Dermot Weld at the mercy of Cannon Ball to land him his fourth American Derby, the Grade 2 $300,000 one at Arlington Park
The Grade 2 $300,000 American Derby will be run at Arlington Park on 9 July. This particular race will have significant importance to the Irish invader, Dermot Weld, who will be looking to land his fourth American Derby this time around with his three-year-old
bay gelding, Cannon Hill.
The son of Holy Roman Emperor, out of Upperville, Cannon Hill is coming fresh out of a win in the Jogfor Jockey.IE Race at the Navan over a distance of 7 ½ furlong on 15 June.
Prior to this edition of the Arlington Heights' meet, Dermot Weld was successful three times in the American Derby, winning it with Pine Dance back in 2000, then after three years he won it with Evolving Tactics in 2003 and with Simple Change after a year
in 2004.
Dermot Weld will be familiar with the track and would know what to do with his horse and how to devise tactics to land it for the fourth time.
He has been a little lucky in his last two starts in the American Derby as he finished fifth on both occasions, with Golden Arrow in 2006 and Perfect Casting in 2007.
The Bertram Firestone gelding has never responded in a race of consequence and if memory serves right, he has won one race of that sort throughout his whole career.
Though the bay gelding has run some excellent races, one for instance unfolded last year when he came really close to winning and snatching it form the recent Irish Derby winner, Treasure Beach, he fell short by a mere half a length in the maiden race at
Gowran Park on 11 August 2010.
Cannon Hill will be up against stiff competition, the likes of Wasted Tears and Fantasia who are strong probables for the Grade 1 Beverly D.
This will be a good prep race for both horses. Wasted Tears went on to bag a 5 length victory at Lone Star on 30 May when she raced in the Grade 3 Ouija Board.
Lone Star was her 2011 debut and she did not have a bad season in 2010 at all, with five wins out of seven starts.
Wasted Tears looks in contention and Cannon Ball surely will be facing the music if there is a stutter or a bad start in the beginning of the race, because the lot at the Derby will make him suffer.
Another strong contender for the American Derby is the six-year-old bay horse, Tajaaweed, trained by Daniel Peitz, trying to improve his third place finish of the American Derby in 2010.
All of these horses have the potential to win the Derby but uncertain runners.
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