Bensalem, PA - Wood Memorial winner Tapit heads a field of 12 three-year-olds for the 26th running of the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby.
The Labor Day race of 1 1/8 miles is the featured event at Philadelphia Park, home to Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones, who would have been entered if not for injuries that have forced his retirement.
Tapit is the 3-1 morning-line favorite and will start from the outside post. Jockey Ramon Dominguez has the mount for trainer Michael Dickinson and Winchell Thoroughbreds. The colt will be making his first start since finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby on a sloppy track.
The second choice in the morning-line at 4-1 is Illinois Derby winner Pollard's Vision. In addition to the Illinois Derby, Pollard's Vision also won the Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park this year. He has second-place finishes in the Ohio and West Virginia Derbies. Pollard's Vision will be ridden by John Velazquez and break form post 8. The three-year-old is owned by Edgewood Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher.
Starting from the inside post will be My Snookie's Boy and jockey Stewart Elliott. Elliott, of course, was the regular rider of Smarty Jones. My Snookie's Boy is the 6-1 third choice in the morning-line coming off second- place finishes to Lion Heart in both the Haskell Invitational and the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. My Snookie's Boy is owned by Preferred Pals. His trainer is Allen Iwinski, who was based at Philly Park just a few years ago.
Coming in at 8-1 in the program is Royal Assault, the third-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes. Royal Assault is trained by Nick Zito and owned by Tracy Farmer. The colt will start from post 6 with Pat Day in the saddle.
This has been a great year for Zito, who has sent out Birdstone to win both the Belmont Stakes and the Travers. His reception at Philadelphia Park may not be too great since Birdstone upset Smarty Jones by a length in the Belmont Stakes to deny the local colt the Triple Crown. Zito has also entered Pie's Prospect in Monday's race. He will break from post 3 with C.C. Lopez riding.
Completing the field for the Pennsylvania Derby are Song of the Sword, Love of Money, Swingforthefences, Master David, Niigon, Separato and Wimplestiltskin.
The Labor Day race of 1 1/8 miles is the featured event at Philadelphia Park, home to Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones, who would have been entered if not for injuries that have forced his retirement.
Tapit is the 3-1 morning-line favorite and will start from the outside post. Jockey Ramon Dominguez has the mount for trainer Michael Dickinson and Winchell Thoroughbreds. The colt will be making his first start since finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby on a sloppy track.
The second choice in the morning-line at 4-1 is Illinois Derby winner Pollard's Vision. In addition to the Illinois Derby, Pollard's Vision also won the Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park this year. He has second-place finishes in the Ohio and West Virginia Derbies. Pollard's Vision will be ridden by John Velazquez and break form post 8. The three-year-old is owned by Edgewood Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher.
Starting from the inside post will be My Snookie's Boy and jockey Stewart Elliott. Elliott, of course, was the regular rider of Smarty Jones. My Snookie's Boy is the 6-1 third choice in the morning-line coming off second- place finishes to Lion Heart in both the Haskell Invitational and the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. My Snookie's Boy is owned by Preferred Pals. His trainer is Allen Iwinski, who was based at Philly Park just a few years ago.
Coming in at 8-1 in the program is Royal Assault, the third-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes. Royal Assault is trained by Nick Zito and owned by Tracy Farmer. The colt will start from post 6 with Pat Day in the saddle.
This has been a great year for Zito, who has sent out Birdstone to win both the Belmont Stakes and the Travers. His reception at Philadelphia Park may not be too great since Birdstone upset Smarty Jones by a length in the Belmont Stakes to deny the local colt the Triple Crown. Zito has also entered Pie's Prospect in Monday's race. He will break from post 3 with C.C. Lopez riding.
Completing the field for the Pennsylvania Derby are Song of the Sword, Love of Money, Swingforthefences, Master David, Niigon, Separato and Wimplestiltskin.
