Monday was a busy day on the work tab for Kentucky Derby contenders.
Julien Leparoux was aboard early Kentucky Derby favorite Union Rags for the
first time, and the duo breezed a steady 5 furlongs much to the delight of
trainer Michael Matz. Discreet
Dancer and Algorithms, two other leading contenders for the Fountain of Youth
(G2), also breezed at Palm Meadows and trainer Todd Pletcher seemed pleased
with both. It was an especially
important move for Discreet Dancer who was absent from the worktab last week
due to a fever. All signs are a go
for the Fountain of Youth, which is expected to draw a small field of six or
seven// Commentary continues to trickle in on the riding change for Union
Rags. Mark Simon at Thoroughbred
Times thinks it’s a blessing, and that Castellano rode Union Rags poorly in
just about every race// The El Camino Real Derby (G3) Saturday looks to have a
robust field and also some imported jockeys. Leparoux and Alan Garcia are expected to ship in for the Northern
California Derby prep// Bob Baffert announced via his Twitter feed that Secret
Circle will indeed ship to Oaklawn for the Southwest Stakes (G3). There were mixed signals on whether the
colt would go back to one-turn racing in Santa Anita’s San Vicente or try
two-turns again. With a decision
on the latter, Creative Cause will have a little bit of an easier comeback at Santa
Anita. Baffert will also ship
recent maiden winner Castaway for the Southwest// Speaking of Baffert, his recent
impressive maiden winner Bodemeister earned a high 99 Beyer speed figure for
Saturday’s effort at Santa Anita.
He is Dan Illman’s “under the radar” prospect of the week. Of all Derby winner “requirements” that have
proven to be untrue recently, it’s only a matter of time before the "never
raced as a 2-year-old" factoid falls too. That rule hasn't been broken
since the 1882 Kentucky Derby victory by Apollo, but some feel Bodemeister has
a legitimate shot to make yet another Derby “requirement” insignificant.
Articles
Matz
gets new rider for Union Rags (TTimes)
Leparoux,
Garcia to ride in El Camino Real (Bloodhorse)
Time is everything on
Derby trail (The Daily Times)
Pletcher,
Baffert are sure-fire talent agents (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
The
Kentucky Derby winner will not come from the mutuel field (Sports Network)
Pool 1
wager thoughts (DRF Blog)
Rankings
Steve Haskin Derby Dozen 2/13 [with video] (Bloodhorse Blog)
Steve Haskin Derby Dozen 2/13 [with video] (Bloodhorse Blog)
AP Top
10 Contenders (AP)
Works
Z Dager- FG- 5F-
1.01:60 B- 8/38
Mr. Bowling- FG- 5F- 1.01:20-
B- 5/38
Shared Property- FG- 5F-
1.00:80- B- 3/38
Class President- FG- 5F- 1.04:40-
B- 36/38
Algorithms- PMM- 4F 49:20-
B- 29/68
El Padrino- PMM- 4F- 48:28-
B- 8/68
Gemologist- PMM- 4F- 49:77-
B- 39/68
Union Rags- PMM- 5F-
1.03:08- B- 9/12
Discreet Dancer- PMM- 5F-
1.00:90- B- 4/12
Liberty Bound- PMM- 5F-
1.00:33- B- 2/12
Hierro- SA- 5F- 1.02:60- H- 28/35
Brother Francis- SA- 4F- 51:00-
H- 19/23
Daddy Nose Best- SA- 4F- 50:60-
H- 18/23
Unbridled's Note- SA- 4F- 49:00-
H- 9/23
Team Six- FH- 5F-
1.01:60- B- 1/1
Out of Bounds- HOL- 6F- 1.13:40-
H- 3/11
Secret Circle- SA- 6F- 1.11:60-
H- 1/9
Big Screen GP- 4F- 50:00-
B- 46/81
Notes
and bits from web and Twitter:
“Union Rags breezes 5f in 1:03. Clocker
says it was the best he's looked all winter. Came home in :11 3/5, gallop out
another 1/8 in :12 3/5”- Steve Haskin via Twitter
