Joe Labozzetta Photo

Carson's Run runs away with G3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational

by Lynne Snierson

Carson's Run demonstrated his dominance of the male sophomore turf division with an impressive last-to-first victory in Saturday’s fifth running of the Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational, an 11-furlong test for 3-year-olds on the inner turf course, at Belmont at the Big A.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey and trained by Christophe Clement, the chestnut son of Cupid and the Henny Hughes mare Hot N Hectic trailed the field of six for most of the running while the Linda Rice-trained Yo Daddy set fractions of 23:97 seconds, 48:40, 1:14.36 and 1:38.87 on the firm going.

When coming out of the far turn, jockey Dylan Davis tipped out Carson's Run five-wide and the colt kicked in with his tremendous turn of foot. He powered through the lane while inhaling the field to cross the wire first in a final time of 2:14.22, finishing three-quarter-lengths in front of stablemate Deterministic and Hall of Famer Joel Rosario. El Rezeen, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., was another head back in third.

Dashman, Desvio, and Yo Daddy completed the order of finish. Legend of Time was scratched.

Davis, who also rode the colt to Grade 1 victories in the Summer last year at Woodbine and the Saratoga Derby Invitational this summer at Saratoga Race Course, said Carson’s Run’s turn of foot is impressive.

“It’s incredible,” Davis said. “There’s no question about it. It’s a great feeling and he’s a great horse. I’m happy to be aboard him from the beginning and it’s a great feeling to run down these type of horses.”

Davis added Carson's Run holds a very special place in his heart.

“He means everything. He’s one of my top horses, and I get a little emotional when he runs his best races,” Davis said. “I just try to stay focused and enjoy the journey.”

The win was the third in the first five races on Saturday’s 12-race card for Davis while it was a one-two finish for Clement.

"They both ran great,” said Clement, who came back in the next race on the card to win the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint with Senbei. “One [Carson's Run] came from off the pace - the other, I told Rosario, 'run him forward, if someone takes you on, stay in second or third. If not, make the lead.' Obviously, that horse of Linda wanted to be on the front, but they both ran well. He [Carson's Run] always shows a very good kick. He won the Grade 1 as a 2-year-old and he has a great turn-of-foot. It's nice when they go that long that he has that turn of foot because he came from last."

Carson's Run’s victory concluded the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)’s lucrative series of turf races for sophomores, which saw him also capture the middle leg in the aforementioned Saratoga Derby on August 11, and Trikari take the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational in June here.

Davis said he was equally impressed with Carson's Run.

“He likes to get a little keen early, but I try to work with him and try to get to the rail and switch him off,” Davis said. “As he’s going along with his races, he’s learning to contain himself a little better and he knows when to run. Sometimes he gets his nerves built up and he wants to use a little bit more earlier, but today I was able to get him nice and relaxed to the back. On the backside, I said, ‘I’m tough and I feel really good. If he puts on his ‘A’ game effort, he’s going to run them down.’ I switched him to the outside, which is a position he likes, and ran them down. It was a nice performance.”

Rosario explained Deterministic was simply second best even with a bit of trouble in the stretch.

“I stayed inside there and it looked like it’d open up. Everything looked OK, but it was a little tight inside there. It opened up and he was fine,” Rosario said. “I thought he ran a good race. I don’t think it cost him the race. The other horse looked like he had a better kick than my horse. But my horse was running hard and we just got beat right there. A good effort.”

Carson's Run, bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm, paid $5 for a $2 win bet. He upped his record to 9-5-2-0 and improved his bankroll to $1,574,629 after taking home $275,000 in victory.

Clement said he will take his time in finding a next start for Carson’s Run and Deterministic, with one potential target being the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on November 30 at Del Mar.

"The big question is do we run them once more. We don't need to decide that now,” Clement concluded. “There's only one race on paper which is the Hollywood Derby. Let's see what happens the next few weeks and then we will give them a break and have a nice 4-year-old campaign."

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card featuring the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame in Race 2; the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo in Race 6; and the Grade 3, $175,000 Matron in Race 8. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.