Continuing with last week’s theme, I now present the ninth-best Kentucky Derby-winning performance of all time. And the chosen conqueror is (drum roll please)…

#9 – Sir Barton (1919)

Watch him in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRTbXCCn8h8
See the chart: http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2006/derby_history/derby_charts/pdf/1919.pdf

A study in contrasts, Sir Barton is possibly as well known for his losses as he is for his wins. Before triumphing in Louisville on his way to becoming thoroughbred horseracing’s first Triple Crown champ, the J. K. L. Ross colt dropped his first six decisions, most in inglorious fashion. In fact, his second-place showing in the Belmont Futurity on Sept. 14, 1918, was Sir Barton’s only in-the-money finish as a juvenile.

Then, as a four-year-old, the son of Star Shoot was blitzed by stablemate Man o’ War in the Kenilworth Park Gold Cup, a $75,000 (approximately $900,000 today) match race in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Still, his five-length score over a heavy track at Churchill Downs on the second Saturday in May was one for the ages. Entered solely as a rabbit for Billy Kelly, another Ross colt, who had won 13 of 16 starts as a two-year-old, Sir Barton quickly bounded clear under the expert handling of Johnny Loftus. And, despite recording a -14 early speed ration (ESR) — tied with Alan-a-Dale for the lowest (fastest) ever by a Derby winner — the H.G. Bedwell trainee drew clear in the stretch, earning a respectable -8 late speed ration (LSR) in the process.

Interestingly, with the win, Sir Barton became the 13th horse since 1896 to wear the roses after leading at the opening call. Over the next 88 years, only 19 others would be able to duplicate that feat, the most recent being War Emblem in 2002.

Southwest Star is Born

Old Fashioned showed why he’s on top of so many Kentucky Derby top-10 lists with a handy score in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes. Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, the big gray sat behind Silver City as that one zipped through a :45-4/5 opening half-mile in Monday’s Oaklawn Park feature and then drew away in the stretch to post a 3 ¼-length score. Old Fashioned earned a 93 Beyer speed figure (BSF) and -10 LSR in his 2009 debut, which should leave the son of Unbridled’s Song plenty of room for improvement.

Old Fashioned

02/16/09: 93 BSF, -12 ESR, -10 LSR, PP+
11/29/08: 100 BSF, +2 ESR, +3 LSR, PP+
11/03/08: 96 BSF, -8 ESR, -6 LSR, PP+
10/06/08: 85 BSF, -9 ESR, -13 LSR, PP-

Average Kentucky Derby Winners (since 1992): 109 BSF, -4 ESR, -4 LSR, PP+

Hidden Bounty in Turf Paradise Stakes

Although Mayor Marv is likely to be favored, I’m partial to Hidden Bounty in Saturday’s Turf Paradise Derby at — you guessed it — Turf Paradise. Hidden Bounty made his route debut in the Rattlesnake Stakes last time and looked positively venomous (I promise not to make a similar corny reference for the rest of this column), drawing off to win by 6 ¾ lengths.

What really impresses me about the son of Hidden City, though, is the improvement he’s been showing. Not only have his early and late pace numbers been getting better, but his TrackMaster® speed figures have been steadily marching north as well. What’s more, Hidden Bounty could be on the engine Saturday, making him that much tougher to beat.

Mayor Marv, on the other hand,  just broke his maiden — but he’s been knocking heads with some of the best three-year-olds on the West Coast. Three starts back, the Bob Baffert trainee was a runner-up to The Pamplemousse, who went on to capture the Grade 3 San Rafael Stakes, and, two starts ago, Mayor Marv dropped a close decision to Papa Clem, who subsequently finished second in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes.

Don’t Be Negative

Wise players will want to keep their peepers on the show pool of the $50,000 Arizona Oaks on Saturday. Carded as the fifth race at Turf Paradise, the Oaks drew what appears to be a mediocre field, save for two fillies: Southern California invader Vikkilee and the undefeated Carlsbad, who could be a target for bridge jumpers. If so, Vikkilee looks like a great show play. 

Waveline Back on Preferred Surface

After a strong performance in the Sunshine Million Oaks over the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita on Jan. 24, J. Paul Reddam’s Waveline returns to the turf in Saturday’s $100,000 Valentine Dancer Handicap at the Great Race Place. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Waveline could offer some value in a field that includes more established grass runners like Bel Air Sizzle, Tiz a Blend and You Lift Me Up.