The road to the Derby took a funny turn at the Fountain of Youth Stakes as three 'contenders' flopped big time and a previously anonymous colt took a big step forward.  Lightly-raced Quality Road tracked front-running This Ones for Phil throughout, then blasted by him as they turned for home to win impressively going away.

 

 

Early on, 'Phil looked to be cruising, as he was alone in the lead and doing easy fractions but faded totally down the stretch.  Capt. Candyman Can was also close early, but had no kick coming home and also faded.  Worst of all was Notonthesamepage, who broke slowly, had nothing, was not factor.  ToTT had said many times this trio looked like just sprinters that would not go 10f, but even these awful performances where not expected.  Out of contention for the Derby until further notice.

 

But of the winner, he just might develop into a player, seeing how easily he won.  Out of top stallion Elusive Quality, sire of 2004 Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones and 2008 BC Classic winner Raven's Pass, by Kobla out of multiple Gr-I winner and 1983 Australia HOY (and '84 German Champ) Strawberry Road, he also has all the hereditary tools to succeed.  Look for him likely to head to the Gr-I Florida Derby next.

 

Across the country, order was restored in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, as The Pamplemousse dominated the field, going gate to wire and romping to an easy victory. 

 

 

The group was not much to talk about and he did what he should have done, but he did it so easily and won with a very fast time, and proved he is in then the top echelon of CA colts.  But 10f...?  Next up for his the Gr-I Santa Anita Derby.

 

Tune in later this week for a preview of this week's prep, the Gr-II Gotham, along with the Gr-I's Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Oaks and Kilroe Mile.

 

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The Trail to Date:

 

- Count Fleet Stakes:  Haynesfield

- Spectacular Bid Stakes: Notonthesamepage

- Turfway Prevue:  Loch Dubh

- Gr-III Lecomte Stakes: Friesan Fire

- Gr-III San Rafael Stakes: The Pamplemousse

- California Derby: Chocolate Candy

- Gr-II Hutcheson Stakes: Capt. Candyman Can

- Gr-III Holy Bull Stakes:Saratoga Sinner (out injured)

- Whirlaway Stakes: Haynesfield

- Gr-III Risen Star: Friesan Fire

- Gr-III Rober B. Lewis: Pioneerof The Nile

- Gr-III UAE Two Thousand Guineas: Desert Party

- Gr-III Sam F. Davis Stakes: General Quarters

- Gr-III Camino Real Derby: Chocalate Candy

- Gr-III Southwest Stakes: Old Fashioned

- Gr-II San Vicente Stakes: Evita Argentina

- Gr-II Fountain of Youth Stakes: Quality Road

- Gr-III Sham Stakes: The Pamplemousse

 

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ToTT Top Ten

 

Sadly, news has come that 2yo champion Midshipman will miss the Triple Crown following an injury to his front left leg.  As for the ToTT-T-T:

 

1. Old Fashioned: Next start: Gr-II Rebel Stakes on 3/14.

2. Pioneerof The Nile: Next start: Gr-II Santa Felipe Stakes on 3/14.

3. Desert Party: Next start: Gr-II UAE Derby on 3/28.

4. Friesan Fire: Next start: Gr-II Louisiana Derby on 3/14.

5. The Pamplemousse: Rockets up the charts after dominating win.  Next start: Gr-III Sham Stakes on 2/28

6. Chocolate Candy: Next start: Gr-I Santa Anita Derby on 4/4

7. Quality Road: Debuts after dispatching a deep field in the FOY. Next start: Gr-I Florida Derby on 3/28

8. Haynesfield: Next start: Gr-III Gotham on 3/14.

9. Stardom Bound: Champion filly not officially Derby bound, but a win in her next start would put her officially on the trail: Next start: Gr-I Santa Anita Oaks on 3/7

10. Dunkirk: Slides in to fill in.  Apparently talented, but unproven. Next start: Gr-I Florida Derby on 3/28

 

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In other news, Delightful Kiss did nothing in the Canadian Turf, which was won by longshot Twilight Meteor, running basically last / next to last the entire way, finishing way back.  Have to question whether a trip to Dubai will happen or justified.

 

Earlier on the FOY card as well, '08 Belmont winner Da'Tara is still looking for his first win since that fateful day (we were certain Big Brown had the Triple Crown won), coming in second in an optional claiming allowance race.

 

Overseas, Niconero successfully defended his title in Australia's Gr-I Futurity, the first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge.  The second leg is the Dubai Duty Free at the end of the month, but his connections have indicated he will not travel to the UAE like last year, as his swarays overseas have not gone well.

 

Tune in later this week for a preview of this week's prep, the Gr-II Gotham, along with the Gr-I's Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Oaks and Kilroe Mile.