A new record for the Gr. III HAW Derby was posted on Saturday when Angelos Stable’s Purple Ripple (5.30) broke the 1:46 mark, finishing in a final time of 1:45.77 for the nine furlong event. The sophomore’s time would also set a New Track Record for the distance as well. The victory would be his first Graded as well as stakes victory in twelve career starts. His record stands at ( 5-3-2) and has a total career earnings of just shy of the $354.000 mark. He has paid back to his owner the $126.000 Auction price he paid out to War Paint in the fall Auction in just one start.
Right from the onset of the race, Purple Ripple would break quickly from his gate and position himself well along the rail, just to the inside of early leader Ludwig Van Beethoven ( 2.10) from Maverick Racing, the post time favorite. To the outside would sit Axeman’s Turfway Express ( 2.20) looking to keep a close eye on this pair.
As the trio battled down the backstretch with Ludwig Van Beethoven posting a 48.10 opening half mile, they had already opened up a five length advantage over Rockitpad’s Trojan Magnum ( 28.15) and the leaders entry mate Oregon Duck ( 2.90). Threshold’s Tygon Glondore ( 8.75) sat seven lengths shy at this point. After a three quarter time of 1:11.20 ( 23.10), Purple Ripple would be head to head for the lead into the far turn and by the time he hit the top of the stretch, he would manage to nudge a head in front for the lead. His two early competitors were not giving up the chase as they were both in full stride to the quarter pole, while Oregon Duck had closed to within just under two lengths from the leader.
At the eighth pole, Purple Ripple posted a 1:34.22 ( 23.02), an even faster quarter time and opened a hole for Oregon Duck to follow him along the rail. The rest of field were now struggling to keep pace with the runaway winner. By the time the Angelos Stable entry hit the wire, he was clear by a length and a half over a determined and closing Oregon Duck. Ludwig Van Beethoven would just narrowly hold off Turfway Express at the line for the show money. Trojan Magnum and Tygon Glondore would complete the field.
For trainer/owner Angelos Stable, they have been making their presence felt of late here at HRP, winning three stakes since the start of October and finishing runner-up in three others. They have reached their best ever win percentage at 17.2 and are looking to top the fifty percent mark for in the money ratio for the first time since their start back in 2005.
Runner-up Oregon Duck was definitely looking like he wanted to steal the show with these late fast fractions, and the bay colt has now been runner-up in his last three events. If he can find a fast turf for his next outing, and a longer distance like the mile and a quarter Gr. I HOL Derby in late November, he could very well find the winners enclosure. If his entrymate could enter as well and setup the early pace, it could work well for this trainer.
Race #1 18:05 HAW Derby – Grade III (P2)
1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $250.00 Open 3 Year Olds
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Wt | Amt Won | Time | Cl | ||
| Purple Ripple | Angelos Stable | Alvarado J | 122 | 150.00 | 1:45.77 | — | ||
| Oregon Duck | Maverick Racing | Velazquez J R | 122 | 50.00 | 1:46.12 | — | ||
| Ludwig Van Beethoven | Maverick Racing | Walker B J Jr | 122 | 40.00 | 1:46.59 | — | ||
| Turfway Express | Axeman | Panell D | 122 | 10.00 | 1:46.63 | — | ||
| Trojan Magnum | Rockitpad | Leparoux J R | 122 | 1:46.74 | — | |||
| Tygon Glondore | Threshold | Castanon J L | 122 | 1:46.91 | — |
Track: Firm
Scratched: None
From trackside
I’m Mc.D.
Written by McDuffy, republished with permission of and first published at – SimRacing Form.