Trainer Neil Howard thought maybe, just maybe, promising colt Machen could turn into a Kentucky Derby contender.
Howard scuttled those plans after Machen put together a couple nondescript finishes this spring in the Risen Star Stakes and the Louisiana Derby.
Running at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May was no longer an option. The last Saturday in April proved to be a better fit.
Machen unleashed a brilliant stretch run in the $200,000 Derby Trial, nipping Dominus in the final strides to pick up his first graded stakes victory in front of a raucous crowd under the lights on the opening night of Churchill Downs' spring meet.
The performance validated Howard's decision to give his 3-year-old some rest after a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby on March 26.
''I think maybe we were pushing him just slightly with the two turns and once we accepted the fact we thought maybe shortening up a little bit would help him,'' Howard said.
Did it ever.
Machen and jockey Edgar Prado handled the 1-mile over dirt with ease. Prado bided his time until the turn then expertly pointed Machen to the outside, where he roared down the lane to nip Dominus by a neck.
''He got bumped at the turn (and) regrouped,'' Prado said. ''At the top of the stretch he picked it up and finished well. They have a longer stretch here, plus my horse really wanted to win today.''
Machen paid $15.40, $8 and $5.60 while covering the distance in 1:35.47.
The Derby Trial used to be a last-gasp for owners to get their horses in the Run for the Roses. Tim Tam in 1958 is the last horse to sweep both races. These days the race is more often a prep for the Preakness, but Howard said the 1 3-16-mile distance for the second leg of the Triple Crown is probably a little too much for Machen.
''We're going to be careful with not going too far with him,'' Howard said.
Dominus led most of the way, reasserting himself after getting passed briefly midway through the race. He didn't have quite enough, however, to hold off Machen. Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Dominus paid $6.80 and $4.80 for second.
JJ's Lucky Train got up for third and paid $4.40 in front of a packed grandstand.
Travelin Man went off as the heavy 8-5 favorite but faded at the turn and ended up sixth.
