Summary:
Entries
closed for the El Camino Real Derby (G3), which will be held Saturday at Golden
Gate Fields. Nine sophomores will load the gate, with California Derby winner
Zeewat and Bob Baffert colts Carving and Manando highlighting the field.
Previews and PPs can be found below// Slowly but surely we are checking off key
3-year-old debuts. Uncaptured, last seen barely winning the Kentucky Jockey
Club (G2) at Churchill in November, registered his first official workout at
Ocala Training Center. He’s on target for the Rushaway Stakes or tougher Spiral
Stakes (G3) both at Turfway Park March 23// Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) 3rd
place finisher Capo Bastone will return this Saturday at Gulfstream in an
allowance. He’s now under the care of Todd Pletcher after being transferred
from the barn of John Sadler// As I alluded to last week, trainer Al Stall has
now confirmed both Sunbean and Departing will start next in the Risen Star (G2)
at the Fair Grounds Feb 23// Jockey Kevin Krigger apparently hot walked
Goldencents after his 6-furlong bullet workout at Santa Anita Wednesday. You
don’t see that often from a jockey, but you can’t blame Krigger for trying to
get as much face time as he can with the colt and trainer Doug O’Neill seeing
as top jockeys and their agents have probably pitched O’Neill to dump the
lesser-known rider. Goldencents is still on track for a start in the San Felipe
March 9th, where he’ll face the much-hyped Flashback// Sunday’s San Vicente
(G2) is expected to draw Mudflats, Belvin, Shakin’ It Up, War Academy, Cabello
del Cielo, and Treasury Bill// Eddie Kenneally said he will move recent maiden
winner Gombey Dancer up to stakes company in the Swale (G2) March 2nd, and will
also stretch out Hutcheson (G2) winner Honorable Dillon in either the Gotham
(G3) or Tampa Bay Derby (G3)// Gulfstream Park released a video interview with
Todd Pletcher in which he discusses the strategy for Violence in the Fountain
of Youth (G2), Verrazano’s post-Tampa Derby plans, the delay of training on
Delhomme, and the status of Revolutionary and Overanalyze// It looks as if He’s
Had Enough has had enough of Flashback and will most likely ship out of
California for his next start in either the Gotham or Tampa Derby//
I’m
always interested in Kerry Thomas’ behavioral profiling of Kentucky Derby starters.
He studies emotional conformation and other behavior of the contenders to
determine which horses will react best in a crowded 20 horse field going 10
furlongs. It’s an unorthodox handicapping angle that I fully believe has just
as much merit as speed figures and pedigree analysis. However, let’s set the
record straight on the recent proclamation that he has picked the winner of the
Derby the last two years. Last year, he listed eight(!) horses that possessed
the potential winning formula– that’s 40% of the field. While he did say in an
online interview that I’ll Have Another was towards the top, he also mentioned
7th and 4th place finishers Union Rags and Went the Day Well right alongside
him. In 2011 he liked Animal Kingdom, but put him on even terms with Dialed In
who finished 8th. It is impressive he has mentioned the winners, but there have
never been clear choices in his analysis. I will still wait anxiously for his
2013 Derby run-down…// more…
Upcoming
2/16/13
El Camino Real Derby (G3)
Golden
Gate Fields
1 1/8
Miles
PPs: Click
here
Previews:
Brisnet
/
Articles:
Elmutahid
pointed to Besilu Fountain of Youth [plus news on Gombey Dancer, Honorable
Dillon, Majestic Hussar] (Gulfstream Park)
Super
Ninety Nine looks to keep Baffert’s Oaklawn streak going [and news on Officer
Alex] (Oaklawn Park)
Take
note of Treasury Bill when distances increase (Santa Anita)
Todd Pletcher talks about
Violence, Shanghai Bobby, and more [video] (Gulfstream Park)
Gulfstream
races feature Capo Bastone, [others] (Bloodhorse)
Haskin’s
Derby Trail: Big two locked and loaded (Bloodhorse Blog)
De
Kock hopeful Soft Falling Rain can get distance (The Downey Profile)
Where
they’re going next: Next-race plans (The Downey Profile)
‘Horse
Whisperer’ beats handicappers, using behavior profiling to pick last two Derby
longshots (Insider Louisville)
Kentucky Derby Daily Feb 13 (In the
Money Blog)
Kentucky
Derby Report Feb 14 (Brisnet)
In the Money: 3-year-olds to watch
(In The Money Blog)
Casino
expected to sponsor Spiral Stakes (Bloodhorse)
Workouts:
Oxbow-
OP- 5F- 1.02:60 B- 2/6 (Good)
Goldencents-
SA- 6F- 1.13:40- H- 1/20
Clawback-
AQU- 4F- 48:90- B- 2/14
Uncaptured-
OTC- 3F- 35:60- B- 1/7
Rankings:
Kentucky
Derby Top 20 (DRF)
Quotes and Tweets:
"He's
Had Enough likely to travel for next start, to Gotham or TB Derby, according to
Dennis O'Neill. San Felipe slight option, too"- Jay Privman via Twitter
“Graham
Motion on Cerro: "Most likely we’ll be going to the Palm Beach, but we’ll
take a look at the Fountain of Youth as well’ ”- J.J. Hysell via Twitter
