Rowdy Yates Nabs Riley Allison Derby in Stretch
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Photo: Coady Photography
Rowdy Yates scores in the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park
L and N Racing's Rowdy Yates added to the day's list of wins Jan. 26 for trainer Steve Asmussen when he took the $104,200 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park in his season debut. The 3-year-old son of Morning Line has won five of eight starts, three in stakes.
Jockey Luis Contreras was able to settle Rowdy Yates in fifth in the field of seven early, while Arizona Jeremy fought for the lead and was able to get a head in front as a quarter-mile went in :23.76. Competitive Idea took over shortly after to set fractions of :46.82 and 1:11.46 through six furlongs. He led at the top of the stretch, but Rowdy Yates was guided to the outside by Contreras in the early stretch and was able to run down the leader.
Clear by 3 1/2 lengths at the wire, Rowdy Yates stopped the clock in 1:37.29 for the mile on a fast track, and Competitive Idea was 4 1/4 lengths clear of third-place Arizona Jeremy. Off as the 1-2 favorite, the winner returned $3 to win.
Last year, Rowdy Yates broke his maiden on debut May 31 by 4 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. He followed that performance with a second in the June 29 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at the Louisville track. He then added wins in three more stakes at Ellis Park and Remington Park, though he placed fifth in the Sept. 14 Iroquois Stakes (G3) and ended the year with a seventh in the Dec. 15 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes.
Bred in Oklahoma by Tracy Rene Strachan, Rowdy Yates is the only foal out of the unraced Yes It's True mare Spring Station.