Pyro, Visionaire closer than they look

The legion enamored of Pyro gained a new momentum of confidence when he left a field that included several highly regarded Kentucky Derby prospects and separated himself in the last half-furlong of the Louisiana Derby on Saturday at the Fair Grounds. Visionaire, however, was day’s most impressive three-year-old.

While Pyro left the impression that the horses who trained past the final pole in New Orleans may in fact have been to this point overrated, it was one of those he defeated in the Risen Star Stakes last month who, while facing adversity in the extreme on a truly ugly, bone numbing wet and windy day in Queens, made a point of his own in the Gotham Stakes.

At Aqueduct, Visionaire closed a daunting gap while running into the teeth of a howling wind strong enough to interrupt power in the region. While Texas Wildcatter was clearly taxed after having been asked to sustain a three-furlong move, Visionaire’s resolute late run is evidence of progressive form and his third-place finish behind Pyro in the Risen Star last month suggests in light of the Louisiana Derby that there may be less separating the two than first meets the eye and the gap may be more narrow than the attendant publicity would lead you to believe.

The coincidental benefit of Visionaire’s Gotham is the revelation that he is capable of handling a wet track and while there were a number of disappointment’s in both the Louisiana Derby and Gotham, the winner in New York is now squarely in the frame.

Realistically if not officially, Majestic Warrior, Tale of Ekati and J Be K are no longer serious Derby prospects after poor efforts in New Orleans. Giant Moon, last in the Gotham, is more likely than not to be set on a less ambitious course.

Pyro is bound for the Polytrack at Keeneland and the Blue Grass Stakes. Steve Asmussen said last week that he trained Pyro over the synthetic surface in Lexington last year and has no qualms about returning. Trainer Michael Matz, who did not make the trip to New York for the Gotham, has a number of options for Visionaire but every preparatory consideration will weigh War Pass’ itinerary, which includes the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, then the Wood Memorial.

This week’s ranking:

War Pass
Pyro
Court Vision
Cool Coal Man
Visionaire
Dennis of Cork
Elysium Fields
Fierce Wing
Colonel John
El Gato Malo

Louie Olah, dead at 79

Louis Olah, the longtime “colors man” in the jockeys’ rooms at New York Racing Association tracks, died Saturday night at the age of 79 following a brief illness.

The job as the keeper of the silks was a perfect transition for Olah, who won his first race as a jockey in 1946, a profession he retired from in 1966.

“I’ve always been a horse racing fan,” Olah told the New York Times in a January 13 interview. “I just thought this would be the perfect job for me, to stay in the game.”

Despite health issues, Olah remained on the job for as long as he could. He was hospitalized two weeks before his death.

“Why retire?” Olah told the Times. “If I stay home, I’ll probably go crazy.”

Olah is survived by Clare, his wife of 58 years, and daughter Donna. Viewings will be held at Romanelli Funeral Home, 89-01 Rockaway Boulevard, Ozone Park, N.Y. (718-845-5151) on Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held Wednesday March 12th at 8 p.m. at the funeral home.