Kentucky Derby Notes

[EMoney]

This would make for a good thread to keep up with rising contenders to race in the Derby.

I'll start with:

Stevie Wonderboy, the 2-year-old champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, fractured his right front ankle Monday after a workout at Hollywood Park and will be out of training for at least three months. The colt owned by TV impresario Merv Griffin had a screw inserted in the ankle.

Saturday Feb 11 Whirlaway
Achilles of Troy will be seeking new challenges after an easy 4¾-length victory in the $70,915 Whirlaway Stakes for 3-year-olds yesterday at Aqueduct.

Achilles of Troy, who was coming off a 14-length romp in the Count Fleet Stakes on Jan.7, is 3-1-1 in five starts and has earned $129,000. He is trained by Jennifer Pederson.

Fillies nominated to run in Derby
The fillies nominated are Folklore, last year's champion, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and Wild Fit, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Jeff Mullins is the trainer.
Balance may be gaining steam though
Balance stalked the pace in Saturday`s $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita, came-four-wide into the stretch to take the lead, then held off favorite Wild Fit to win by 1 length. Itty Pitty Pretty was third. Balance, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Thunder Gulch, ran the 1 mile on a fast track in 1:36.54. Victor Espinoza rode for trainer David Hofmans. 'She`s a very mature filly,' said Hofmans, 'and she`s coming into her own now. She`s a stronger, calmer, smarter filly than she was last year.' Hofmans is pointing Balance to the March 12 Santa Anita Oaks.

[TK]

I predict 25 pages, minimum.

That's 75 Fricker pages.

[EMoney]

Music School -- This is one of the buzz horses after his successful comeback from an eight-month layoff. The son of A.P. Indy caught people's attention with his gutsy debut last June, in which he stumbled badly a few strides out of the gate, almost going down, and then showed his courage by battling back in the stretch to win by a nose. Most horses making their first start would not have recovered from such a traumatic experience, but he went about his business as if nothing had happened. He's a magnificent-looking horse, who appears to have tons of class, and he had no problem stretching out to a mile off one 5 1/2-furlong race and a long layoff. The only drawback is that he missed his prep for the Southwest, and unless trainer Neil Howard decides to run him right back, he is looking at only two more starts (four lifetime) before the Derby.

Point Determined -- The son of Point Given was so highly touted after his maiden victory he was sent off at 18-1 in the first Future Wager pool, and then promptly went out and was beaten in a one-mile allowance race. But he was dropping back in distance and gained valuable experience, getting stuck behind the erratic-running winner, One Union, in the stretch. He should keep getting better as he matures. He's been entered in a one-mile allowance race at Golden Gate on Friday.

Barbican -- We'll find out if he can duplicate his explosive move on the far turn in his resounding Jan. 15 allowance victory when he makes his stakes debut in the Feb. 20 Southwest. Trainer Eoin Harty had him ranked behind more precocious colts, A.P. Warrior and Barcola, mainly because of his unwillingness at times in the mornings. But the son of A.P. Indy turns into a tiger in the afternoons. In his last start, when Chris DeCarlo reached back and cracked him once at the three-eighths pole, he jumped right into the bit and blew by his opponents before drawing off to a 4 1/2-length score in 1:35 4/5 for the mile.

Corinthian -- Watching this attractive son of Pulpit winning at Aqueduct last November and even just standing in the winner's circle, it looked as if he had a good deal of class about him. He came back in his 3-year-old debut and defeated a talented colt in Jazil in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race in 1:49 3/5, despite racing greenly in the stretch. He has a sensational pedigree, top and bottom, with names that sound like a Who's Who of the American Turf: A.P. Indy, Easy Goer, Seattle Slew, Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, Nijinsky II, Mr. Prospector, Alydar, and Buckpasser.

Jazil -- He also looks to have a bright future, and lost nothing in his loss to Corinthian. He did get the jump on Corinthian, who was trapped behind horses along the inside, and had to veer sharply to the outside for running room. After hitting the front turning for home, Jazil took a bump from Corinthian, who then leaned in on him near the eighth pole. He continued to battle back and was beaten only three-quarters of a length. By Seeking the Gold, he should continue to improve, and if you're looking for female class, his first three dams are stakes winners, and his fourth was stakes placed and the dam of two stakes winners; his second dam, Blush With Pride, won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Santa Susana (gr. I), and Ashland (gr. II), and produced three graded stakes winners; and his dam, Better Than Honour, won the Demoiselle (gr. II) and placed in the grade I Acorn and Mother Goose.

Steppenwolfer -- He turned in an impressive allowance score at Oaklawn, sitting patiently in sixth, waiting for horses to clear him, before swinging out and mowing down his field in a matter of a few strides. He quickly drew off to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Going back, the son of Aptitude, defeated Jazil in a 7-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct last November. He'll get his first class test in the Southwest Stakes Feb. 20.

Hesanoldsalt -- The son of Broad Brush was able to sustain a long run before showing a good burst of speed inside the eighth pole to run right by Ashado's full-brother, Sunriver, in a 1 1/8-mile allowance race. With Broad Brush as his sire and Cox's Ridge his broodmare sire, there's a lot of toughness in his pedigree. He'll get his big test on Saturday against Remsen (gr. II) winner Bluegrass Cat in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay.

Kilimanjaro -- The Patrick Biancone-trained son of Boundary returned from a 4 1/2-month layoff to finish a strong fourth behind One Union and Point Determined in an allowance race, coming from dead-last, 14 lengths back, to be beaten 5 1/4 lengths and just missing third by a head. Among the horses he defeated in his maiden victory at Saratoga was Flashy Bull.

Noonmark -- There's no way to tell how far he wants to go, but he looked good winning a six-furlong allowance race last weekend in 1:09 2/5 coming off a 3 1/2-month layoff after breaking his maiden by 10 1/4 lengths at Belmont. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he's by Unbridled's Song, out of a Storm Cat mare, but he has a lot of catching up to do, and so far he's been all speed.

Maiden winners -- Horses who have won only a maiden race and have not faced winners.

Latent Heat -- With his huge speed numbers in his first two starts, they are already lining up to jump on his bandwagon, which will fill up fast if he wins an allowance race later this month. Of all the 3-year-olds seen this year, his style and his action has impressed the most. The son of Maria's Mon has an extremely efficient stride and seems to possess all the qualities to be a top horse. He's inbred 4x4 to Buckpasser and has that Buckpasser look and style, but gets speed from his broodmare sire Capote.

Brilliant and Jolted and Jostled -- These two promising colts square off at Oaklawn on Thursday after breaking their maidens on the same day. Brilliant's time for the mile was more than a second and a half faster, but Jolted and Jostled had to go five wide on the first turn, breaking from post 12, and wide on the second turn. The Storm Cat colt is trained by John Servis, while Brilliant, a son of War Chant and another from Neil Howard's barn, is showing rapid improvement at the right time.

Scanlon's Song -- Stablemate of Achilles of Troy, the son of Partner's Hero came from the clouds to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Aqueduct Jan. 28, turning in one of the most explosive stretch runs of the year. After going very wide at the top of the stretch, and still 6 1/2 lengths back at the eighth pole, he turned on the afterburners and won going away by 2 3/4 lengths.

Really Indian -- Another promising son of A.P. Indy, he put in arguably the most powerful sustained run of the year by a 3-year-old in winning his debut at Santa Anita for Neil Drysdale. He showed tremendous acceleration in the one-mile race, charging out of the pack on the far turn and continuing to pour it on down the stretch to win by 5 1/2 lengths. Like Scanlon's Song, however, he did not race at age two and will have to contend with the so-called Apollo curse.

Strong Contender -- If his works this winter at Gulfstream and his maiden victory at Arlington last August are any indication, look for a huge effort when the son of Maria's Mon trained by John Ward makes his return in the next couple of weeks. He's out of a Dynaformer mare and is inbred three times to Ribot, so distance will not be an issue.

full at http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=32185

[EMoney]

Odds on winning the Derby at playersonly.com

Barbaro 10-1
Achillis of Troy 18-1
Bob and John 15-1
Brother Derek 12-1
Dr Pleasure 30-1
First Samurai 10-1
Great Point 40-1
High Cotton 50-1 My favorite name
Keyed Entry 20-1
Lawyer Ron 20-1
Point Determined 18-1
Private Vow 15-1
Really Indian 75-1
Too Much Bling 30-1
Your Tent or Mine 20-1
Rock Lobster 150-1 My 2nd fav name
About a hundred more at 100-1 or greater

Fillies that I know of
Folklore 150-1
Wild Fit 125-1
Balance 125-1

[EMoney]

Bluegrass Cat opened his Kentucky Derby campaign with a 1¼-length victory in the $125,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes yesterday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Confirming his status as a leading Derby contender, the Todd Pletcher trainee won his fourth straight race since a career-opening loss in June. The son of Storm Cat was making his first start since Aqueduct's Grade II Remsen Stakes on Nov. 26.

[mcbokonon]

Maybe we should create a board for NASCAR and horse racing and other crap, moderated by EMoney? :hyper:

[EMoney]

Maybe we should create a board for NASCAR and horse racing and other crap, moderated by EMoney? :hyper:

:highfive:

[EMoney]

Just to note.

Lawyer Ron moved closer to favorite status for the Derby after his impressive win at the weather delayed Southwest Stakes in Arkansas. Steppenwolfer was right on his tail at the end though and with an extra 1/8 he would have got it. In other words, my eyes are on Steppenwolfer more than Lawyer Ron.

[Steebo]

Just to note.

In other words, my eyes are on Steppenwolfer more than Lawyer Ron.


I dont know dude, even though he has been in a few races, that Steppenwolfer was born to be wild.

You just never know when it will kick in..........

[EMoney]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=2354620

First Samurai won when Corinthian was disqualified and Brother Derek won easily in his race. These two look like the cream of the crop.

Also, I got a chance to see a replay of the race with Lawyer Ron yesterday. Steppenwolfer definitely came on strong late but it was just amazing how fast both horses were compared to the rest of the field. Lawyer Ron took a big lead, then faded a bit and then turned it on. Steppenwolfer would have got him with another 1/8 most likely but you never know since some horses will kick it in when they see another horse come up on them.

[EMoney]

Cause to Believe won the California Derby and moves closer to a Kentucky Derby.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/14080604.htm

[EMoney]

Discreet Cat won. I don't really give a rat's ass about the Arab circuit but it looks like this horse may be the one to come out of there and make the Derby.

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=32520

[EMoney]

Lawyer Ron was the most impressive today. He won easily. Steppenwolfer still impressed me in that race as he came from 10th to 3rd on the final stretch. Sweetnorthernsaint also did well to grab the show in its race. Bob and John and Achilles of Troy both had awful races today.

[mcbokonon]

We bet horses to get free drinks. We had no idea what we were doing, but we drank free at Caesar's. :yes:

[EMoney]

We bet horses to get free drinks. We had no idea what we were doing, but we drank free at Caesar's. :yes:

Wow! Mad props on that. I could have won you some money with my notes. :yes:

[EMoney]

Saturday's 3-year olds:

In the Arkansas Derby Lawyer Ron continued to dominate as he took the lead a little less than halfway into the race and never gave it up. Steppenwolfer again came from the back to finish strong and get the Place. Steppenwolfer should have enough earnings to make the derby. :hyper: I was pretty happy watching him in the race.

In the Kentucky Bluegrass Sinister Minister blew everyone away and shocked most observers. He'll now be in the Derby but probably won't draw a lot of praise as anything more than a speed horse. I'll say he could be a good candidate to surprise. He absolutely whipped 2 or 3 horses that a lot of folks felt had a shot to win the Derby. AP Warrior and Strong Contender dissapointed a lot of folks with their performances.

As of now I'm pretty excited about both Steppenwolfer and Sweetnorthernsaint. They won't exactly be longshots come Derby week but they won't be the favorites either.

[EMoney]

Nobody bumped this on Derby week? :sadbanana:

[S.D. Jones]

$50 WPS Point Determined
$10 WPS Steppenwolfer
$10 Exacta Box Point Determined, Showing Up

RITE IT DOWN !#@!#@@ :yes:

[EMoney]

$50 WPS Point Determined
$10 WPS Steppenwolfer
$10 Exacta Box Point Determined, Showing Up

RITE IT DOWN !#@!#@@ :yes:

Yay! Someone else is a Steppenwolfer fan. And Yay, someone added a serious post in my thread. :D

Man, do I have a buttload of wagers out there right now. :unsure:

[S.D. Jones]

Yay! Someone else is a Steppenwolfer fan. And Yay, someone added a serious post in my thread. :D

Man, do I have a buttload of wagers out there right now. :unsure:

How did you end up doing? As you can see, my day didn't go so well.

I also took Mayorga against De La Hoya. :wigglypea:

[EMoney]

How did you end up doing? As you can see, my day didn't go so well.


I didn't do so well. I had trifectas with 8 - 19 - 2 , 8- 1 - 2, 8 - 18 -2, and 8- 6 -2. No 8 - 13 - 2 though.:sadbanana:

I won money with Barbaro win and Steppenwolfer show for $10 dollar bets. That still did not cover even half of what I bet. Overall I lost a lot of money.

[S.D. Jones]

Overall I lost a lot of money.

BROTHER !@!#! :highfive:

also, :screams:

[EMoney]

BROTHER !@!#! :highfive:

also, :screams:

Just remember that if there is a single sporting event to bet on and make some serious cash this is the one. The payouts are incredible so its worth it to bet a bit more on this one. I'm now even from all I won on Giacomo last year and this year's losses. We'll get em in the Preakness. :yes:

[wingsfan0301]

how do u have a 6hr talk on espn about this race when the race is like less than 2 mins?

[EMoney]

how do u have a 6hr talk on espn about this race when the race is like less than 2 mins?

I know man. My wife watched all that shit. I told her I was burned out.

[S.D. Jones]

Bump

Any thoughts on the Preakness yet?

[EMoney]

Bump

Any thoughts on the Preakness yet?

Yeah, I've been looking things over. I'm really wanting to wait until tomorrow before I can give a good opinion.

I will say that I think Barbaro can be beat in this race. If Brother Derek or SNS get clean runs it will be interesting. Like Now is a horse I've watched many times this year and I love his chances in this race. He is definitely one you would want to use as an exotic in any boxes.

Hemingway's Key sucks ass and so do most of the other horses entered. Bernardini has a small chance to show.

I'm guessing low pay out on this one.