While the major racetracks have had difficulty attracting healthy fields
for their noteworthy Kentucky Derby preps- five entered for the Hutcheson, six
in the Withers and Holy Bull, and only four or five expected in Saturday’s San
Vicente at Santa Anita- that is not a problem for Oaklawn Park and Monday’s
Southwest (G3). In fact, with
possibly 21 horses pointing for the race, there is a distinct possibility the
Southwest could be split into two races, both carrying a $250,000 purse and
Grade 3 status. Smarty Jones
Stakes winner Junebugred, who will get some betting action in either race,
worked a bullet 48 and 1 Tuesday morning.
According to trainer Steve Hobby, Junebugred has progressed from his
last victory and should be a threat// The Southwest did lose one contender when
trainer Larry Jones decided to keep Mark Valeski at the Fair Grounds. He’ll have to face stablemate and
Lecomte (G3) winner Mr. Bowling, and as Jones stated he’ll soon know which one
is better// Ten entries are expected for the El Camino Real Derby (G3) at
Golden Gate Fields. In addition to
likely favorite Russian Greek there will be a filly, Lady of Fifty, who
recently won the California Oaks. Information
on the other eight possible contenders can be viewed in the linked DRF article
below// As expected, Bob Baffert will send impressive maiden winner
Bodemeiseter to a stakes race next time out in March. Which particular race is unknown, but that’s often the case
with Baffert who keeps decisions close to the vest until days before the race//
Jason Shandler discusses Javier Castellano and his agent’s decision to ride
Algorithms over Union Rags and says it simply came down to trainers. Given that Todd Pletcher is loaded with
at least five serious Derby prospects, a majority ridden by Castellano, they
wanted to stay on as many as possible this early in the season. It still seems something is missing in
this theory. If Castellano chose
Union Rags, would he have been pulled from Gemologist, El Padrino, and Spring
Hill Farm? None of those horses
have a scheduled race that conflict with Union Rags, so there is no reason he
would lose those mounts, unless Pletcher hinted he would look elsewhere// more…
Articles
Thunder
Moccasin: Pretty and pretty talented (Bloodhorse)
Haskin’s
Derby Trail: El Al jets ready to take off (Bloodhorse Blog)
From
‘Rags’ to Pletcher riches (Bloodhorse Blog)
Up
to code [Algorithms’ mare] (Bloodhorse Blog)
Gomez
hoping to return for San Felipe (Bloodhorse)
3-year-olds
to watch (In The Money Blog)
A
bright future (ESPN)
Future Odds
Rankings
Paulick Derby Index 2/14 (Paulick Report)
Paulick Derby Index 2/14 (Paulick Report)
Down
and Derby Sweet 16 (Zipse at the Track Blog)
Works
Souper Speedy- PMM- 5F-
1.03:22- B- 3/6
Junebugred- OP- 4F- 48:20-
B- 1/8
Worthington- SUN- 5F- 1.02:40-
B- 14/32
Russian Greek- GG- 4F- 49:00- H- 2/10
Weekly
Speed Figures*
Top winning 3yo BRIS figs last week:
Golden Ticket-103; Bodemeister-101; Fed Biz, Good Morning Diva, Thunder
Moccasin, Hardened Wildcat & Panthro-97
Top winning 3yo Beyers last week:
Bodemeister-99; Fed Biz-97; Thunder Moccasin-93; Panthro-90; Good Morning
Diva-87; Golden Ticket & Hardened Wildcat-83;
*DerbyContenders via Twitter
