GP Derby: Is Casual Trick the Next Dialed In?

12/29/2011 10:36 PM  | horseracingnation.com
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Gulfstream Park The 3-year-old class of 2012 debuts Sunday with the first running of the $100,000 Gulfstream Park Derby at 1 1/16 miles and a field of 11 with Michael Dubb’s Ancient Rome and Robert LaPenta’s Casual Trick among the likely choices to get early recognition on the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Triple Crown trail.

Jockey Joe Rocco, Jr. gets a return call on Ancient Rome for trainer Anthony Dutrow after they teamed up to win the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes at six furlongs here on opening day, Dec. 3. The son of Roman Ruler broke his maiden by 7 ¾ lengths at Delaware Park on Oct. 22 after a runner-up debut.

“I honestly don’t know what to expect,” said Dutrow. “He certainly has the talent, and if he can get the distance, he’s going to be a useful 3-year-old. It’s all about experimenting here (distance). If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just campaign him as a sprinter.”

Jockey John Velazquez picks up the mount on Casual Trick for trainer Nick Zito, who sent out LaPenta’s Dialed In to capture both the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and Florida Derby (G1) here early this year and Ice Box to score in the Florida Derby in 2010. Casual Trick is a son of the very hot sire Bernardini and broke his maiden going a mile at Churchill Downs last out on Nov. 18 following a fifth-place Saratoga debut.

“I just thought right off the bat to see how good he is,” Zito said. “I think he’s really good. He’s had a lot of good workouts and, more important, I think his development looks terrific and he’s extremely well bred.”

Another contender that will attract considerable attention will be West Point Thoroughbreds’ Gold Megillah with Edgar Prado aboard for trainer Graham Motion, who sent out Team Valor’s Animal Kingdom for the 20-to-1 upset victory in the Kentucky Derby last spring.

A son of Purim, Gold Megillah attracted attention with an eye-catching maiden score on Nov. 16 over a ‘sloppy’ track at Churchill Downs, romping home by 18 ½ lengths in the ‘off the turf’ test going 1 1/16 miles while making his fourth career start. Following a fourth-place debut at Saratoga in late August, he finished second going long on turf at Belmont Park and seventh in the Bourbon Stakes (G3) on turf at Keeneland.

Completing the field are McGee Stables’ King Kid, Corey Lanerie; Stipa Racing’s Reveron, Fernando Jara; Doubledown Stable’s Nachas and Joy, Rajiv Maragh; Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Silver Menace, Javier Castellano; Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Politicallycorrect, Elvis Trujillo; Korina Stable’s Ravelo’s Boy, Jeffrey Sanchez; Rose Family Stable’s Rex’s Last Tour, Daniel Centeno; and David Charlton and Vintage Thoroughbreds’ Yourhonorandglory, Kendrick Carmouche.

 

What the Nation is saying about GP Derby: Is Casual Trick the Next Dialed In?...

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