Fields set for San Felipe, Tampa Bay Derby, and Swale// Hansen back in KY

Although the San Felipe (G2) is missing some once expected headliners: Sham (G3) winner Out of Bounds (off the trail), Delta Jackpot (G3) winner Sabercat (heading to the Rebel Stakes instead), and highly regarded Fed Biz (stomach cramps), it is still a stronger field as a whole than any recent Kentucky Derby prep.  Out of the ten challengers, two have won graded stakes, four are graded stakes placed, and another is a listed stakes winner. Also, two horses not among that group of seven, Bodemeister and Blingo, come into the race with a lot of Derby buzz based on impressive maiden wins and recent training. Trainer Jack Carava has already stated that his entry American Act is only 50-50 to run in the San Felipe and may wait for the Sunland Derby(G3)// The Tampa Bay Derby (G2) field of twelve appears stronger than its preceding prep race the Sam Davis (G3). Three out of the four top finishers of the Sam Davis return, including winner Battle Hardened, and they will have to face highly touted Take Charge Indy and Todd Pletcher-trained Spring Hill Farm among others. Tampa Bay Downs published an extremely thorough evaluation of past Tampa Bay Derbys and what to look for in this year’s edition by Peter Mallett, and it’s linked below// Ever So Lucky, who has suffered some recent foot bruising, seems on track to make Saturday’s 7-furlong Swale (G2) at Gulfstream. That field drew 10 colts and geldings, with Motor City being the most accomplished based on his win in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill last Fall.  The distance of the Swale probably suits others instead, but the race is a mere steppingstone to bigger and better things. Todd Pletcher’s Thunder Moccasin was a surprise non-entry in the Swale, and no reason was given as to why the Hutcheson (G2) winner will skip the race// Full entries and a link to pps for all graded races on Saturday can be found below…

San Felipe Stakes (G2)

Entries / PPs (Look for March 10 Bodemeister)

Preview Articles: Santa Anita / DRF / Bloodhorse / Brisnet / TTimes / Graded Stakes Blog

Tampa Bay Derby (G2)

Entries / PPs (Look for March 10 Spring Hill Farm)

Preview Articles: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet / Courier Journal

Handicapping the Tampa Bay Derby (Tampa Bay Downs)

Swale Stakes (G2)

Entries / PPs (Look for March 10 Quick Wit)

Preview Articles: Bloodhorse / Brisnet / TTimes

Articles

Heavy Breathing may try Spiral at Turfway (DRF)

3YOs to watch 3/7 (In The Money Blog)

Hansen: A photograher’s dream (DRF)

Back where he started: Hansen at TP (The Downey Profile)

Five under the radar Derby hopefuls (Bloodhorse)

BC Juvenile looking key (DRF)

Who’s hot who’s not 3/7 (DRF)

Kentucky Derby report 3/8 (Brisnet)

Works

Majestic Stride- OP- 5F- 1.02:20- B- 5/13

Animal Spirits- FG- 4F- 49:40- B- 15/44

Rankings

DRF Top 20 (DRF)

Top 22 (isportsweb)

Notes and bits from web and Twitter:

“Jack Carava told @HRTVHOST American Act is 50-50 to run in San Felipe. The Sunland Derby is the other option”- HRTVHOST via Twitter

“Groovin Solo and Liaison will run with blinkers off in San Felipe” – TrifectaBox via Twitter

Drill back on track in San Vicente// Southwest racing tactics for 2 revealed// 11 drawn for Risen Star, El Padrino adds spice// Union Rags ready

Seemingly past his prime, not many really thought Drill could put in a winning effort in Sunday’s San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita.  He did just that in a hard fought stretch duel with runner-up American Act covering the 7-furlong distance in 1:21.28.  Before fully proclaiming Drill as a serious Kentucky Derby contender one needs to look at his past performances first.  He was entered in four route races as a two-year-old and beaten by a combined 46 lengths.  Even trainer Bob Baffert was quoted as saying “I wouldn’t run out and buy a future book bet on him”.  The semi-disappointment in the race was 1-2 favorite Creative Cause, who trailed the small four-horse field in the early stages before racing wide into the stretch and finishing a late closing third.  There’s no doubt he was doing his best running late and a stretch out in distance, most likely in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, will only help.  Trainer Mike Harrington said it was just what they were looking for in Creative Cause’s return race.  American Act ran very admirably in only his second race and just missed his first graded stakes victory by a nose.  He set quick fractions and seems to do best when he’s on the lead, but that tactic is not recommended for Derby-caliber horses.  His pedigree also suggests 10-fulrongs could be too long.

The horseracing spotlight will be on the two Southwest Stakes (G3) races at Oaklawn Park on President’s Day.  For articles, PPs, and picks check out the upcoming page here.  It was reported Sunday that trainer Allen Milligan has been working on a more aggressive running style for King Corral who started well behind in the Smarty Jones Stakes.  The trainer has also been leaning harder on Jake Mo and plans are for the horse to set the pace Monday.

Entries were drawn well in advance of Saturday’s running of the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds.  11 colts and geldings will vie in the $300,000 Derby prep including Mr. Bowling, winner of the LeComte Stakes (G3) on the same track.  He will not only face five horses from that race again, but also a formidable new shipper in El Padrino, who will carry four less pounds.  Full entries can be viewed here  

Union Rags put in final preparations for next Sunday’s Fountain of Youth (G2) with a 4-furlong breeze from the gate at Palm Meadows.  Michael Matz says with a little more gate training this week the horse should be ready for his return// El Padrino apparently had an excellent 4 panel move for Todd Pletcher while stablemate Gemologist tired in his 5-furlong breeze.  That’s probably not too worrying at this point considering it was only his third work since a layoff and the longest of the year// Hansen fired a bullet move at Gulfstream breezing 5-furlongs in 59 flat, the quickest of 31 others at the distance// Delta Jackpot (G3) winner Sabercat is continuing his steady workout routine at Santa Anita ahead of the San Felipe (G2).

Upcoming:

Monday- Southwest Stakes (G3)- for PPs, articles, and picks click here

Saturday- Risen Star Stakes (G2)- entries

San Vicente (G2)

Winner: Drill

Jockey: Martin Garcia

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Chart: Equibase Chart

Replay: YouTube

Wrap-up Articles: DRF / TTimes / Brisnet / Bloodhorse

Beyer Speed Figure: 94 (Preliminary)

Articles

The Morning Line(s): Southwest Stakes (The Derby Post)

Oaklawn Barn Notes 2/19 (Oaklawn Park)

Union Rags among three Kentucky Derby prospects busy working (DRF)

Union Rags ‘ready to go’ for Fountain of Youth (TTimes)

Risen Star Preview articles: DRF / Brisnet / Bloodhorse

Sabercat remains on target for San Felipe (DRF)

Dullahan resumes working out for Palm Beach (DRF)

Haskin’s Derby Trail: red, white, and Godolphin blue (Bloodhorse Blog)

Toby Keith eyes Kentucky Derby, sending a horse to Oaklawn (Tulsa World)

March Madness meets racing in Santa Anita online contest (Brisnet)

Works

2/19:

Power World- PAY- 3F- 36:40 -B- 2/7

Sabercat- SA- 5F- 1.01:80- H- 23/37

Midnight Transfer- SA- 7F- 1.25:20- H- 2/4

Hansen- GP- 5F- 59:00- H- 1/31

Currency Swap- GP- 4F- 47:00- H- 2/32

Gemologist- PMM- 5F- 1.03:88- B- 29/32

Dan and Sheila- PMM- 5F- 1.01:56- B- 9/32

Midnight Serenade- CRC- 3F- 37:00- B- 2/9

Union Rags- PMM- 4F- 48:81 B- 7/18

El Padrino- PMM- 4F- 48:91- B- 14/18

2/18:

Chips All In- SA- 4F- 46:80- B- 1/8 (Turf)

Empire Way- HOL- 5F- 1.01:80- H- 30/50

Isn't He Clever- SUN- 5F- 1.01:40- B- 2/21

Shkspeare Shaliyah- BEL- 4F- 49:66- B- 49/98

My Adonis- BEL- 5F- 1.00:27- B- 1/22

Friscan- FH- 5F-1.01:00- B- 3/10

Hakama- FH- 4F- 50:40- B- 4/5

Hogy- HAW- 4F- 50:40- B-17/49

Gold Megillah- PMM- 5F- 1.02:05- B- 12/23

Casual Trick- PMM- 5F- 1.00:41- B- 3/23

Prospective- PMM- 5F- 1.01:62- B- 6/23

Motor City- PMM- 4F- 51:12 B- 32/39

Hello Prince- CRC- 4F- 51:00- B- 42/71

Hammers Terror- FG- 4F- 48:80- B- 14/62 (Good)

Ted's Folly- FG- 4F- 51:20- B- 48/62

Dullahan- GP- 5F- 1.01:80- B- 14/26

Mr. Prankster- TP- 4F- 49:20- B- 6/13

Creative Cause & Empire Way to stay separated// Longview Drive ready for Southwest// No rushing Sir Bond

Trainer Mike Harrington discusses some possible chess moves with his two top Kentucky Derby Contenders.  After Sunday’s San Vicente (G2), Creative Cause is likely to ship to Arkansas for the Rebel (G2) in order to stay away from Empire Way and his quest to accumulate Graded Earnings in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita.  First things first however, Harrington is hoping Creative Cause shows some progression from his juvenile campaign in the San Vicente.  He reiterated that the horse does not necessarily have to win, especially considering he has enough in Graded Earnings for the Derby// With possibly 21 interests in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, it’s not surprising that workouts have occurred all throughout the week, even on the Friday before Monday’s race.  Longview Drive, 3^rd in both the Sham (G3) and Delta Jackpot (G3), lit up the track with a 4-furlong move in 48:20.  Najjaar also worked at Oaklawn in what appears on paper to be a good move, but trainer Danny Peitz decided he’ll skip the Southwest and look for a longer race seeing as the son of Jazil likes to drop far back in the early going.  Apprehender, a quick maiden winner at Oaklawn who earned a 98 Beyer speed figure, could be on the outside looking in if the Southwest does not split into two divisions.  He sits towards the bottom of contender earnings and will have to await the draw Saturday. If he does race, it will be without blinkers, which he wore in his debut// Further south and east, Sam F. Davis (G3) winner Battle Hardened worked a modest 4-panels at Palm Meadows.  He is still likely for the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 10// Some good fact-finding by Dick Downey reveals Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien is unlikely to point Wrote, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and #4 on the Graded Earnings list, to the Kentucky Derby// Yet another impressive maiden winner made himself known Thursday.  Sir Bond dominated in his fourth career start at the Fair Grounds, where he covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1.45:12  to earn a 91 Beyer figure. Trainer Neil Howard said he would like to move ahead slowly with the colt and look for an allowance for his next race.

For complete coverage on Saturday’s El Camino Real Derby and Sunday’s San Vicente check out the race page here

Articles

CA Derby and Oaks Champs vie in El Camino Real Derby (Iron Maidens Thoroughbred Blog)

Kentucky Derby hopefuls get Bay Area showcase (The Sacramento Bee)

San Vicente merely a starting point for Creative Cause (DRF)

West Coast’s Creative Cause begins march towards Kentucky Derby on Sunday (LA Daily News)

Creative Cause set for launch in San Vicente (TTimes)

Carava says American Act is improving (The Downey Profile)

Longview Drive sharpens for crowded Southwest (DRF)

Najjaar declared out of Southwest (The Downey Profile)

Southwest could be split into two divisions (Bloodhorse)

Sir Bond impresses with maiden win (DRF)

Baffert back in the mix (Bloodhorse Blog)

Gotham shaping up strong (DRF)

Battle Hardened breezes at Palm Meadows (Bloodhorse)

Write him off [Wrote] (The Downey Profile)

Castellano made the right call (ESPN)

Kentucky Derby bubble at $120,000 (The Brock Talk Blog)

The long and winding road (Courier Journal Hansen Blog)

Hovdey: Colorless ruling lacks common sense (DRF)

Road to the Derby- El Camino and San Vicente (Courier Journal)

Countdown to the Crown 2/17 (DRF)

Videos

Interview with Michael Matz on Union Rags (Gulfstream Park)

Derby Watch 2/17 (DRF)

Picks

The Commish’s picks- San Vicente (The Downey Profile)

Works

Battle Hardened- PMM- 4F- 49:80- B- 11/14

Howe Great- PMM- 5F- 1.06:05- B- 10/11

Longview Drive- OP- 4F- 48:20- B- 2/57

Najjaar- OP- 5F- 1.01:60- B- 2/58

Exfactor FG- 4F- 50:00- B- 33/64

Notes and bits from web and Twitter:

“Dullahan is back on the track at GP after fighting a cough that effected many on the backside ~ caught the eye jogging this AM - he grew up!”- Grade1Racing via Twitter

“John Shirreffs told me last night that he is serious considering the San Felipe for Blingo...John seems to have a lot of confidence in him”- Larry Zapeye via Twitter

“Ken McPeek told us that Atigun will likely scratch from the Southwest; has a foot issue. 90% out this AM, but we'll see how it develops”- TVGResearch via Twitter