King of the Roxy aces in Hutcheson
Pletcher's least known Colt drops Foes March 3 at Gulfstream
Scat Daddy and Circular Quay are Todd Pletcher's highly touted colts. His King of the Roxy, after a win in Florida, has climbed to No.4 in the Run for the Roses poll.
King of the Roxy scored an ace at Florida's Gulfstream Park on March 3.
The Todd Pletcher colt, sired by Littleexpectations out of Marrakesh, by Bold Forbes, raced through the 7 1/2 furlongs of the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes (gr. ll) in 1:28 flat. He clobbered the slight favorite, Forefathers, who finished seventh.
Roxy joins contenders
Pletcher, who has two more highly touted Triple Crown contenders in Circular Quay and Scat Daddy, liked King of the Roxy's effort and maturity in the Hutcheson. King of the Roxy has been a one-turn specialist thus far. Freshened up since his last start, an eighth-place finish in 2006 in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. l) at Churchill Downs, Roxy has brought his overall racing card to 2-1-0. Pletcher believes the colt has more than 7 1/2 furlongs to offer, but he's cautious in aiming him at the 1-1/4 miles of the upcoming Kentucky Derby.
King of the Roxy cemented his credentials as a Derby contender, however, getting a No.4 rating in the Associated Press poll following his Hutcheson victory. The colt came out of the gate slowly in his 2007 debut, but gathered himself well under the ride of Eclipse champion jockey Edgar Prado.
Roxy went four wide at the top of the stretch, leaving in his dust Finallymadeit and Spin Master, who had out dueled themselves in fractions of blitzing speed, :22.07 at the quarter poll, and :44.37 for the half mile pole. As second place runner, Bold Start, found himself blocked in, King of the Roxy moved strong to leave the field behind in a hand ride from Prado. He finished to the wire in an easy 2-1/4 length margin.
King of the Roxy claimed his second win in three graded two races. Last fall (2006), he won the Futurity Stakes (gr. ll) on September 23 at Belmont Park in New York by 1-3/4 lengths. In his other start, at the Saratoga Special Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. ll) in August, he finished second.
Five straight for Pletcher
Pletcher got his fifth consecutive win in the Hutcheson Stakes thanks to King of the Roxy's victory. He has previously triumphed with Keyed Entry, who had bundles of Derby hype last year; Proud Accolade (2005); Limehouse (2004); and Lion Tamer (2003).
The Roxy boosted his possibilities with his strong closing performance. Prado said he "hopped" out of the gate, but galloped easily and had a full tank when he darted to the wire.
Pletcher's Scat Daddy undid Nobiz Like Shobiz in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. ll) March 3. Circular Quay awaits the running of the Louisiana Derby on March 10, while Scat Daddy enters the Florida Derby March 31.
Roxy's next stop
Pletcher's next move for King of the Roxy is undecided. That is, perhaps, a pleasant undecided for the trainer, as he hadn't anticipated handling three colts in the Derby top ten this week, still so far away from Derby day. Trainers only hope for that expectation. It is rarely realized.
The Derby picture sways and deepens week by exciting week.
