hypothetical derby

[declansharbor]

Given his explosiveness and a top jock, Afleet Alex would run past War Emblem and Smarty Jones with Barbaro completing the super..

[Charismatic1]

1] Giacomo Mike Smith 50-1
2] Rock Hard Ten Garrett Gomez 30-1
3] Congaree Pat Valenzuela 12-1
4] Aptitude Alex Solis 50-1
5] Peace Rules Rafael Bejarano 15-1
6] Birdstone Julien Leparoux 30-1
7] Point Given Gary Stevens 9-2
8] Barbaro Edgar Prado 8-1
9] Afleet Alex Jeremy Rose 8-1
10] Smarty Jones Stewart Elliot 10-1
11] Fusaichi Pegasus Kent Desormeaux 4-1
12] Empire Maker Jerry Bailey 5-1
13] War Emblem Victor Espinoza 20-1
14] Funny Cide Jose Santos 25-1
15] Bernardini Javier Castellano 10-1
16] Red Bullet John Velasquez 30-1
17] Monarchos Jorge Chavez 15-1
18] Perfect Drift Eddie Delahoussaye 20-1
19] Ten Most Wanted Pat Day 20-1
20] Proud Citizen Cornelio Velasques 50-1

TOM HAMMOND: Okay, it’s time to send it up to Tom Durkin, who is ready to call the action of DerbyTrail.com’s 319th Hypothetical Derby…I can hardly wait…Tom?

TOM DURKIN: Thanks, Tom. I, too, can hardly wait, for this whatever numbered Hypo Derby. A phenomenal field of 3yos from this new millennium have gathered and there are just a couple more to load. There goes Ten Most Wanted with Pat Day into stall 19. One more to load and that is the Wayne Lukas trained, Proud Citizen, going into the far outside post 20. Well, he’s trying to load. Proud Citizen balking just a bit. Making the gate crew work a little…now, there he goes. The field is set.

AND THEY’RE OFF IN THE HYPO DERBY! Proud Citizen on the outside and Funny Cide in the middle broke very alertly and there goes War Emblem showing that early speed of his today. He is being joined by Peace Rules toward the inside. Smarty Jones is in there between horses about two back and Congaree with Patrick Valenzuela broke a bit sluggishly down toward the rail. And as they pass by us for the first time, it is the sleek War Emblem to lead the Derby field by three parts of a length to Proud Citizen to his outside and Peace Rules holding ground on the rail. The pace is brisk but not suicidal. Running fourth in the three path is the gutsy gelding Funny Cide and Congaree has now moved up along the rail to be fifth, by two lengths. He is followed by Smarty Jones sixth, Stewart Elliott has guided him into the clear about three back and he is now joined by Bernardini on the outside seventh. Barbaro and Edgar Prado are saving ground toward the inside eighth. To his outside is the favorite Fusaichi Pegasus, Empire Maker, and Red Bullet, who was fanned into the six path. Those four run in a line as they round the clubhouse turn. Next is the big red train Point Given, that big body was just shuffled out of tight traffic. After that, it is a break of three back to Perfect Drift and another break of three to Birdstone and Rock Hard Ten just to his inside running together 14th and 15th. Then comes Ten Most Wanted in the clear on the outside 16th with Jeremy Rose just behind that biding his time with Afleet Alex. It’s another break of atleast seven or eight back to the trailers in the field: Giacomo on the rail with Aptitude running alongside and Monarchos is 20th and last as the field burns down the back-side.

It is still War Emblem up front by a solid length. He led them through a sharp first quarter of :23 seconds flat and clipped off the half-mile in :46 flat. As they near the far-turn, Proud Citizen begins to ask the question to War Emblem who is confidently ridden by Victor Espinoza. Peace Rules is sneaking up to the inside, Congaree has moved into contention looking for room. Just passing Funny Cide is the ominous presence of Smarty Jones. Just 2 lengths covers the first five with less than a half mile to go. Barbaro approaches that group on the inside, Funny Cide continues on. And THERE GOES BERNARDINI with a rush on the outside and Empire Maker and Jerry Bailey are trying to go with him. Point Given is trying to get into contention but is struggling about 8 from the front, Fusaichi Pegasus is toiling. And now Afleet Alex is beginning to uncork his rally from the back of the pack.

At the top of the stretch, War Emblem is the leader but is now embraced by the onslaught of Bernardini on the outside and Peace Rules gutting it out on the rail. Congaree is trying to find a way through. The field turns for home, but Bernardini and War Emblem are struggling to go on with it, though. War Emblem has given way, Bernardini NOT TODAY as Peace Rules takes over the lead. And to his outside comes CONGARRREEEE. Smarty Jones is now set down for the drive and Smarty Jones is ROSE to the lead by a narrow margin. Now Barbaro emerges as a threat. Those four hit the 1/8 pole together! Smarty Jones, narrow lead, Barbaro fighting tooth and nail to his outside. They separate from Congaree and Peace Rules, but they will soon be engaged by the surge of Afleet Alex. Perfect Drift is in the picture and Monarchos is getting involved late. A 1/16 to run and it is still Smarty Jones desperately holding on to a tenuous lead. Barbaro, one final try, AND HERE IS ALEX! A here’s late rush from MONARCHOS in the grandstand!! Here’s the wire!! IMPOSSIBLY CLOSE!!! I think it was…perhaps…perhaps I think I have no idea. An absolutely spine-tingling finish. It was a four-horse photo between Smarty Jones on the inside, Barbaro directly to his outside with Afleet Alex two paths out from Barbaro and Monarchos practically running from the luxury suites. The finish was 2:00 2/5. Behind them came Congaree fifth, with Peace Rules, Red Bullet, and Perfect Drift very close for sixth. After that it was a cluster of five or six. A disappointing effort for the three favorites, but not for the four horses that will live on in legend for guts they showed today. And I am out of breath. Tom Hammond, BACK TO YOU!

Hammond: Wow! Tom, you’re not the only one out of breath. Great job as always. This picture may take awhile…..

[Charismatic1]

And yes, I'm happy to say that I have way too much time on my hands tonight.