Vyjack
was still the hot Kentucky Derby trail topic a few days after his decisive come-from-behind
victory in the Gotham (G3). Trainer Rudy Rodriguez thinks the relative
seclusion at Aqueduct during training hours has paid dividends for Vyjack as
opposed to the hustle and bustle of southern Florida mornings. Bad behavior has
always been an issue for Vyjack, even after he was gelded, but he has shown
slight improvement// Super Ninety Nine is all but confirmed for the Rebel (G2)
March 16. The dominating Southwest (G3) winner worked a blistering 4-furlongs
Monday morning in 46:40 and has apparently “bounced back quickly” from that
race according to DRF’s Jay Privman. He also mentioned Todd Pletcher’s Delhomme
and Ron Ellis’ Treasury Bill are headed to the Rebel, which is shaping up to be
a crowded race// As expected, Al Stall’s Departing will move up to a Derby
points race next time out. Most likely it will be the Louisiana Derby (G2),
with the Sunland Derby (G3) or Rebel (G2) as possible alternatives. Departing
earned a 97 Beyer speed figure for his easy win in the Texas Heritage Stakes
Saturday, which puts him right in the mix of top contenders// Two big Kentucky
Derby points races are on tap for Saturday- the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa
Bay and San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita- and each features highly regarded
contenders with low Kentucky Derby Future Wager odds. Current individual
favorite Verrazano (9-1) will try two turns for the first time in Tampa over a
surface that has proven to be challenging for many shippers in the past. 2010
Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver finished 3rd in the race along his route to
Louisville, and 2007 Derby winner Street Sense won the race only by a nose.
Verrazano will face a minimum of six horses including Purple Egg, Dynamic Sky,
Falling Sky, Honorable Dillon, and Java’s War// Flashback (12-1 in KDFW #2) and
Goldencents (24-1) are both on target for a showdown in the San Felipe (G2)
Saturday. Other probables include Hear the Ghost, Kochees, Omega Star, Salutos
Amigos, and Tiz A Minister// Balance the Books, who was penciled in for Sunday
Palm Beach (G3) before spiking a fever, will point instead for the Spiral (G3)
at Turfway. The Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) third place finisher would
enter the Kentucky Derby having never raced on dirt before// Two-time Kentucky
Derby winning trainer Nick Zito will serve a 15-day suspension for a
clenbuterol positive from a winner at Aqueduct over a year ago// more…
Articles:
Vyjack
makes big jump with victory in Gotham [with interview video] (Courier
Journal)
Vyjack- a prime Kentucky Derby player (Miami Herald)
The
unlikely story of Vyjack (Bloodhorse)
Kentucky Derby Daily: March 4 (In The Money)
Rankings:
Steve
Haskin’s Derby Dozen 3/3/13 (Bloodhorse Blog)
HRI’s Triple Crown power rankings (Horseracing Insider)
Workouts:
Proud Strike- FG- 5F-
1.02:00- B- 12/24
Mylute- FG- 4F- 51:40- B-
25/35
Super Ninety Nine- SA- 4F-
46:40- H- 1/44
War Academy- SA- 4F-
46:80- H- 2/44
Quotes and Tweets:
"Tiz the Truth,
Baffert mdn winner 2-2, missed training time with 1/4 crack. Back training now,
but next start delayed"- Jay Privman via Twitter
"Baffert could send
Super 99 back to OP for Rebel 3-16. He's bounced back quickly from Southwest.
Den's Legacy going there for sure"- Jay Privman via Twitter
"Baffert will run
both Flashback and Carving in San Felipe Saturday, he said this morning"-
Jay Privman via Twitter
"Delhomme set for
2013 debut in Rebel 3-16. Garrett Gomez has picked up mount, Pletcher
said"- Jay Privman via Twitter
"San Vicente
runner-up Treasury Bill, heading to Rebel for next start, worked 6f in 1:14.80
for R. Ellis at BHP this am"- Jay Privman via Twitter
"Pletcher "can't
find a pimple" on Overanalyze, 5th in Remsen Saturday. He's back at Palm
Meadows. Next start undecided. Leading options for Overanalyze are Wood, Ark.
Derby, Pletcher said, but won't know for sure until he returns to
training"- Jay Privman via Twitter\
"More Pletcher:
Revolutionary, Withers winner, heading to LA Derby 3-30. Wood, Fla Derby had
been considered, too"- Jay Privman via Twitter
"Exciting Palm Beach
winner Rydilluc will make his next start in the Spiral Stakes"- Steve
Haskin via Twitter
"Long-forgotten Power
Broker worked 6f at SA yesterday. He, Tiz the Truth, could make Hail Mary play
for Derby in Wood or SA Derby"- Jay Privman via Twitter
