Ring Weekend earned his way to Kentucky with a wire to wire front-running victory. Local jockey Centeno put Ring Weekend on the engine and went to the lead out of the gate. Surfing USA elected to sit in 2nd. Ring Weekend hugged the rail and opened up a 6 length lead on the backstretch. Tired a little entering the stretch and pulled away late.
Bottom Line is Ring Weekend is getting good at the right time. This horse ran at Keeneland last fall, then won out of the 10th post position at Gulfstream. He was just the 4th horse in the last 4 years that has won from the 10th post or more. Today he got tired a little coming in the turn, but switched leads. This horse is a distance horse with Cryptoclearence on the female side. Could be getting good at the right time. Trainer Graham Motion has one Derby and will train this horse up to Kentucky once again. Big effort. Still a chance at improvement.
Surfing USA chased most of the race and after giving up the lead rated in 2nd most of the trip around the track, had a dream trip and fought for Vinceramos most of the stretch for 2nd. No excuse but ran a credible race.
Vinceramos didn’t have the early speed, but established good position at the 4 furlong pole and gamely ran down Surfing USA in a good stretch duel. With 20 more points may have enough points to go to Kentucky Derby.
Conquest Titan was up against it, when the field got stretched out. He rallied mildly but never really got into the running. Getting short on time, but I imagine they might run once more to try to get to the Derby Field or train up to the race and see if they can make the starting gate.
Hy Kodiak Warrior took a lot of money at the windows, looked good in the post parade but never really got involved in the running with the strung out field.
The gate is starting to fill up:
Ring Weekend, Intense Holiday, California Chrome, Samraat and Wildcat Red all have captured the 50 point races. Vinceramos, Midnight Hawk and Uncle Sigh probably have enough points to go into the field.