Trip Alert- Derby Date

I have no idea if D. Wayne Lukas will try or even be able to get Derby Date into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile field, given he has yet to record even a single win.  But if Derby Date does find himself in the BC starting gate, I think you owe it to yourself as a handicapper to watch his effort in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last weekend and decide for yourself if he belongs on your tickets.

Watch the replay, and we will continue the discussion below.  He’s #12 in the Calumet silks.

So, here is what we have.  He went way wide around the first turn.  Then almost as wide around the second turn.  Made a bold move into contention nearing the top of the stretch.  And then flattened out late.  Three of the four horses who beat him were on the inside the whole way.  He lost as many as eight or even nine lengths to the winner due to the wide trip.  And his move reminded me ever so slightly of the move Street Sense made in the exact same race in 2006.  Street Sense lost that day before heading to Churchill Downs and winning the BC Juvenile.

This was not a bad effort for Derby Date. I am going to be very interested to see where he goes from here.