PHOTO: Adam Coglianese Photography
HOW HE GOT HERE
From a poor effort breaking from the rail at Aqueduct on debut to nearly snagging his second career win in the same track’s signature Derby prep, it was an interesting 5 months for Dynamic One. He was highly regarded before that mid-November debut, as evidenced by his 2-1 favoritism in a bulky field. His immediate improvement upon stretching out in distance was no surprise, given that his second dam is 2005 Eclipse Award winner Storm Flag Flying. This colt was purchased for 725k at Keeneland in 2019 and his breeder, the famed Phipps Stable, stayed on board as part owners.
From a runner-up finish behind dual subsequent graded stake winner Greatest Honour to a dull 4th place finish as a heavy favorite a month later, it took a return to NY to get him clear of the maiden ranks. The cooler air likely agreed with him and he dismissed an overmatched bunch on March 7 with great ease.
Let there be no doubt who ran the best race in the Wood Memorial. It was unquestionably Dynamic One. He was closest to the pace of any trifecta finisher by far and made the first move into the collapsing pace. He hardly has robust credentials in terms of the depth of his prior efforts, but he deserves a spot in the field.
HOW HE FITS HERE
In a Derby that features much more parity than we generally see, Dynamic One is a fringe player. He has yet to clear the N1X condition, but has also run his best two races in his most recent two. He is versatile and can be positioned towards the back of the pack in the opening stages. The way he elevated his game in the Wood Memorial is encouraging and shows that he likely has a bright future.
HOW IT FIGURES TO GO HERE
Ultimately the Kentucky Derby is going to be a tall task for this son of Union Rags. He obviously has potential, but this appears to be a case of “too much, too soon” and figures to be a bit beyond his capabilities. If you are also of the opinion that the pace will be fast, then you might give him a longer look.
OVERALL CHANCE
From a wagering perspective, Dynamic One would be no better than a ‘C’ on multi-race tickets. That would make him a win candidate only in the wildest of circumstances. There’s a reasonable chance he can be effective in 3YO races later this year given that he looks like a gradually developing type.
