Sponsored by:
Trainer Jack Sisterson
In a little more than nine months, trainer Jack Sisterson went from searching for his first Grade 1 win to achieving one at all three NYRA-operated tracks, with Calumet Farm homebred Channel Cat s victory by a nose over Gufo in Saturday s $700,000 Man o War at Belmont Park checking the final box.
Channel Cat earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure in three starts of his 6-year-old campaign with a 98 number for the effort, which added to Sisterson s 2020 wins with Vexatious in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga Race Course and True Timber in the Cigar Mile Handicap in December at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The road to the
2021 Kentucky Derby, which returned to its typical schedule, included 35 qualifying races that were run between Sept. 5, 2020. and April 10, 2021.
During the points era, the Derby results have become remarkably consistent. The favorite has been a significant factor in the finish of the race, with the winner usually racing as part of the early pace. Every horse to cross the finish line first has had a victory in one of the 100-point qualifying races and, except for last year’s extended Derby trail, was unbeaten during his 3-year-old campaign. Occasionally, a long shot has broken into the exacta, trifecta or superfecta.
Sponsored by:
Silver State and Ricardo Santana Jr. winning the Oaklawn Handicap
Two of the best horses developed by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds came to the Hall of Fame trainer on the advice of David Lambert. Silver State hasn t reached championship status yet, but the 4-year-old son of Hard Spun continued his climb toward the top of the country s older two-turn division with a half-length victory in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) last Saturday at Oaklawn under Ricardo Santana Jr.
The victory was the fifth consecutive for Silver State, who became the first horse to win the Oaklawn Handicap – Oaklawn s biggest prize for older two-turn runners – $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes at 1 mile and the $500,000 Essex Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. The latter two races, Jan. 23 and March 13, respectively, were major local steppingstones to the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap.
Sponsored by:
Fausto Gutierrez, trainer of Apple Blossom winner Letruska
Letruska will remain at Oaklawn for the next few days before possibly heading to Churchill Downs, her trainer, Fausto Gutierrez, said Sunday morning, roughly 12 hours after the Mexican champion edged two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.
Letruska earned a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 102, a career high, for her front-running nose victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. Gutierrez said Letruska came out of the 1 1/16-mile race in good order, but next-race plans are pending for the 5-year-old daughter of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner and Arkansas Derby runner-up Super Saver. Letruska was coming off a runner-up finish, beaten a head by Shedaresthedevil, in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn.