Arkansas Derby could get 13// Blue Grass loses 1// Mo opinions on Wood

Summary:

The latest official graded earnings list was released today.  As expected, Midnight Interlude and Toby’s Corner are guaranteed-in-the-gate newcomers while a slew of others hover around the 20^th and final spot hoping for either more defections or no further surprises.  If colts other than The Factor, Santiva, or J P’s Gusto finish strong in the upcoming Arkansas Derby or Blue Grass Stakes, the impact could be felt by those in spots anywhere from 17 to 25.

As it stands now, the Arkansas Derby looks to have 13 starters, just one shy of a full gate//The Blue Grass lost a probable starter in Data Link who was injured during his final workout.  Two other contenders, King Congie and Wilkinson put in their final works// Jaycito, one of Baffert’s three Derby hopefuls and a scratch in Santa Anita Derby due to a sore foot, returned to the track and seems likely for the Lexington Stakes//

More analysis and opinion on the Wood Memorial.  As usual, Gary West offers an intriguing and thorough take// While Uncle Mo’s disappointment and Toby’s Corner’s triumph have been the main focus, overlooked second place finisher Arthur’s Tale finally grabbed some attention in articles and rankings today. There are even a few who feel he may be peaking in similar fashion to his sire Bernardini, but I don’t see it.  Arthur’s Tale has been racing since July and only began showing promise in December.  While his finish in the Wood was a big step forward, it in no way compares to Bernardini’s quick ascent to dominance and brilliance// Several good points from various blogs today, including A Saturday Afternoon Horse, who wonders if Victor Espinoza’s hard handling of Midnight Interlude in the Santa Anita Derby could cost him four weeks down the road in the Derby// more...



Graded Earnings:

·       Official List 4/10 and article (Churchill Downs)

Articles:

·     Arkansas Derby looking to have 13 starters (DRF)

·       Blue Grass hopefuls work; more mature Santiva returns to Keeneland (Brisnet)

·       Preparations continue for the Blue Grass [King Congie, Wilkinson workouts] (Downey Profile)

·       Blue Grass Stakes to have three from Pletcher (DRF)

·       Pedigree spolight: Astrology and Nehro (Zipse At The Derby)

·       Bob Baffert has triple threat headed for Kentucky Derby 2011 (Courier Journal)

·       If not Mo (Gary West Blog)

·       Analyzing Uncle Mo’s performance in the Wood (Saratogian)

·       Race suddenly a free-for-all after wild weekend (New Jersey Star Ledger)

·       Uncle Mo’s loss leaves Kentucky Derby picture fuzzy (USA Today)

·       Wild weekend muddies Derby picture (Lexington Herald Leader)

·       Uncle Mo’s loss gives Derby new favorite (Lexington Herald Leader)

·       Uncle Mo’s loss leaves no clear cut favorite (DRF)

·       Uncle Mo and the Wood, pt 2 (DRF Blog)

·       What happened to the chalks? (DRF Blog)

·      Down and almost out in Queens: Uncle Mo, the latest great hope for racing,   stumbles hard (Capital New York)

·       Masters and Road to Kentucky Derby have similarities this year (The Brock Talk)

·       Give him one Mo chance (Big A Confidential)

·       Final Prep: Why it matters, why it doesn’t (Thoroughbred Chat)

·       Toby’s Corner’s owners revel in Wood Memorial upset (DRF)

·       Weekend Review (A Saturday Afternoon Horse Blog)

·       Speculation sets racing apart (Pull The Pocket Blog)

·       Turning a corner in the Wood Memorial (Rail Runner Blog)

·       Video: Recap and Derby prep replays (DRF)

·       Under the radar: Arthur’s Tale (DRF)

·       Jaycito returns to track, on course for Lexington (DRF)

Rankings:

·       Steve Haskin’s Derby dozen 4/11 (Bloodhorse Blog)

·       TCI Top 20 4/11 (Bloodhorse)

·       The Rail’s Top 10 4/10 (NY Times Blog)

·       Thoroughbred Times Media Poll 4/11 (TTimes)

·       AP Top 10 4/11 (AP)

·       Celebrity Top 10: Trevor Bayne (Courier Journal)

Future Odds:

·       Wynn Las Vegas 4/11

·       Allhorseracing 4/11

Works:

·       Wilkinson: CD- 5F- 1.01:40- B- 9/17

·       King Congie: KEE- 5F- 1.00:60- B- 12/27

·       Nehro: OP- 4F- 49:40- B- 6/16

·       Astrology: SA- 5F- 1.00:80- H- 21/52

Notes:

Arkansas Derby probables: Alternation, Brethren, Dance City, Elite Alex, The Factor, Truman’s Commander, Archarcharch, Caleb’s Posse, J P’s Gusto, J W Blue, Nehro, Saratoga Red, Sway Away

Quote of the day: “Oh, yes, some will step forward today to proclaim themselves brilliant savants and sages of prognostication because, they'll say, they knew it all along. They knew Uncle Mo was phony. Right. With the same certainty, the same guys knew Smarty Jones was phony, too.”- Gary West