Banned edges past Midnight Interlude to give trainer Thomas Proctor his first Del Mar Derby
The 3-year-old Thomas Proctor trainer colt, Banned, has enjoyed the year 2011 by posting wins and finishing on the money wherever he has been shipped to.
Southern California, Del Mar was no different when he out finished a stubborn looking Midnight Interlude in the Grade 2 $250,000 Del Mar Derby on 4 September, 2011.
The son of Kitten’s Joy, Banned, was sent off as the highly favoured 9 t 10 to win the race, the decision was supported by his excellent run in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes on 13 August, 2011 at Arlington Park.
It was a tough race against the Irish raider Treasure Beach, who covered the 1 ¼ mile distance in 2 minutes and 3.91 seconds.
Trainer Tom Proctor has had a good year with Banned, and he went to on to grab his first Del Mar Derby.
Under Garrett Gomez, the Kentucky bred 3-year-old Banned broke well on the outside, but was soon taken off the pace, as Gomez got him in stalking mode settling him in fifth position.
At that point, the 3-year-old Bob Baffert trained Midnight Interlude was slightly overtaken by Thirtyfirststreet. Banned raced on the outside and Midnight Interlude was guided on the inside with Extensive.
The 1 1/8 mile event reeled in eight 3-year-olds, and around the mid stretch the race was shaping out be an interesting one. Meanwhile, Interlude dueled desperately to get the lead back and covered six furlongs in 1 minute and 12.43 seconds.
It was time for Banned to challenge for Gomez, especially when Midnight Interlude clung stubbornly to the lead with Extensive tracking her trails with purpose.
It was all out attack for the lead from Banned, and he was successful in getting his head in front after he swept past his rivals, but Midnight Interlude wasn’t ready to give in that easy.
It all came down to three horses, with Extensive fighting for it too, But, it was Banned and Midnight Interlude who provided an epic finish to the race with Banned outlasting Midnight Interlude by a head under strong urging for jockey Garret Gomez.
Banned has gone on to improve his stats with 5 wins out of 10 starts, and shot up his earnings $599,476 after the Del Mar Del Mar Derby win.
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