Twisted Tom Muscles His Way to New York Derby Score

Despite a body slam from Broken Engagement at the head of the lane, Twisted Tom turned that rival away and dug in to win the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes July 22. 

The 3-year-old Creative Cause   gelding entered the race off a sixth-place finish in the June 10 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and picked up his third stakes score and fifth win overall for trainer Chad Brown. He races for Cobra Farm, R R Partners, and Head of Plains Partners.

With Feargal Lynch in the irons from post 3 as the 3-4 favorite in a field of seven sophomores for the 1/16-mile test, Twisted Tom found himself in the second tier, while Pat On the Back ran a :24.71 opening quarter. But the eventual winner moved up to second through a :48.28 half and tracked along in the two path up the backstretch, with a half-length to make up on the leader.

Three-quarters went in 1:12.66 as they headed into the far turn, and Twisted Tom poked a nose in front while Broken Engagement loomed to his outside. Broken Engagement came in on the favorite as they straightened away for home, but Twisted Tom maintained focus under strong handling from Lynch, and put Broken Engagement away through a 1:37.91 mile.

In the final sixteenth it was clear Twisted Tom would emerge victorious. He inched away to a half-length win in a final time of 1:44.52 on a fast track. 

Twisted Tom returned $3.50, $2.70, and $2.10, while Broken Engagement brought $4.90 and $3.40 at 9-1 odds. Pat On the Back ($2.90) held for third, 2 1/4 lengths back, and was followed home by Can You Diggit, Gold for the King, Six Sided Bing, and Dynamax Prime.

Bred in New York by Dr. William Wilmot and Dr. Joan Taylor, out of the Thunder Gulch mare Tiffany Twisted, Twisted Tom was a $22,000 RNA from both the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale and the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale. With the New York Derby win, he improved his earnings from eight starts to $350,131.

Earlier on the card, the $75,000 New York Oaks went to Rudy Rodriguez trainee Bonita Bianca.

Although she ducked in at the start, the 3-year-old Curlin   filly rallied strongly and edged out Playinwiththeboys by a neck to take home her first win of the season for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Michael Imperio. Dylan Davis was in the irons for the 1 1/16-mile event, which finished in a final time of 1:46.72. Bonita Bianca has four wins and a third to her credit from six starts. Three of those wins are at the black-type level.

Bred in New York by Dormellito Stud, out of the Artax mare Friendly Michelle, she was a $97,000 purchase by Dubb from Dormellito Stud Sales' consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales March sale of 2-year-olds in training.