In the late 1980’s the Super Derby featured some of the decade’s best runners. Hall of Famer and champion Alysheba won the then Grade 1-fixture in 1987. Seeking the Gold won the next year followed by another Hall of Fame champion Sunday Silence. This year’s winner, Vicar’s in Trouble, will probably never be mentioned with those greats but he has developed into a very useful runner whose best days may still lie ahead.
The colt in one of the leading runners by the Harlan’s Holiday stallion Into Mischief and he did make a little history in his Super Derby victory last Saturday. He’s the first Louisiana Derby winner to come back to bayou country and take the state’s most important fall race. And he’s won both races by a combined 10 1/2 lengths after his 7 1/2-length Super Derby runaway. Vicar’s in Trouble has now won or finished third in eight of his nine starts. The Mike Maker-trained colt’s only off-the-board finish came on the first Saturday in May with a last-place run in the Kentucky Derby.
While he didn’t fulfill owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s long-held dream of Kentucky Derby glory, he has earned $1,110,000 for the stable this year. Th Ramseys once again lead all North American owners with nearly $6.5 million in earnings and Vicar’s in Trouble has accounted for about 17% of that total.
The bulk of the Ramsey’s success on the track over the years has come with homebreds by their top stallion Kitten’s Joy and by runners plucked from the claiming ranks. Vicar’s in Trouble, on the other hand, was purchased out of the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Maryland Two-Year-Old in Training sale. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Ramsey’s become even more active at the sales in the future as a way to diversify their bloodstock holdings and to clear the way for more outside breeders to send mares to Kitten’s Joy.
Vicar’s in Trouble may very well end up at Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky standing alongside Kitten’s Joy. But for now the Ramsey’s are no doubt focused on having a much fun as possible with the colt. And no owner has more fun in the winner’s circle than Ken Ramsey.
-originally posted on http://www.myfantasystable.com
Matt O'Neil Consulting 