Horse Racing “Backtrack”: ‘Courage Shown in the 2012 Super Derby

Bourbon Courage absolutely exploded down the stretch at Louisiana Downs this past Saturday and rolled to an impressive five length win in this past weekends highlighted Horse Race, the 2012 Super Derby.

At the start, 8/5 betting favorite Blueskiesandrainbows and Hero of Order battled head and head thru fractions of :23, :47, and 1:12.2. But as they turned for home it was obvious the speed duel was taking its toll on both runners.

At that point, 44-1 longshot Master Rick, who laying right off the early leaders, took command and held it to mid-stretch before Bourbon Courage drove into contention and quickly drew away despite of drifting out slightly to win going away.

“Watching the race I was tickled when I saw a speed duel developing on the front end,” winning trainer Kellyn Gorder said. “Which was kind of what we thought would happen, I was happy that they went the half in 47 (seconds) and change, and he looked like he was traveling really comfortable. I told (jockey) Leandro (Goncalves) one of the things that this horse really likes to do is he runs the turns so well, and if you watch the race he really ran the turns well.”

Bourbon Courage completed the one and one eight mile test in 1:50.2 and paid $7.20 to win as the second betting choice.

Fly Lexis Fly closed very well late to nose out Master Rick for second. They were followed by Rousing Sermon, who came from last to take fourth. Then came Tensas Cold Front, Hero of Order, Blueskiesnrainbows, and Key Donation. Mr Bluegrass Music was eased with a half-mile to run.

Little Bets N’ Pieces:

**** Maram, winner of the 2008 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, died last Thursday from an acute illness and, in doing so, sadly left behind a 17 week old Giant’s Causeway colt.

The mare had been bred back, and pronounced in foal, to Elusive Quality this year.

Maram was trained by Chad Brown and earned $900,320 during her racing career, which ended due to a suspensory tear in 2010 with a 5-1-1 record from 10 starts.  

Maram (#3 with the green silks) winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile Filly Turf in 2008 past away last week.

**** The Green Monkey, the most expensive thoroughbred ever sold at public auction, was represented by his first winner when his 2-year-old daughter Kinz Funky Monkey won atDel Mar this past Saturday.

Racing for Always Believe Inc., Kinz Funky Monkey captured the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race by a neck in 1:04.3.

The Green Monkey (Forestry—Magical Masquerade) was bought for $16 million by Demi O’Byrne at the 2006Fasig-TiptonFloridaFebruary sale of 2-year-olds in training. The Green Monkey started three times, with his best effort coming in a third-place finish.

The Green Monkey stands at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds near Ocala, Fla. for a $5,000 fee.

$16 million yearling The Green Monkey

**** This looked pretty cool….The Maryland Jockey Club has introduced what it calls a virtual finish line at the Laurel Park fall meet. The video insertion technology delivers virtual distance markers and a virtual finish line on the main track and turf course to enhance the broadcast of the simulcast signal.

“This is a new, creative visual aid for fans to see how close the wire is and if their horse has a chance to win,” Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas said. “We tested it at Pimlico during Preakness week and got positive feedback, so we decided to move forward.”

“It is similar to the first-down marker in football but takes it one step further in the world of virtual advertising,” said Joe Gordon, executive vice president of International Sound Corp., which developed the technology.

Laurel Park in Maryland is introducing a “virtual finish line” as see on the tote board.

**** There are 15 yearlings to be sold in this week’s Keeneland September yearling sales that are by the great A.P Indy, which in turn, will mark the final crop from the now 23 year old stallion.

A.P. Indy, who is by Seattle Slew and won Horse of the Year honors in 1992, was retired from stud duty in 2011 due to declining fertility, sired 17 crops of racing age, witth currently sired 636 winners through September 7, including 85 graded stakes winners, for earnings totaling $119,823,029.

A.P Indy, who ran with his head as low as any horse I’ve ever seen, was responsible for 11 champions, including 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft; 2003 champion three-year-old male Bernardini; 2007 champion three-year-old filly Rags to Riches; 2001 U.A.E. Horse of Year Festival of Light; and Canadian champions Marchfield and Serenading.

Here he is in the 1992 Breeders Cup Classic, with yet another great race call by in incomparable Tom Durkin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3nLTrp3nIM