Uncle Chuck, a large son of Uncle Mo, took a big step toward the 146th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course, drawing away in the stretch to easily win the $150,000 Grade III Los Alamitos Derby and earn 20 qualifying points for the Run for the Roses.
Ridden by Luis Saez, who flew in to ride one of trainer Bob Baffert’s many Kentucky Derby hopefuls with Mike Smith out of town to ride McKinzie in the Met Mile at Belmont Park, Uncle Chuck followed his maiden victory at Santa Anita on June 12 with another powerful effort. The victory put him 21st on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard.
Uncle Chuck debuted at one mile, something Baffert rarely does, and won his maiden voyage by seven lengths, prompting Smith to make comparisons to Arrogate after the race.
He ran the 1 1/8 miles in a very good 1:47.65 on Saturday as the 2-5 favorite, raising questions as to what will be next for a colt that Baffert says he’s taken his time with because of his size.
“He was full of himself when he came back,” said Baffert, who won the Los Al Derby for the fourth consecutive year following victories with West Coast, Once On Whiskey and Game Winner. “It’s exciting. He’s learning quickly and he has brilliance. I was impressed. I think we just saw something pretty special, and he’s been special from day one.”
Great Power, with Drayden Van Dyke up, set the pace with fractions of 22.76, 47.15 and 1:11.39 before Uncle Chuck, second much of the way up the backside, put his head in front around the turn and then gradually pulled away through the stretch.
Thousand Words, last in the four-horse field through the early going, made a bold move in upper stretch but was forced to settle for second money while finishing seven lengths clear of Cosmo. Anneau d’Or was scratched because of a minor illness.
Once thought of as perhaps a major Kentucky Derby contender before back-to-back lackluster efforts in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita and Oaklawn Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Thousand Words, who won the Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity in December, rebounded with a stronger effort Saturday.
“At the top of the lane, I thought Thousand Words might get (Uncle Chuck),” Baffert said. “But at least he ran better.”
Saez was impressed with the winner.
“He broke great and I just left him alone,” he said. “He was doing it easy all the way. When I showed him the whip, he took off. He’s a very nice colt.”
Added Baffert: “We’re just learning more about Uncle Chuck. He’s still pretty green, but he’s got gears. “Luis was excited about him and I think he’s one of the top riders in the country. He said (Uncle Chuck) is still learning and he’s got a lot of improvement in him.”
Baffert has won five of the seven editions of the Los Alamitos Derby since daytime thoroughbred racing returned to the Orange County track in 2014. He also won with Gimme Da Lute in 2015.
In Saturday’s second stakes race at Los Alamitos:
— Sneaking Out, a 4-year-old Indian Evening filly who went postward at 7-1, won the $200,000 Grade II Great Lady M. Stakes under Martin Garcia, upsetting 1-2 favorite Bellafina.
The winning trainer was Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer.
Sneaking Out, second much of the way in the 6 1/2-furlong event for fillies and mares, opened a one-length lead at the head of the stretch and held off Bellafina by three-quarters of a length for the first graded stakes victory of her 11-race career.
Bellafina held second by two lengths over 16-1 longshot Amuse.
Final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:14.62.
“That was nice,” Hollendorfer said. “She was laying outside and she got a little breather around the turn. When (Garcia) asked her to go, she had a lot left. She finished up really well.”
Said Garcia: “We were able to sit in the exact spot I wanted early, just behind the speed, and she felt strong. I made sure we stayed in our lane into the stretch. She dug in and wouldn’t let them by.”
The victory was Sneaking Out’s fifth in 11 tries and gave Hollendorfer his second Great Lady M. win. He won with Doinghardtimeagain in 2014.
The seven-day Summer Thoroughbred Festival concludes Sunday with an eight-race program. First post is 1 p.m.
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July 05, 2020 at 08:06AM
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Horse racing: Uncle Chuck earns easy win in Los Alamitos Derby - OCRegister
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