Sonic Boom Wires American Derby

Lothenbach Stables’ Sonic Boom, unbothered by early pace pressure, opened a clear lead in the backstretch and held firm for a dominant 1 3/4-length win in the $100,000 American Derby (G3T) July 8 at Arlington International Racecourse. 

Ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux for trainer Ian Wilkes, Sonic Boom was pressed immediately out of the gate by Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Joe Sharp-trained Hembree, who prompted the winner through early splits of :23.43 and :48.05 before he settled in for a tracking run under Jose Valdivia Jr. Sonic Boom then established an unchallenged lead inthe backstretch, caught a breather through three-quarters in 1:13.65 and a mile in 1:38.35, and kicked clear to finish the 1 1/8-mile trip in 1:49.90.

"On the backside I felt very comfortable," Leparoux said. "My horse relaxed for me and was doing it very easy. When I asked him at the quarter pole, he really kicked on nice."

Mike Maker trainee Gorgeous Kitten—another Ramsey runner—passed Hembtree in the stretch to get second under jockey Robby Albarado. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Captain Jack Racing Stable’s Anthony Granitz-trained My Bariley under Santo Sanjur.

"This was a step forward for him today," Wilkes said. "I think with Julien, we figured out how to ride him and let him do his thing."

Sonic Boom, a son of More Than Ready  , won for the fourth time in nine starts and earned $58,800 to boost his career bankroll to $245,800. He returned $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10 as the post-time favorite. Gorgeous Kitten returned $2.60 and $2.60. My Bariley paid $5.60.

Imposing Will, Hembree, Kaliningrad, and Grand Marais completed the order of finish.