Two Derby winners to clash in Tanglewood Stakes

By Kent Layne

The most interesting Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy in its history takes centerstage this Saturday with the two leading creoles in Barbados – Derby winners Gandalf and War Eagle – to clash at 2000 meters at the Garrison Savannah. They will line up among five others in what could be the creole clash for the ages.

The Tanglewood Stakes is part of an exciting nine-race card named after past horses owned by Gay Smith. It will be race 7, running at 4.25 p.m. and with a purse of $70,000.

2018 Derby winner Gandalf also the 2020 Tanglewood winner and defending champion as there was no Tanglewood Stakes last year due to Covid-19,  is looking to put a disappointing day behind him following his last start. Then, his jockey fell in the Boxing Trophy event while competing against the top-rated horses.

Gandalf, owned by Bills Inc. and named after the wizard in the Lord of the Rings movie, was up for a hattrick of wins before his Boxing Day setback. He made all the running in the Breeders Stakes and Trophy on August 21 leaving 2020 Derby winner War Eagle behind him in fourth place. This was a race in which the Victor Cheeseman-trained stablemates were facing each other for the first time.

A stubborn front-runner who was disqualified in the second leg of the 2018 Triple Crown causing him the triple bonus, got home by a neck from Stolen on September 25 at 1100 meters.

The highest rated horse in the field at 108, Gandalf will be ridden by Ricky Walcott carrying 128Ibs out of gate 2.

War Eagle had better luck on Boxing Day than his stablemate being victorious at 7.8 furlongs for the first time in his career with Rasheed Hughes aboard.

Owned by KC Stables, he placed second in the first leg Barbados Guineas to Deja Vu with winning jockey Hughes in the saddle before taking the last two legs of the Triple Crown.

War Eagle who won his only start as a two year old, had ran unplaced for the first time in his nine-race career on Jan 21, finishing dead last last and leaving his connections puzzled as to what had gone wrong. But now he looks in excellent condition and ready to give his trainer an unprecedented seventh success in the Tanglewood. Rey Williams has the mount and will be carrying 128Ibs out of gate 8.

Good Vibration, a third place finisher in the 2019 Derby, went down to War Eagle by a short head at 2000 meters on August 7. This is a distance the Derby champion is yet to lose at. Owned by the A team and trained by Richard Deane, Good Vibration ran unplaced to Gandalf in the Tanglewood, her only unplaced race at 2000 meters.

Good Vibration finished fifth in the Breeders Stakes at 1800 meters behind winner Gandalf and fourth place War Eagle, but came in one before last in front of War Eagle on Jan 21. Antonio Bishop has the leg up from gate 1 and will be taking along 124Ibs.

Eight-year-old gelding Neilos, the lowest rated horse in the field at 60, scored his last victory at 2000 meters on December 27, which shows he has staying ability.

The Kenny John-trained runner ran creditably in his last race on February 19 finishing second to Last One I Promise. Rocco Bowen will ride from gate 3 with 129Ibs.

The rest of the field include Undisputed, Whatyouthink, Stealin.

Four Derby winners have gone on to win the Tanglewood – Kendal Moon, Northern Star, Butterfly and Gandalf.

My selection: Gandalf, War Eagle, Good Vibration, Neilos. Post time is 1 p.m.