Summary:
A strong hint
yesterday has turned into fact with the announcement Bob Baffert will send
recent Santa Anita allowance winner Super Ninety Nine to Oaklawn for the Southwest
(G3) Monday. The son of the Pulpit will most likely be favored, even though he
will face Smarty Jones Stakes winner Will Take Charge and runner-up Texas
Bling. Always in a Tiz and Brown Almighty are other Smarty Jones runners
returning to the Southwest, while sprint stakes winner Tour Guide was
officially ruled out due to shin issues// Bob Baffert not only plans to send an
invader to Oaklawn, but could send one or two to Golden Gate Fields for the El
Camino Real Derby (G3). Manando and Carving are being considered, with the
latter the possible favorite if he joins the cast. Others considered probable
for the El Camino are California Derby winner Zeewat; runner-up Wildcat Moon;
locals Nina’s Dragon and North Pacific; and Southern California shippers Counting
Days and Dice Flavor// My current top choice to win the Kentucky Derby,
Verrazano, will make his stakes and two-turn debut in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2)
March 9. Todd Pletcher chose the race over others due to spacing, avoiding
stablemates, and keeping the colt in Florida// Pletcher will also give Palace
Malice his first stakes try in the Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds Feb 23.
The Fountain of Youth was also under consideration, but the connections say the
fact Rosie Napravnik is available to ride at the Fair Grounds tipped the
balance. I’m expecting a big effort from Palace Malice in the Risen Star seeing
as his recent 2nd in an allowance at Gulfstream was his first race
in over five months and a stunted six furlongs. Others probable for the Risen
Star include Oxbow, Normandy Invasion, Code West, Proud Strike, and Golden Soul.
It was announced Tuesday that Gary Stevens picked up the mount on Proud Strike.
While many were excited over the news, I’m sure Brian Hernandez Jr. has a different
take on being pushed out// Delhomme, unraced since a 3rd in the Remsen in
November, will return most likely in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn March 16// A
busy worktab Tuesday with Flashback, Super Ninety Nine, Orb, Den’s Lagacy and others
hitting the track. Full details below// more…
Articles:
Palace
Malice confirmed for Risen Star (Brisnet)
Park
City on the upswing (Courier Journal)
Fortify
will try to stop the ‘Rain’ at Meydan (Bloodhorse)
Kentucky Derby Daily- Feb 12 (In The Money Blog)
Kentucky Derby Daily- Feb 12 (In The Money Blog)
Kentucky
Derby pedigrees (The Saratogian)
‘Road
to the Kentucky Derby’ TV schedule announced (Bloodhorse)
Workouts:
Orb- PAY- 4F- 49:20-
B- 8/17
Flashback- SA- 4F-
47:80- H- 4/34
Den's Legacy- SA-
4F- 48:00- H- 6/34
Code West- SA- 4F-
48:00- H- 6/34
Belvin- SA- 4F-
47:40- H- 2/34
War Academy- SA- 4F-
47:80- H- 4/34
Super Ninety Nine-
SA- 4F- 47:60- H- 3/34
Zeewat- GG- 4F-
49:40- H- 2/9
Quotes and Tweets:
"Flashback just
breezed 1/2 in 47.4 cruising"- Bob Baffert via Twitter
"Gary Stevens
has picked up the mount on Steve Asmussen's impressive MDN winner Proud Strike
in the G2 Risen Star 2/23"- Steve Byk via Twitter
Code West, second to
Super 99 in SA alw, heading to FG for Risen Star 2-23, Bob Baffert says. He
worked 4f in 48 at SA today- Jay Privman via Twitter
Oxbow jogged about a
mile then galloped the same distance after break @ #Oaklawn, preparing for
Grade 2 Risen Star @ #FairGrounds on 2/23.- Mary Rampellini via Twitter
