By Brian DiDonato
Flashy and exciting Triple Crown prospect Cupid (Tapit) faces six familiar foes and five new shooters as he looks to stamp himself as one of the GI Kentucky Derby favorites in Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby. A third-out romper when routing for the first time at Santa Anita Feb. 7, the Coolmore contingent's $900,000 KEESEP acquisition was hard-sent to make the lead last out in Oaklawn's GII Rebel S. Mar. 19. Posting very quick splits, he was confronted in the lane by GIII Southwest S. runner-up Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) and looked certain to be beat, but found another gear to prevail by daylight and provide Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert with yet another Hot Springs sophomore stakes success.
Third in the Rebel was Creator (Tapit), a visually impressive maiden breaker in his prior attempt Feb. 27. Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft), winner of the Southwest Feb. 15, was forced to steady turning for home in the Rebel, and could only manage fifth. Gray Sky (Tapit), Discreetness (Discreet Cat) and Cutacorner (Even the Score) were sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. Fourth finisher and 'TDN Rising Star' Cherry Wine (Paddy O'Prado) flattered the form of the Rebel with a third-place run in last Saturday's GI Toyota Blue Grass S.
The lightly raced duo of Dazzling Gem (Misremembered) and American Pioneer (Awesome Again) were separated by a length in their respective debuts going a mile here Jan. 18. The former went to two-for-two when besting Gray Sky in a first-level allowance here Feb. 13, and was a game third after taking some bumps in the stretch in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 26. American Pioneer, meanwhile, donned cap and gown by a convincing margin going a sixteenth shorter Mar. 19.
Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song), representing the same owner/trainer combination in Albaugh Family Stables and Dale Romans as Blue Grass hero Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway), was best known last season for his third-place finish after an abysmal trip in Churchill's GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 12. A “wise guy” horse for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he pressed the pace before fading to 12th. Brought back against older rivals in a local allowance Mar. 19, the $330,000 KEESEP grad showed the way early before succumbing to the advances of a perfect-trip winner and settling for the runner-up spot.
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