Rattlesnake among a star studded field for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing
The consistent Rattlesnake Bridge is an important part of this year’s 9 horse field in the Grade 2 $1million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, with the likes of Belmont Stakes' winner, Ruler on Ice, and Pender Harbour, making the bunch all the more exciting.
The runners of the derby will probably run on a wet, muddy track, considering the forecast of rain in Philadelphia on 25 September, 2011.
Wet conditions or not, Kiaran McLaughlin trained Rattlesnake Bridge will look to improve on his second place finish in the Travers Stakes, where he lost a winning position to the Belmont Stakes' runner-up, Stay Thirsty.
The son of Tapit, out of Prall Street by Cherokee Run, Rattlesnake Bridge was in clear contention when he made a four wide turn for home.
The dramatic stretch drive with Stay Thirsty began, but in the final furlong, Stay Thirsty started pulling away from Rattlesnake Bridge and the rest of the field, as the winner put himself among the leaders of the 3-year-old division.
It was a clear second place finish for Rattlesnake Bridge, but in the Pennsylvania Derby the colt will meet Ruler on Ice as well as the multiple stakes' winner, To Honor and Serve, and six other winners contesting for the heavily pursed 1 1/8 mile race.
Rattlesnake Bridge, prior to the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, was coming off a win in the Long Branch Stakes over a distance of 1 1/16 miles.
The race at Monmouth Park on 9 July, 2011, had the likes of Little Drama and All of the Above, but Rattlesnake Bridge, under jockey E Castro, got the best of the pack, covering the distance in 1 minute and 41.71 seconds on dirt.
On the way he defeated All of the Above and Little Drama, finishing second and third, respectively.
This was Rattlesnake Bridge’s second win after his maiden breaking race at Gulfstream Park on 12 February, 2011.
McLaughlin will have his work cut out as Rush Now is also in the mix, and he is already considering the horse to settle in the middle of the track to pace himself at fifth or sixth to launch his deadly attack later in the race.
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