Clocker comments on the Santa Anita Derby
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These comments from Horseplayerpro.com clocker Toby Turrell were included in the lastest Steve Haskin article, can be found on Bloodhorse.com:
THE PAMPLEMOUSSE: The Pamplemousse had regular pilot Alex Solis aboard for a key six-panel drill this morning at Santa Anita, and the signals were mixed for the big grey. On the plus side, Solis never really put him into gear most of the way. However, he still wanted to get a bit too aggressive early going (:47.20 to the top of the lane) en route to a 1:13-flat clocking -- with an even more pedestrian gallop out time of 127.60.
This drill was a bit backwards on the watch, and when Solis clucked to the horse inside the eighth-pole, The Pamplemousse did not give much response visually over a pretty deep surface. The Pro-Ride was renovated on Monday afternoon as part of the tracks normal maintenance.
It certainly appears at this stage that the connections are just going to have to let The Pamplemousse sail on the lead and hope for the best.
PIONEEROF THE NILE: With just over a week to go until the Santa Anita Derby, trainer Bob Baffert wanted a stiff drill out of his charge and he got it with Joe Steiner piloting Pioneer Of The Nile to a co-bullet of 1:11.40 for six panels. The splits of this drill were :35.60 and 59-flat, then a final furlong of :12.40 past the wire, working down to the clubhouse turn. Baffert told me that he was extremely happy with the colt and it went according to schedule. There is no doubt he will get a lot out of this drill, fitness-wise, over a deeply renovated surface that played a bit on the heavy side this morning.
Anytime a 3-year-old can go the last three-eighths in :35.40 with a real swift final clocking, you have to deem him on course to go the ultimate distance of a mile and a quarter on the first Saturday in May. I personally believe that this colts most impressive drills are when he shows his class in team drills, where he usually blows by his stablemate with ease through the last quarter-mile. Today, working solo, Pioneerof The Nile was professional, indeed, responding to the urging from his regular exercise rider from top of the lane to the clubhouse turn without having a target in front of him to keep him aggressive.
CHOCOLATE CANDY: Chocolate Candy worked a mile in 1:38.60 at Santa Anita under Joel Rosario, completing the final five furlongs in 1:01.60, which is very respectable on the watch given the fact that the surface was a bit on the deep side after undergoing its normal deep harrowing on Monday afternoon.
This colt stamped himself as a serious contender to win the Santa Anita Derby with this notable drill. He jogged back to the barn seemingly un-fatigued and certainly dead-fit. Perhaps the most important question that this son of Candy Ride answered was an affinity for the Pro-Ride surface. With trainer Jerry Hollendorfer on hand at Clockers Corner to witness the work, the connections have to feel confident from all aspects that are key at this stage of the game.
THE PAMPLEMOUSSE: The Pamplemousse had regular pilot Alex Solis aboard for a key six-panel drill this morning at Santa Anita, and the signals were mixed for the big grey. On the plus side, Solis never really put him into gear most of the way. However, he still wanted to get a bit too aggressive early going (:47.20 to the top of the lane) en route to a 1:13-flat clocking -- with an even more pedestrian gallop out time of 127.60.
This drill was a bit backwards on the watch, and when Solis clucked to the horse inside the eighth-pole, The Pamplemousse did not give much response visually over a pretty deep surface. The Pro-Ride was renovated on Monday afternoon as part of the tracks normal maintenance.
It certainly appears at this stage that the connections are just going to have to let The Pamplemousse sail on the lead and hope for the best.
PIONEEROF THE NILE: With just over a week to go until the Santa Anita Derby, trainer Bob Baffert wanted a stiff drill out of his charge and he got it with Joe Steiner piloting Pioneer Of The Nile to a co-bullet of 1:11.40 for six panels. The splits of this drill were :35.60 and 59-flat, then a final furlong of :12.40 past the wire, working down to the clubhouse turn. Baffert told me that he was extremely happy with the colt and it went according to schedule. There is no doubt he will get a lot out of this drill, fitness-wise, over a deeply renovated surface that played a bit on the heavy side this morning.
Anytime a 3-year-old can go the last three-eighths in :35.40 with a real swift final clocking, you have to deem him on course to go the ultimate distance of a mile and a quarter on the first Saturday in May. I personally believe that this colts most impressive drills are when he shows his class in team drills, where he usually blows by his stablemate with ease through the last quarter-mile. Today, working solo, Pioneerof The Nile was professional, indeed, responding to the urging from his regular exercise rider from top of the lane to the clubhouse turn without having a target in front of him to keep him aggressive.
CHOCOLATE CANDY: Chocolate Candy worked a mile in 1:38.60 at Santa Anita under Joel Rosario, completing the final five furlongs in 1:01.60, which is very respectable on the watch given the fact that the surface was a bit on the deep side after undergoing its normal deep harrowing on Monday afternoon.
This colt stamped himself as a serious contender to win the Santa Anita Derby with this notable drill. He jogged back to the barn seemingly un-fatigued and certainly dead-fit. Perhaps the most important question that this son of Candy Ride answered was an affinity for the Pro-Ride surface. With trainer Jerry Hollendorfer on hand at Clockers Corner to witness the work, the connections have to feel confident from all aspects that are key at this stage of the game.