Well-Related World Approval Tenacious in American Derby
Updated: July 11, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Live Oak Plantation’s World Approval got Million Preview Day off to a chalky start, just holding off a late lunge from Crittenden, who was gaining with every dying stride.
Well beaten, though once placed in a pair of tries over the main track while under the care of Christophe Clement, the turf-meant homebred returned better than 8-1 in graduating in his debut over that surface at Gulfstream Mar. 14. Victorious in the restricted Sophomore Turf S. at Tampa Apr. 4, the gray got too far back in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 2, but ran on nicely to fill third spot, beaten 2 1/2 lengths behind Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) and A Lot (Tapit), both of whom returned to win stakes in their next appearances. Exiting a fourth to Divisidero in Belmont’s Pennine Ridge S. May 30, World Approval was sent off a shade over even money and gutted it out late.
Given a positive ride by Jose Lezcano, World Approval galloped alongside Nun the Less and inside of the outposted Firespike (Flower Alley), but there was no pace on whatsoever, as the opening quarter went in :25.46 and the half in a dawdling :52.46. Crittenden took a sit in a close fourth and rode the rails around the far turn, as World Approval came after Nun the Less in earnest a quarter mile from the money. He claimed that one’s scalp in upper stretch, but soon had Crittenden, who eased away from the fence to attack three abreast, to deal with for the final furlong and a half. World Approval remained about a length clear into the final 100 yards and looked to be drifting right in the waning stages, but managed to find the wire just ahead of Crittenden.
“I’m really happy with him,” winning trainer Mark Casse commented. “I’m not sure that’s exactly the way he wants to run, but good horses can overcome things. There was no pace, so we employed a different strategy. Hopefully there’s a little more pace next time so he can come with a later run. He got it done and we plan on being back on Aug. 15 [for the GI $450,000 Secretariat S.]. Good horses win when they have to make changes to get it done.”
Saturday, Arlington Park
AMERICAN DERBY-GIII, $100,000, AP, 7-11, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:52.92, gd.
1–@WORLD APPROVAL, 119, g, 3, by Northern Afleet
1st Dam: Win Approval, by With Approval
2nd Dam: Negotiator, by Hoist the Flag
3rd Dam: Geneva II, by Gulf-Weed
O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-Mark E Casse; J-Jose Lezcano. $58,800. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-2, $174,050. *1/2 to Miesque’s Approval (Miesque’s Son), Ch. Turf Horse, GISW, $2,648,879; Za Approval (Ghostzapper), MGSW & MGISP, $1,328,786; Revved Up (Sultry Song), MGSW, $1,548,653. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Crittenden, 119, g, 3, Distorted Humor–Calla Lily, by Pulpit. O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Darley (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. $19,600.
3–Nun the Less, 119, c, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–Nunnery, by Forest Wildcat. ($140,000 Ylg ’13 KEESEP). O-Lothenbach Stables Inc.; B-Claiborne Farm (KY); T-Chris M. Block. $10,780.
Margins: NK, 2, 4HF. Odds: 1.10, 7.00, 4.60.
Also Ran: King of New York, Firespike, Raagheb, Slope.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.