confidence game may have fooled the betting public, surprising 18-1 odds in a $1 million Rebel Staking (G2) at Oaklawn Park on February 25, but there was nothing cheating about his performance.
Face a field of talent consisting of winning ponies or bets such as Verification in progress , Giant naughty , Red Road One And regeneration the candy ride The foal illustrated his credentials to compete in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs. Slingshot to take the lead from fifth in primetime under James Graham, he comfortably holds Red Route One and Rebirth to win the richest prep on the Road to the yet-to-be-concluded Kentucky Derby compete in 2023.
He won the gap, completing 1 1/16 miles on the slide led by James Graham with a score of 1:44.21. He returned $39 on a $2 winning bet.
“This horse really put it all together, and it certainly does today,” said the rider.
Confident Games picked 50 qualifying points for the Race for the Roses, giving him a total of 57 points, which is enough based on historical trends to warrant entry into the Race for the Roses. rose. Churchill Downs uses the points to promote its race and as a preference system when the 1/4 mile race attracts more than its 20-horse yard size.
Rebels continue to offer qualifying points on a 20-15-10-5 basis for second-to-fifth finishers — Red Route One, Reincarnation, Verified and Bourbon Bash .
The race was fierce for a handful of Rebel opponents. Jockey John Velazquez, on the slow-start Reborn, fouled Cristian Torres on Red Route One after being shut down and forced to stabilize his mount in the ramp. The managers do not change the order of endings.
Bourbon Bash, under the direction of Mickaelle Michel, appears to be responsible for the interference.
Reincarnated racing for coach Tim Yakteen after having been previously coached by Bob Baffert, who was banned by Churchill Downs from the Derby due to a drug offence. His cadets were also unable to earn Derby points.
When he ran for Yakteen, he earned 15 points and with a lead in the next start, he could have enough points to qualify for the Derby.
“He ran giant,” Yakteen said. “The race didn’t go the way we had planned. It happened during the race, but my horse ran very well.”
Most of those close to the original speed — opening to tempting fractions of :22.75, :46.17, 1:11.45 — are supported for the period, with Verification favored. .
Giant Mischief chased the pace of dropping to sixth in the first start of the year and leading the race 1-2, Strong And dim departure ninth and eighth respectively.
Winning trainer Keith Desormeaux said he was pleased with the pony’s performance after the 3-year-old “lost his mind in the paddock”, noting that Graham had helped him settle into life.
“He really came into his own,” Desormeaux said. “He started quite immature, but as the races went on he improved everything mentally and physically.”
The best thing about this sport is seeing the joy on the faces of those who work so closely with their horses
Congratulations @KeithDesormeauxhis team and all ties for the CONFIDENCE GAME to win today in G2 Rebel Staking at @OaklawnRacing! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/isEuUexlca
– TVG (@TVG) February 26, 2023
Desormeaux was undefeated with three previous starts in the Kentucky Derby, with exaggeration helped him have his best performance in 2016 when he finished second. Exaggerator ran in all three stages of the Triple Crown that year, winning the Preakness Stakes (G1) and placing 11th in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
The coach’s other Derby starts are sonneteer 16, 2017, and My Boy Jack troubled Thursday in 2018.
The trainer’s brother, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux rode those horses, although in recent years Graham has become his jockey in Kentucky or Louisiana, where the rider is based. department.
Confidence Game (outside) rises to the top in Rebel
Graham traveled from Louisiana to ride in the Confidence Game after riding it most recently finishing third in Lecomte Stakes (G3) last month at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots. The racer has participated in the Confident Game six of his seven career starts. One exception was when Brian Hernandez Jr. control the Game of Confidence to win against the ultimate winner Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Missiles can in an optional claim race at Churchill Downs on November 26.
Graham rode twice in the Derby, finishing eighth on lone sailor in 2018 and the 10th on Main Federal Reserve in 2020 for different trainers.
The jockey said he watches the Confidence Game well for longer distances, noting that he needs outside help to pull his mount up when another horse game is next to him is galloping. The foal currently has a record of three wins, one second and two thirds after seven starts.
“He continues to grow and do things the right way. I think the sky is the limit for him,” Graham added.
Bred in Kentucky by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Horse, the Confidence Game no longer wins Bernardini mare Eblouissate Half-sister with Hall of Famer Zenyatta . Confidence Game is her first black horse from seven ponies, three of which have raced with two wins. Two ponies that haven’t had a chance to start yet: a 2-year-old pony More than readiness and a young pony Sightstown .
Confidence Game made $581,750 for winning Rebel, bringing his total earnings to $785,525 for Don’t Tell My Wife Stables, a partnership founded by Kirk Godby and Rob Slack. Desormeaux acts as a trainer and blood supply agent for the group.
Desormeaux purchased Confident Game at Keeneland’s September 2021 Annual Sale from Lane’s End shipment for just $25,000.
Videotapes: Rebel S. (G2)
