On Disappointing Saturday, “War Cry” Didn't Disappoint

Wasn't this supposed to be the Saturday where we learned something about the 3-year-olds headed to the GI Kentucky Derby? Instead, it was, to say the least, a strange day amid a strange year. More top horses have taken backward steps than positive ones this year and once Mastery (Candy Ride {Arg}) went down, there's been nothing close to a definitive divisional leader. Perhaps Malagacy (Shackleford) will run off the screen in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby and establish himself as the clear horse to beat in Kentucky, but even that wouldn't be without a touch of, well, weirdness. Malagacy is, after all, a colt Todd Pletcher once thought so little of that he entered him in a maiden claiming race. He was scratched from that race after spiking a fever. There's also the possibility that Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) will get his mental act together at Oaklawn and run like he is capable of running.

More and more, this has the feel of a Kentucky Derby where the winner pays $76.40 and is someone you could have only picked with a hat pin.

A look at Saturday's Big Three preps:

The Wood Memorial: Why did Irish War Cry (Curlin) run so dismally in the GII Fountain of Youth? Trainer Graham Motion had been scratching his head from the moment his Jersey-bred colt staggered across the finish line that day at Gulfstream, beaten 21 3/4 lengths, and told everyone to just draw a line through the race.

As it turns out, that was not “trainer-speak,” but an accurate assessment of what happened that day at Gulfstream. Irish War Cry re-emerged in the GII Wood Memorial as the exact same horse who looked so good winning the GII Holy Bull. Actually, he was even better. He broke from an unfavorable post (No. 8) and there was speed to the inside of him, which forced him to sit off the pace. That's something he had never been asked to do before. He rated nicely for Rajiv Maragh and drew off to win comfortably over the talented but lightly raced Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song). He was easily the star of the day.

Though things may change with the Arkansas Derby yet to have been run, he's probably your favorite in the Kentucky Derby, albeit a 5-1, 6-1 favorite.

A Derby win by Irish War Cry would be a nice story. He's representing the embattled New Jersey-breeding industry, which has been brought to its knees by competition from neighboring slots states and owner Isabelle de Tomaso is Jersey racing royalty. She is the daughter of Amory Haskell, who never came close to having a top 3-year-old colt. He'll also represent a feel-good story for Maragh, who missed nearly 17 months after injuring his back and ribs and then rode just two winners from his first 62 mounts upon his return in November. He got the mount when Joel Rosario opted to ride Practical Joke (Into Mischief) in the GII Blue Grass.

The Blue Grass: Likely, Keeneland executives were thinking they had gotten the last laugh on the graded stakes committee. Along with the Wood, the GII Blue Grass was downgraded this year, and then Keeneland came up with, on paper, the best and deepest field of any Derby prep run this year.

While the Blue Grass might have looked loaded, the outcome suggests that the field really wasn't very good. Either that or it was just one of those bizarre races that happen every once in a while and defy explanation.

How on earth did Irap (Tiznow) win this race? Yes, he's well-bred, yes he's trained by Doug O'Neill, but he was a maiden after seven career starts and was coming off a dull fourth-place finish in the GIII Sunland Derby? How did he win? He just did. There is no other explanation. This was a very strange race.

Second-place finisher Practical Joke and third-place finisher McCraken (Ghostzapper) earned the right to say they belong in the Derby. Though they were beaten by a preposterous long shot, they have credentials. Practical Joke is a horse who keeps knocking on the door and is in the astute hands of Chad Brown. McCraken had a lousy trip in the Blue Grass and may have needed a race after missing a planned start in the GII Tampa Bay Derby due to a minor injury. It's worth noting that McCraken's trainer, Ian Wilkes, one of the very nicest people in the game, refused to comment after the race. Apparently, he was not too pleased.

The Santa Anita Derby: Once Mastery exited the scene, the California contingent looked not only weak but as muddled as it gets. As expected, the 13-horse GI Santa Anita Derby didn't clear up a whole lot. We do know that beaten favorite Iliad (Ghostzapper) is probably better off sprinting and that American Anthem (Bodemeister) has somehow gone terribly off form, but little else. After finishing fourth, beaten 9 3/4 lengths, in the GII San Felipe, Gormley (Malibu Moon) got the win but had an absolutely perfect trip under Victor Espinoza. As three horses battled ding-dong for the lead for nearly an entire mile, Espinoza sat fourth behind the duel and had no problem getting by the tiring front-runners. Because of his good fortune, Gormley will be one of those horses many will discount come Derby Week.

This and That: Kudos to Keeneland, NYRA and Santa Anita for not getting into the “post time war” that was waged a week earlier when Gulfstream and Fair Grounds kept tripping over one another, either running their top races within minutes apart or simultaneously. All the big races this past Saturday were spaced out and the fans had time to watch and bet on them all without any complications…Saturday was arguably the greatest day ever for New Jersey-bred horses. Not only did Irish War Cry win the Wood, Jersey star Green Gratto (Here's Zealous) scored a shocking win in the prior race, the GI Carter H….Looks like Bob Baffert will not have a Derby starter. He has had a starter in eight of the last nine Derbies, last missing the race in 2013…The Derby point system has made it very difficult for a filly to start in the race. As good as Triple Crown nominee Paradise Woods (Union Rags) looked in the GI Santa Anita Oaks, in prior years she would have been a horse you'd have to seriously consider for the Derby. With 0 Derby points, she'll be going in the GI Kentucky Oaks.