Carpe Diem Returns a Tampa Bay Derby Winner
Image:
Description:
Carpe Diem made his 2015 debut in style March 7, taking the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs by five lengths to claim his third victory from four starts .
Runner-up in the Nov. 1 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) last time out, the 3-year-old son of Giant's Causeway tracked fourth behind pacesetter Divining Rod, who set fractions of :23.10, :46.65, and 1:11.35. Carpe Diem made his move heading into the far turn, striking the lead heading for home and lengthening away through a 1:37.22 mile under confident handling.
"He was very fresh warming up and when they finally got him into the gate and I got on, he settled down," said Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who had to dismount momentarily before the start due to Carpe Diem's reluctance to load. "We broke very well and I took a position just where I wanted to be, right behind the leaders. He rated very well and I was able to wait with him until nearing the stretch. When I asked he came away very nicely."
Carpe Diem races for WinStar Farm and Stonestreet Stables and is trained by Todd Pletcher. He covered the Tampa Bay Derby's 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.60.
The 3-year-old Triple Crown prep race was his second graded-stakes score; Carpe Diem took the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland in October after breaking his maiden at first asking on Labor Day over Ready for Rye, who on March 7 won the $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Swale Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.
NOVAK: Ready for Rye Upsets Daredevil in Swale
"When they leave their 2-year-old season behind, you hope they come out like he did," said Elliott Walden, WinStar president and chief executive officer. "Everyone who has watched him train said he has been training better than any horse in Florida, and it's nice to see him put it together like that. He is just a natural athlete and has a great rhythm to him.
"We missed him as a yearling, but thankfully John (Moynihan, representative for co-owner Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables). and I got together on him as a 2-year-old."
Bred in Kentucky by Coffee Pot Stable out of the Unbridled's Song mare Rebridled Dreams, Carpe Diem was a $1.6 million purchase by WinStar and Stonestreet from the Northwest Stud consignment to the 2014 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. selected sale of 2-year-olds in training. He improved his earnings to $919,800.
MCCARTHY: Coffee Pot Brews a Good One in Carpe Diem
"We couldn't be more pleased," Pletcher said. "Johnny put him in a perfect position and he really kicked on at the top of the stretch. It was exactly what we were hoping for. He has a history of (reluctance to load) a little, and we will continue to work to try to get that corrected. He has a lot of (sire) Giant's Causeway) and (grandsire) Storm Cat about him; that's what makes him good. We're delighted with the way he ran today."
Off at even money, Carpe Diem returned $4, $3, and $2.40. He was followed home by 13-1 shot Ami's Flatter, who paid $9 and $6.80, and Divining Rod, worth $5.60.
Danzig Moon, Great Stuff, and Moonlight Bandit came next, followed by Sam F. Davis (gr. III) winner Ocean Knight— previously undefeated in two starts and also a Stonestreet Stables runner who failed to fire when asked for run. My Johnny Be Good brought up the rear in the group of eight; Souper Colossal scratched.
"Ocean Knight seemed very flat and maybe it was a minor off day because he had been training like a really good horse," said winning co-owner Barbara Banke of Stonestreet.