabad Crane is likely to point next to the Preakness Stakes
It took Todd Pletcher's patience to last to the last Derby prep weekend to get the last laugh with the last winner, Behindatthebar, who exploded off the final turn to beat back Bob Baffert trained Samba Rooster Apr.19 in the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr.ll). The grade 2 run closed out the pre-Derby bidding. But the winner's owners are not expected to saddle up their colt for the 134th Kentucky Derby.
Only the highest twenty graded stakes earners will get the choice to run at Churchill Downs.
Nonetheless, it was pleasant for Pletcher, who finally got two Derby qualifiers in Monba and Cowboy Cal Apr.12 in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, to finish the preps with a winner. Behindatthebar raised his graded earnings to $204,500, which is enough to sit him on the Derby qualifying bubble.
David Flores piloted Behindatthebar to a time of 1:42.14 over the 1-1/16 miles Apr.19 on Keeneland's Polytrack. The Forest Wildcat colt is owned by Padua Stables, W. Don Stanley, and Michael Shustek.
Icabad Crane and Jeremy Rose Take Tesio
Also on Apr.19, Jeremy Rose helped Icabad Crane in a catch up effort through the lane that resulted in victory at Pimlico Race Course in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes. Rose rated Icabad Crane behind the pace, then asked him for a winning acceleration at the last turn, and the Jump Start colt responded to catch the leader, Mint Lane, ridden by Mario Pino.
Neither colt let up as they dueled to the wire, with Icabad Crane pushing ahead to the finish to notch his third win in four starts and first stakes victory. He raced the 1-1/8 miles in 1:50.83.
Owner Earle Mack is contemplating returning the colt to Pimlico for the May 17 Preakness Stakes. Icabad Crane is trained by Graham Motion.
Tiz West Wins La Puente Stakes
The Gone West colt Tiz West bested a field of seven rivals in the La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita Apr.12, pacing the one mile turf event in 1:34.38 over Northern Afleet son Afleet Ruler, and Ez Dreamer, an In Excess (IRE) colt.
Victor Espinosa piloted Tiz West, who is trained by Richard Mandella.
Sebastian County Takes Northern Spur Event
On Apr.12 Jockey Larry J. Sterling guided Don Von Hemet trained Sebastian County, a Hennessy colt, to victory in 1:37.99 over the mile of the Northern Spur.
The Robby Albarado/Steve Asmussen connection captured second place in the race with Poni Colada, a Volponi son out of Coconut Willamina, by Pleasant Colony. Ide Like A Double finished third over six other opponents.
