Kentucky Derby Road: March 22 Jeff Ruby Steaks, Louisiana Derby
Louisiana Derby, 1 3/16 Mile
Tiztastic, ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Steve Asmussen, came on strong in the stretch to win by 2 1/4 lengths at 7-1 odds. Chunk of Gold (10-1), who also came into foremost contention in the stretch, narrowly held off the late-charging Instant Replay (8-1) to get the place after the latter one trailed the field early on. Early pacesetter John Hancock (favored at 9-5) held on for fourth while Built (5-1), who was never far back early and passed John Hancock on the far turn to lead into the stretch, backed up to come fifth. John Hancock got an early lead and ran through initial splits of 22.99 and 46.84 and was confronted by Built shortly into the arc of the final turn after six furlongs in 1:11.03. Tiztastic swooped outside leaving the turn and was on his way to the win near the final furlong of the race. The 1 3/16 mile was timed in 1:56.20. Tiztastic is a son of Tiz the Law out of Keesha, by Tapit. He was bred in Kentucky by Capital Livestock and is owned by the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Micheal Tabor and Derrick Smith. Kentucky Derby points 100-50-25-15-10.
Tiztastic's Beyer Speed Figure was 95. He was given a 99 Equibase figure.
Tiztastic broke his maiden his second start, an allowance race in August. Next time out he won the lucrative Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes on the track's undulating turf course, earning a 92 Equibase figure. He went on to finish second in the G3 Street Sense (91 Equibase), third in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club (87), third in the G3 Southwest Stakes (97) and fifth in the G2 Rebel Stakes (94).
Winning Jockey Joel Rosario: "He did everything right. He was the best horse in the race. He handled a little bit of traffic at the 3/8ths pole. The pace was fast in front and I had the horse underneath me to get it done.”
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen: "We thought he’d run bigger in the Southwest. He had enough distance (today). He’s stepping forward when he needs to. The horse has a great mind about him. I loved the way he acted pre-race. He ran a solid race but I think there’s more in him."
Ethan West, trainer of Chunk of Gold (2nd): “He was a lot closer in this race than he ever has been. Jareth (Loveberry) said he was a lot more aggressive early on the front side here and he was trying to get covered up behind John Hancock. He said down the backside he took a big breath and relaxed and he said he was tired but rightfully so. Jareth put a beautiful ride on him - it was picture perfect.”
Florent Geroux, jockey of Instant Replay (3rd): “Distance is not a problem with him. Question is if he’s good enough. I was following the winner around there. I feel like he got a little bit tired on me the last sixteenth of a mile. He swapped leads on me. It was a great run, he’s moving forward.”
Flavien Prat on John Hancock (4th): “He broke so well, I went on with him and he was traveling well, he settled down nicely on the backside. They came at me and it looked like he was done, but he regrouped and ran a good fourth”
Brad Cox, trainer of Instant Replay (3rd) and John Hancock (4th): “They're not going to get in (the Kentucky Derby). I don’t think we’ll try to take another swing. John Hancock didn’t run as well as I hoped and expected. Instant Replay ran well, there was enough pace for him. We’ll regroup on them both and figure out next steps.”
Jose Ortiz, jockey of Built (5th): “I had a great trip. The last eighth of a mile was very hard for us. He started to struggle.”
Brian Hernandez Jr. jockey of Hypnus (7th): “We kind of had the same trip as the winner going down the backside. They were going fast. He cruised up my inside and I was right outside of him and I tried to make the run with him. My horse just couldn't sustain his run. He emptied out. His last two races.”
Jeff Ruby Steaks, 1 1/8 Mile
Juddmonte Farm's homebred, the aptly named Final Gambit, closed from 12th and last in the early going and flew past foes down the lane to win going away by 3 1/2 lengths on Turfway Park's synthetic surface. He was dismissed at 15-1 off a 6-1 morning line. Under Luan Machado for trainer Brad Cox, Final Gambit sat between seven and nine lengths off fractions of 22.97, 47.91 and 1:12.84 established by early front-runner Charlie's to Blame. Flying Mohawk (9-1) finished second after he also made a late move from 11th. The next three in order were Maximum Promise (9-1) beaten four lengths, Poster (9-5 favorite) another 3/4 length back and Giocoso (14-1) a distant seven lengths from the winner. The nine furlongs was timed in 1:50.10. Kentucky Derby points 100-50-25-15-10. Flying Gambit is a son of Not This Time out of Pachinko, by Tapit. Tapit is also the damsire of the G2 Louisiana Derby run on this date.
Equibase chart
Beyer Speed Figure 90. Equibase 96.
This was Final Gambit's fourth career start, the first one coming at Churchill Downs going a mile on turf. His third place finish earned him an 86 Equibase figure. His next three starts were all on Turfway Park's synthetic course. After finished second (95 Equibase) he broke his maiden third time out (84).
Winning jockey Luan Machado: “I knew keeping him in the clear around the turn would probably be best, but I was worried with how wide the horses on the front end were going. Sometimes when he’s between horses he doesn’t try as hard as when he’s in the clear. He really closed fast down the lane and was impressive late.”
Brad Cox assistant trainer Tessa Walden: “He was visually impressive when he broke his maiden here. It gave us confidence he’d come with a run, especially with how he handled the surface this winter.”
Second place trainer Whit Beckham (Flying Mohawk): “When you’re from Louisville, there’s only one race you’re aiming for and that’s the Derby."
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