Chasing The Derby: Java’s War could be dangerous in Blue Grass, Dewey Square sitting out// Gomez gets Palace Malice mount// More Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby news// Updated futures// more…

Summary:

Dale Romans has been known to catch Derby fever as much as anyone, but has decided to take a conservative approach with Dewey Square. Instead of running in Saturday’s Blue Grass (G1), he will point for the Derby points deprived Illinois Derby (G3), with the Preakness (G1) the goal. Romans has been high on Dewey Square, but his 3-year-old season has been dissapointing with a 7th in the Holy Bull (G3) and 5th in the Palm Beach (G3). It seems like a wise, yet still ambitious decision// The Blue Grass looks to be a popular race, with as many as 18 horses vying for the 14 spots. Kenny McPeek believes Java’s War is sitting on a big effort, as the colt appears to relish the Polytrack. No one seems to mention Java’s War has already raced on the surface in last year’s Dixiana Breeders Futurity (G1), where he finished a troubled 3rd by 1 3/4 lengths. In other Blue Grass news, Garrett Gomez picked up the mount on Palace Malice. Gomez is searching for a Derby mount in the wake of recently injured Flashback. More Blue Grass notes and happenings can be found in the barn notes linked below// Shades of 1996 are developing with D. Wayne Lukas pointing multiple colts to the Kentucky Derby, and one of them with Gary Stevens possibly aboard. Oxbow is apparently doing well ahead of Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G1) and Lukas hopes to get another Kentucky Derby entrant with Channel Isle in the Blue Grass. Lukas confirmed that Will Take Charge with bypass the Blue Grass and train up to the Derby saying “we have nothing to gain” by squeezing in another race. That means Will Take Charge will have a 7-week racing break between his win in the Rebel (G2) and the Kentucky Derby// Nice article from Jay Cronley at ESPN about the futility of strategizing your bets for the Kentucky Derby// A filly could grab some Derby points after all with the announcement by Kenny McPeek that Pure Fun may enter the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. If she were to win, Pure Fun would only earn 20 points, which is likely not enough to the make the Derby starting gate// Updated Kentucky Derby future odds from Wynn Las Vegas linked below// more…

Articles:

Barn Notes: 3 more colts ready to enter Blue Grass if opportunity arises [full list of probables] (Keeneland)

Java’s War looks like legit Blue Grass contender (DRF)

Lukas barn loaded with talented 3-year-olds on Triple Crown trail (DRF)

Will Take Charge will train up to race (DRF)

Haskin: Give Verrazano a break (Bloodhorse Blog)

A whimsical Derby (ESPN)

Sticking with Normandy Invasion (ESPN)

Pure Fun may try males in Lexington (DRF)

Illinois Derby, Preakness for Dewey Square (Bloodhorse)

Futures

Wynn Las Vegas 4/8 (View From Vegas)