The second through fourth runners earned qualifying points on a 40-20-10 basis toward the Derby, though of the losing horses, only Smile Happy (70 overall Derby points) is committed to the run for the roses. Zandon winning Blue Grass (Keeneland/Coady Photography)Įmmanuel settled for third, 3 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up and a half-length ahead of longshot Golden Glider. The winner raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.35 on a drying-out track listed as “good.” He paid $6.20 to win. But I was traveling super - it was just a matter of finding a gap and getting a clean run down the lane.” “The pace was a bit slow, so I was wandering down the backside. Then I got myself covered up, so I was there with nothing I could do about it,” said Prat, who rode Zandon for the first time Saturday. But it wasn’t for long.īlocked with horses all around him, he dropped back ninth after a quarter-mile, 10th after a half-mile, and last of 11 after six furlongs - as Emmanuel raced along in the lead with quarter-mile splits of :24.04, :48.39, and 1:12.72 on a drying-out track rated as “good.”īut once a hole materialized, the Upstart colt responded, blowing past horses late on the second turn, finding a seam in early stretch, and wearing down Smile Happy in the final furlong under Prat. 19 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds when third in his season debut, he recovered in the Blue Grass to lead a few horses into the first of two turns. He gave his backers plenty of anxious moments over the first minute of the 1 1/8-mile contest.īreaking slowly, as he did in the Feb. Horseplayers also liked him a bunch Saturday, sending him off at 2-1 odds, just behind Smile Happy at 9-5.

The victory earned him 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve May 7 at Churchill Downs, where he figures to be one of the popular selections with the betting public.

Knifing his way through traffic under Flavien Prat, he surged through the pack to catch favored Smile Happy and pull away by 2 1/2 lengths. But this time, his talent was enough to offset poor racing luck.

Youtube manowar warriors of the world