Veteran trainer Richard Mandella has run only six horses in the Kentucky Derby presented by the Woodford Reserve (G1) and has had none since 2004, partly due to unfortunate circumstances, such as when Omaha . Beach was scratched out of the race in 2019 due to throat problems. But the Hall of Fame air conditioner may be back Churchill Downs this year with a 3 year old talent.
His horse in $401,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2), MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm’s Forbidden Kingdom won 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points while trailing six competitors in the March 5 race at Santa Anita . Park. Historically, 50 points has been more than enough to secure a place in the Derby, which often entails a 20-capacity school.
He also scored with observers on Saturday. Throwing down the brilliant divisions: 22.66, :45.90 and 1: 10.46 in the 1/16 mile race, the even money favorite ripped himself out of the pool and won 5 3/ 4 more length Doppelganger , second choice 8-5 of the race. The winner ran 16th overall in just 7.09 seconds, but was not asked to stretch by jockey Juan Hernandez and won with his ears perked up. He was timed at 1:43.98, paying $4 to win.
“I can’t wait to see this race and see if he makes it twice,” said Mandella, who scored his third win at San Felipe. “He looks even better.
“I was a bit nervous seeing (: 45.90) across the board in the first half. He’s just doing what he loves to do.”
Jack is happy and Beautiful art finished third and fourth, with 10 and five points, respectively, in the Road to Kentucky Derby series. The runner-up did not earn any points in the Derby due to his coach, Bob Baffert, being suspended from the race at the estate owned by Churchill Downs Inc. until mid-2023.
Forbidden Kingdom, the winner of the seven-part San Vicente (G2) Stakes in his previous start of the year, has returned to the crowded winner’s circle, raised in part by owners MyRacehorse owners who own small stocks in speed American Pharaoh pony.
Hernandez said Mandella “had the horse ready.”
“He was really fast. A couple of jumps after we broke, he was in the front. I let him run because if you fight him he will try to go faster,” Hernandez added. “I let him have fun. I let him loose and he never stopped, he kept going the whole race. He proved how good he is today.”
Mandella said Forbidden Kingdom will be back in the $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita on April 9. That race, like the Derby, is one that Mandella has yet to win, although this year Forbidden Kingdom should be one of the favorites.
Fox Hill Farms’ Omaha Beach took a different route to Louisville, winning the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park to his ill-timed physical setback just days before the Derby.
Mandella says it’s “hard to compare horses” when asked about Omaha Beach, but he calls Forbidden Kingdom a pony that’s “turning around and it’s grown up.”
Last year at 2, Forbidden Kingdom was very fast but couldn’t maintain its pace with the wire in the stakes, finishing third in Speakeasy Stakes and second in Bob Hope Stakes (G3).
Forbidden Kingdom owners are previous Kentucky Derby winners, teaming up with other partners to beat the 2020 COVID-19 postponed Derby with Real . Baffert-trained Authentic also won the San Felipe 2020.
Bred by Springhouse Farms in Kentucky, the Forbidden Kingdom was sold to Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse for $300,000 as expected at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Annual Show from Paramount Sales. He ran out of classified winnings Five-star day mare Only Louise , beating of three winners from four ponies to race. Two of her underrated ponies include a 2-year-old Bolt d’Oro The pony and a cat are yearning by Not this time .
Although Just Louise is a sprinter, Forbidden Kingdom seems to be behind the American Pharoah in speed and endurance. American Pharoah, who also picks Beholder Mile (G1) winner As time goes by on Saturday, won the 2015 Triple Crown for Baffert.
Forbidden Kindom currently has a three-win record, a second and third from five starts and makes $434,000.
“It was unbelievable we were at the Derby and Breeders’ Cup with Authentic and it was amazing,” said Michael Behrens, founder and CEO of MyRacehorse. “But to have this one and choose this horse as a child. To go through the whole journey. To see Mandella see him through adulthood and his amazing speed control… And To do this today with all these people, that’s touching down.”
Videotapes: San Felipe S. (G2)
