Chasing The Derby: Week In Review 11/7 - 11/13 & Notable Performers

As the Breeders’ Cup page turns, it appears time for Kentucky Derby hype to begin on any impressive 2-year-old maiden breaker. This past week there were three colts that generated such buzz and none broke a mid-80 Beyer speed figure. Nonetheless, they’re notable// Consortium led the charge, with an impressive 4 3/4 length victory that catapulted him to 50-1 odds on the Wynn Las Vegas Kentucky Derby Future Book// Empire Way, a full brother to Royal Delta won at first asking, even though trainer Mike Harrington said he wouldn’t// Ever So Lucky lived up to his buzz and $600,000 price tag, but once again we have an Indian Charlie colt that comes with distance questions// The $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot is Saturday. Whether it’s justified or not, the winner (and most likely runner-up) is guaranteed a start on the first Saturday in May.

Upcoming Graded Stakes:

Delta Downs Jackpot (G3). Race page here

Notable Performers

Hierro

11/9/11 Churchill Downs Maiden Special Weight

Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Trainer: Steven Asmussen

Chart: Equibase

Video: YouTube

Beyer/BRIS: 85/94

Articles: Asmussen has high hopes for Hierro after win (DRF)

Heavily bet in his third start, Hierro supported his backers and appeared to finally put it all together in a professional effort on the Churchill strip.

Tracking just off the pacesetters, jockey Julien Leparoux kept tight wraps on the colt who appeared eager to go from the start. Finally loosening the reigns into the final turn, Hierro appeared to be gliding effortlessly down the stretch to win by over five lengths in a final time of 1:23.65 for seven furlongs.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said the colt will likely prep for the Classics on the Southern California circuit.

Hierro is by freshman sire Hard Spun, who has already proven to be a successful sire of precocious 2-year-olds. He’s out of a graded stakes placed dam and a half brother to multiple stakes winner Cherokee Triangle who excels on turf and won at distances up to 8.5 furlongs. His catalog page can be viewed here.

Consortium

11/12/11 Aqueduct Maiden Special Weight

Jockey: Alan Garcia

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Chart: Equibase

Video: YouTube

Beyer/BRIS: 79/88

Articles: New York Watch: Consortium (NYRA)

Consortium, a 13-1 shot entered in a maiden contest at Aqueduct Saturday, garnered little buzz before the gates opened. That all changed once he crossed the wire ahead of the rest of the field by nearly 5 lengths.

It was a quick and perfect break from the start for Consortium who soon settled behind a 4-pack of pacesetters in the early going. Alan Garcia kept the colt on the outside and soon asked for run just before the stretch. It was easy from there on as Garcia pulled up on the colt several lengths before the line.

Consortium is regally bred by champion Bernardini, out of a graded stakes winning dam at 9 furlongs. He’s owned by Darley, but apparently will stay in the States for a three-year-old campaign in New York or Florida.

Other notable performers:

Empire Way

11/13/11 Hollywood Park Maiden Special Weight

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Mike Harrington

Chart: Equibase

Video: YouTube

Beyer/BRIS: 65/85

Ever So Lucky

11/11/11 Churchill Downs Maiden Special Weight

Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard