[Warning: Not a Derby or Derby prep related post]
On Monday at Parx, undefeated New York based sprinter El Deal made his first
start as a four year old. El Deal dueled with and put away favored Favorite
Tale, a multiple graded stakes winner who was previously 5 for 5 over the
Bensalem oval, only to be passed by multiple stakes winner Stallwalkin Dude. El
Deal was beaten slightly less than 3 lengths in his first start since winning
the Gold Fever at Belmont more than 11 months ago. I hope this one can stay
sound for a few races in 2016; El Deal was dominant while winning four sprints
over four different surfaces prior to his Parx race Monday.
For those not familiar with El Deal\'s trainer Andrew Lakeman:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwiWgsqY8dPLAhUENT4KHVV_AoYQFggdMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloodhorse.com%2Fhorse-racing%2Farticles%2F83468%2Flakeman-succeeds-in-career-transition&usg=AFQjCNEkdBO3ZufNA0N7pVX3d4KUj1dYvA
As to Stallwalkin Dude, no matter what one might say about DJake, his work with
Salutos Amigos and Stallwalkin Dude has been exemplary. Salutos was one of the
few DJake runners to fire out on the West coast, and responded brilliantly when
shipped back to Aqueduct for the Tom Fool. As for Stallwalkin, he runs in the
shadow of the slightly more accomplished Salutos Amigos, yet in 18 starts in
2015 he held his own against the best sprinters in North America while
recording seven wins and posting negative TG #s in six of his races.