Morning Line takes Pennsylvania Derby
Morning Line won a dramatic three-way photo-finish to the Grade Two Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.
Having turned up to more prestige events than a politician trying to get re-elected, First Dude had been expected to finally get the victory he deserved. The colt had made the frame in his last five starts, all in Grade One races, and the drop to Grade was hoped to work by trainer Dale Romans.
Robby Albarado, taking over the reins from Ramon Dominguez, had First Dude up just behind the pace that was set by Morning Line, with Exhi and A Little Warm tracking the pair.
On run to the home turn First Dude started to make a run but was covered by A Little Warm as he and duelled in the home stretch. A Little Warm edged ahead with a furlong to run but Morning Line battled back. And then First Dude rallied to close on the two of them in the last hundred yards as the three past the post locked together, with Morning Line – trained by Nick Zito and ridden by John Velazquez (pictured) – getting back up to claim the verdict over First Dude by a neck with A Little Warm a nose away in third.
“The other horses came to him, put almost a neck in front, and I said ‘Oh man, I don’t know if I’m going to come back now’,” Velazquez said. “I got after him, he kept digging, he found a little bit more, and he put in a good fight. It was impressive. Not a lot of horses can come back and do that.”
At Louisiana Downs, Apart won the Grade Two Super Derby for Al Stall and Jesse Campbell.
Campbell had Apart on a ground-saving rail run behind the lead Hurricane Ike but then had to pull off the heels of the leader when the pace slowed on the back stretch. Apart had to come round three horses off the turn as Distorted Economy took the lead from Hurricane Ike at the furlong pole but then brought his raking stride into play to grab the in the last 50 yards.
Zenyatta, who will be attempting to take her unbeaten career run to 19 race when she contests the Grade One Lady’s Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park next Saturday, looked in smart shape after a morning blow-out.
The mare went through a final workout at Hollywood, with regular jockey Mike Smith not pushing her too hard. Smith followed stable companion El Vino for the first four furlongs, moved to the outside in the stretch, and eased Zenyatta to lead by just under a length. “I didn’t ask her to run until we got to the wire,” Smith told the Daily Racing Form. “I asked her to pick it up there to get a good gallop after the wire.”
“I thought she went really well. I’m happier with the way she’s doing. She seems to be coming around,” Smith added as trainer John Shirreffs prepares Zenyatta for the defence of her crown in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on November 6th.
“I thought she looked pretty good,” Shirreffs said. “Mike likes to have her work so that when she goes by that horse it’s near the wire. He tries to time it.”
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