Richter Scale Surges to Derby Trial Win

The Derby Trial measured pretty high on this Richter Scale.

No. 1, to be exact.

Richter Scale took command at the quarter pole and won the milelong Derby Trial by five lengths over favored Trafalger on opening day Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Precocity was third, another 1 1/2 lengths back and a nose in front of Partner’s Hero.

Once again, it appears the Derby Trial will not live up to its name.

The race has not sent a starter to the Kentucky Derby, one week later, since 1991, and it doesn’t look like it will this year.

Trafalger is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who said that even though he does not have a probable Kentucky Derby starter, Trafalger will not be used in that role unless he won big here. And besides, Trafalger is owned by Robert and Beverly Lewis, who also own Derby probable Silver Charm.

Richter Scale’s victory was his third in four career starts and second as a 3-year-old for trainer Patrick Byrne.

He broke among the leaders and was fourth halfway down the long backstretch. Shane Sellers kept him in fourth position going into the turn, then began his move. Midway in the turn, Partner’s Hero, also trained by Lukas, took the lead with Richter Scale in pursuit. Richter Scale took the lead with about a quarter of a mile to go and didn’t look back.