Twisted Tom Favored in New York Derby

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
New York-bred Twisted Tom picks up some class relief in the New York Derby

In his first start since a well-beaten sixth in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1), New York-bred Twisted Tom will pick up some class relief when he faces an expected six other state-breds in the $150,000 New York Derby July 22 at Finger Lakes.

Cobra Farm, RR Partners, and Head of Plains Partners' Twisted Tom put together a three-race win streak—including two open stakes wins—to earn the classic start. While the son of Creative Cause   finished more than 27 lengths behind winner Tapwrit in the Belmont, he'll return Saturday to a class level similar to the one that saw him win three straight races.

Trained by Chad Brown, Twisted Tom has worked three times since the June 10 Belmont, including a bullet drill of four furlongs in :48.63 June 29 at Saratoga Race Course. Before the Belmont, Twisted Tom won an optional-claiming allowance for state-breds in January at Aqueduct Racetrack, then scored a pair of stakes wins at Laurel Park—the Private Terms Stakes March 18 and the Federico Tesio Stakes April 22.

With four wins in seven starts and earnings of $254,040, Twisted Tom was installed the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 1 1/16-mile race.

The New York Derby is the second leg of the "Big Apple Triple." The first leg, the Mike Lee Stakes May 29 at Belmont Park, was won by T Loves a Fight, who is not entered in the New York Derby. The third-place finisher from the Mike Lee, Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Nehoc Stables' Pat On the Back, will start from post 2 Saturday.

After his third-place finish in the seven-furlong Mike Lee, Pat On the Back successfully cut back in distance for trainer Ken McPeek and took the six-furlong Ontario County Stakes over other New York-breds June 26 at Finger Lakes. The longest victory to date for the son of Congrats   is a score over state-breds in the one-mile Sleepy Hollow Stakes in October at Belmont .

Pat On the Back is the third morning-line choice at 9-2, while the second choice is Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madkat Stables, and Bethlehem Stables' Broken Engagement, who enters off back-to-back wins against state-breds in a pair of off-the-turf races at Belmont. The son of Scat Daddy won a maiden race in the mud May 9 before he took an allowance test June 24 on a fast track. 

Also Saturday, New York-bred 3-year-old fillies will try the 1 1/16-mile New York Oaks, where grade 2-placed Bonita Bianca is the 6-5 morning-line favorite. Campaigned by Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Michael Imperio, the daughter of Curlin   owns a pair of stakes wins over New York-breds.

New York Derby

Finger Lakes, Saturday, July 22, 2017, Race 7
  • STK
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $150,000
  • 3 yo
  • 4:04 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Dynamax Prime (NY) Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr. 116 George Weaver 6/1
2 2Pat On the Back (NY) Dylan Davis 122 Kenneth G. McPeek 9/2
3 3Twisted Tom (NY) Feargal Lynch 124 Chad C. Brown 2/1
4 4Gold for the King (NY) Michael J. Luzzi 122 Charlton Baker 5/1
5 5Six Sided Bling (NY) Joel Cruz 120 M. Anthony Ferraro 12/1
6 6Broken Engagement (NY) Joshua Navarro 124 Rudy R. Rodriguez 5/2
7 7Can You Diggit (NY) John R. Davila, Jr. 124 James A. Jerkens 8/1


New York Oaks

Finger Lakes, Saturday, July 22, 2017, Race 6
  • STK
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $75,000
  • 3 yo Fillies
  • 3:35 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Bluegrass Hip Hop (NY) Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr. 120 Rudy R. Rodriguez 6/1
2 2Playinwiththeboys (NY) Alexis Valdes 118 Michael S. Ferraro 6/1
3 3Tiznow's Smile (NY) John R. Davila, Jr. 120 Charlton Baker 5/2
4 4Bonita Bianca (NY) Dylan Davis 122 Rudy R. Rodriguez 6/5
5 5Somekindasexy (NY) Joshua Navarro 118 Chad Summers 5/1
6 6Butch's Mango (NY) Wilfredo Rohena 118 Stacy Torelli 12/1