LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Something about marquee races at Keeneland seems to bring out the best in Brody's Cause, whose latest victory at the storied track placed him squarely in Kentucky Derby contention.
Trainer Dale Romans didn't mince words about the horse's prospects in racing's signature event after Saturday's impressive Blue Grass victory.
"We're going into the Kentucky Derby in perfect form," Romans said after Brody's Cause stormed to the front entering the stretch and rolled to a 1¾-length victory in the $1 million Blue Grass to earn his chance to Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Brody's Cause won there last September, one of three victories with a third in six career starts.
The Kentucky-bred son of Giant's Causeway stalked the leaders coming into the final turn before surging ahead for his second win in three Grade 1 Keeneland starts. His other victory was last fall in the Breeders' Futurity, followed by a third to leading Derby contender Nyquist in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Brody's Cause, ridden by Luis Saez for the first time, ran 11/8 miles on a sunny, cool day in 1:50.20 and paid $10.40, $5 and $3.40. He earned 100 points toward the May 7 Derby at Churchill Downs and stands fifth with 114.
"He was rolling," Saez said. "He was asking me to let him go and I let him go."
My Man Sam edged Cherry Wine by a head for second. My Man Sam returned $5.80 and $4, and Cherry Wine, the fourth-place finisher in the March 19 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, paid $3.60 to show.
Brody's Cause needed to re-establish his Kentucky Derby credentials after running seventh last month in the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby. Returning to Keeneland seemed to do the trick.
"I think he's just a horse that needed a race," Romans said, referring to Brody's Cause dismal effort in Florida.
My Man Sam earned 40 Derby points, Cherry Wine, 20, and Laoban 10.
Cherry Wine is trained by Romans, as is the winner.
Far back was race favorite Zulu, one of three Todd Pletcher-trained entrants in the packed field of 14. The Fountain of Youth runner-up to Mohaymen was up close early after starting from the No. 4 post position before fading late.
In another Grade 1 stakes race at Keeneland Saturday:
• Sheer Drama rallied past Stopchargingmaria to win the $300,000 Grade 1 Madison for older fillies and mares by a neck.
WOOD MEMORIAL
Outwork edges long shot
NEW YORK -- Outwork nipped 81-1 shot Trojan Nation by a diminishing nose to win the $1 million Wood Memorial, but the winner's owner Mike Repole wasn't about to complain about his latest hope for the Kentucky Derby, even though his Derby contender posted the slowest winning time in 92 runnings of the race.
The winning time for the Wood -- 1:52.92 for 11/8 miles.
"He's so young. He's only getting better," Repole said about Outwork. "Thank God the wire came up because another jump, he probably wouldn't have made it."
Outwork won by a head over 81-1 long shot Trojan Nation and earned 100 Derby qualifying points. Trojan Nation, a maiden who had finished no better than third in five Southern California starts, earned 40 points to qualify for a Derby spot.
"It was a great effort," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "On to the Derby? "I think there's a chance."
Ridden by John Velazquez, Outwork raced second behind Matt King Coal for most of the race, then took over in the stretch but had to hold off an unexpected strong challenge along the rail from Trojan Nation.
Shagaf, the 9-5 favorite in the field of eight, had a poor start from the rail and finished fifth. The colt trained by Chad Brown lost for the first time in four starts, but already has a Derby spot waiting with 50 for his Gotham win.
Brown said a slow start and muddy conditions may have been an issue for Shagaf.
"If the horse is healthy, I'm inclined to hope for a dry track at Churchill and a better trip," Brown said.
Outwork returned $6.80, $4.80 and $3.90. The 3-year-old colt finished second to stablemate Destin in the Tampa Bay Derby in his previous start and goes into the Derby with three wins in four races. Outwork now totals 120 Derby points.
Trojan Nation paid $40.60 and $13.40. Adventist, who earned 20 Derby points, returned $4.90 to show.
Pletcher also has Destin, who won the Tampa Bay Derby, plus a few other possible Derby starters.
In earlier stakes races:
• Kid Cruz ($5) won the $200,000 Excelsior for 4-year-olds and up.
• Unified ($4.40) won the 7-furlong $300,000 Bay Shore for 3-year-olds
• Salutos Amigos ($5.10) won the 7-furlong $400,000 Carter for 4-year-olds and up
SANTA ANITA DERBY
Exaggerator takes to slop
ARCADIA, Calif. -- Exaggerator made an impressive move on a sloppy track in sweeping to the lead in the upper stretch and went on to win the $1 million Santa Anita Derby by 6¼ lengths Saturday, beating 7-5 favorite Mor Spirit in their final showdown before the Kentucky Derby next month.
Exaggerator, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.66 and paid $8.80, $3.60 and $2.80 at 3-1 odds. Trained by Desormeaux's older brother Keith, the colt was next-to-last early on in the eight-horse field.
Mor Spirit, trained by Bob Baffert, returned $2.80 and $2.40. Uncle Lino was another 2¼ lengths back in third and paid $5 to show.
Danzing Candy, who led for most of the race, finished fourth as the 8-5 second choice under Mike Smith.
Exaggerator earned 100 points to move into third place in qualifying for the May 7 Derby. Mor Spirit earned 40 points and is in seventh place. Uncle Lino received 20 points, but is in 22nd place and not currently in the Derby field, which has a 20-horse limit. Danzing Candy earned 10 points and is ninth.
Exaggerator swerved coming away from the starting gate while Danzing Candy sped to the lead. Exaggerator entered the stretch three-wide and circled the field in taking the lead before drifting to the inside, where Desormeaux went to a left-handed whip in drawing clear. It was Desormeaux's second career victory in the Santa Anita Derby, and first since Free House in 1997. His brother won the race for the first time.
Heavy rain fell early in the day, with fog mostly obscuring the San Gabriel Mountains, creating just the fourth off-track in the race's 79th running, and the first since Point Given also won in the slop in 2001.
Earlier in the day, Keith Desormeaux scratched Texas Red, who was set to make his 4-year-old debut on turf in the Thunder Road Stakes. The colt hasn't raced since finishing fifth in the Travers Stakes last summer. He won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2014, but got injured and was unable to run in the last year's Triple Crown races.
Sports on 04/10/2016