Unbeatable Morello Prevails in Gotham

The Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) welcomed another start on March 5 — or at least a potential one — in a 3-year-old with the kind of connection worthy of a bond of love. prefer.

When Morelo won $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) on Saturday for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct race track it brings together a variety of elements, from one of the sport’s biggest and most popular stars and a number of new and fairly young faces to the national stage in an ownership group that includes partnerships based in Saratoga and the tallest player is 18 years old. school student who heads a stable.

By winning at Gotham, the undefeated Morello secured 50 qualifying points to secure himself a spot in the starting gate for the Commission Race.

Will coach Steve Asmussen, the sport’s all-time leader in victory, take advantage of that May 7 opportunity at Churchill Downs is still viewed. Ahead of Saturday’s win at one-leg, Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing’s Morello won the first six-feathers race, followed by a score in the seven-feathered Jimmy Winkfield Stakes , so two turns remains a mystery to the son of Classic Empire at the end of this winter.

Of course, while Lyon says he’ll be happy to run the 3-year-old pony in the Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by LG&E and KU (G2) on May 7 at Churchill Downs, those 50 points are definitely the reason enough to ponder the thrill of being in the featured race that day at the Louisville circuit.

“We are dreaming now,” said Lyon, who has yet to participate in a Kentucky Derby game until now. “We’ve dreamed before but this is a game changer today. I think going to some hotels in Louisville and then we’ll cancel if we have to. I think we could have a Derby, but if it’s Pat Mile Day, we’ll be happy too. We want to make him a stallion.

“We were up against Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Calumet. We were just a small group of people from Saratoga and we were up against big dogs… but we had alpha today. This is going to be a fun night.”

Diamond T Racing frontman Victoria Taylor is also a newcomer to Triple Crown Tracks, but that’s to be expected given she’s just a senior in high school.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It was amazing. I’m still in shock. I’m surprised how easily he won.”

Morello, an even money lover ($4), won easily. Despite some problems when he was hit twice in the early stages, he was second in set speed List of Deans for a long time going down the back. But once he got into the stretch, driver Jose Lezcano hurled him into top speed and they dashed through the previously undefeated Dean’s List, third pick 5-1. In front equal in length in the eighth post, he trailed nine of his opponents in the final match and overcame the 4 1/2 length string ahead by a ratio of 1:39.28 in a mile under the slight urge in the passage.

Bred by Robert B. Tillyer and Dr. Chet Blackey of Kentucky, the Morello was purchased for $250,000 from the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds during the 2021 Training Sale. congratulation mare Stop the Wedding, the winner of $264,000 was the winner of her first rating from seven ponies. She also has a 2 year old kid Prince Cairo dirty and longing Payer dirty.

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Dean List, son of Sightstown launched stakes for Hall of Fame coach Pletcher, coming in second and earning 20 qualifying points.

He was ahead of Calumet Farm’s Code Gold the son of Honor code also trained by Pletcher. He won 10 Kentucky Derby points while Life is wonderful get 5 for fourth place.

Baffert is trained Rockefeller , second pick 7-2, hit outside the starting gate and tripped at halftime. Thursday after the first 1/4 mile, he never fired a shot and finished last in field 10.