Kentucky Derby BRIS Speed Rating Report: Irish War Cry, El Areeb highlight trifecta of early-season preps
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February 7th, 2017
El Areeb confirmed his status as a serious contender and Irish War Cry emerged as possible force in South Florida as three prep races in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series were offered on Saturday, February 4.
The Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park featured the return of early Kentucky Derby favorite Classic Empire, but the unanimous 2-year-old champion weakened to be a well-beaten third as Irish War Cry dominated wire-to-wire, registering an excellent 102 BRIS Speed rating for the 3 ¾-length decision.
Bred in New Jersey, Irish War Cry is now 3-for-3 for owner/breeder Isabelle de Tomaso, making his first two-turn start Saturday after opening his career with a pair of fast wins at Laurel Park. Joel Rosario rides the Curlin colt for Graham Motion.
El Areeb backed up a sterling performance in the Jerome (G3) with another convincing victory on Aqueduct’s inner track, easily capturing the Withers (G3) by 4 ¼ lengths. He earned a fine 99 BRIS Speed figure after rallying from just off a moderate early pace, receiving a whopping 119 BRIS Late Pace rating as he finished full of run under regular jockey Trevor McCarthy.
Cathal Lynch conditions the Laurel-based gray son of Exchange Rate.
Royal Mo rolled to a 3 ¼-length tally while making his stakes debut in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita, drawing off in the stretch after setting the pace on a short early lead. Victor Espinoza has the call on the John Shirreffs trainee, but the Uncle Mo colt will need to show more after registering only a 95 BRIS Speed rating against a questionable cast of opponents.
Below are the BRIS Speed ratings (90 or better) registered in Kentucky Derby qualifying races (asterisk denotes number earned in 2016):
|
Horse |
|
Race (finish position) |
|
BRIS Speed |
|
*Classic Empire |
|
BC Juv. (1st) |
|
108 |
|
Gormley |
|
Sham (1st) |
|
102 |
|
Irish War Cry |
|
Holy Bull (1st) |
|
102 |
|
American Anthem |
|
Sham (2nd) |
|
102 |
|
*Mo Town |
|
Remsen (1st) |
|
101 |
|
El Areeb |
|
Jerome (1st) |
|
100 |
|
El Areeb |
|
Withers (1st) |
|
99 |
|
*Mastery |
|
Los Al Futurity (1st) |
|
99 |
|
*No Dozing |
|
Remsen (2nd) |
|
98 |
|
*Practical Joke |
|
BC Juv. (3rd) |
|
98 |
|
Uncontested |
|
Smarty Jones (1st) |
|
97 |
|
Gunnevera |
|
Holy Bull (2nd) |
|
97 |
|
*Gormley |
|
FrontRunner (1st) |
|
97 |
|
*Practical Joke |
|
Champagne (1st) |
|
97 |
|
*Gunnevera |
|
Delta Jackpot (1st) |
|
96 |
|
Royal Mo |
|
Robert Lewis (1st) |
|
95 |
|
True Timber |
|
Withers (2nd) |
|
94 |
|
*Classic Empire |
|
Breeders’ Futurity (1st) |
|
94 |
|
J Boys Echo |
|
Withers (3rd) |
|
93 |
|
*McCraken |
|
Ky Jockey Club (1st) |
|
93 |
|
*Guest Suite |
|
Lecomte (1st) |
|
93 |
|
*Lookin at Lee |
|
BC Juv. (4th) |
|
93 |
|
Classic Empire |
|
Holy Bull (3rd) |
|
92 |
|
*Wild Shot |
|
Ky Jockey Club (2nd) |
|
92 |
|
Irap |
|
Robert Lewis (2nd) |
|
91 |
|
Petrov |
|
Smarty Jones (2nd) |
|
91 |
|
Untrapped |
|
Lecomte (2nd) |
|
91 |
|
Sheer Flattery |
|
Robert Lewis (3rd) |
|
90 |
|
*Lookin at Lee |
|
Breeders’ Futurity (2nd) |
|
90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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