Titletown Five will wait for La Derby// Will Take Charge may train up to Kentucky Derby// Spiral news and notes// more…

The Sunland Derby (G3) lost a headliner when it was announced Titletown Five, part owned by former Green Bay Packers quarterback and Churchill Downs regular Paul Hornung, will wait for the Louisiana Derby (G2) March 30. Reasons given were spacing of the race and the fact Derby points are double. The connections will be without the riding services of Gary Stevens who will be in Dubai. Jon Court picks up the mount, and was aboard the colt in Tuesday’s extended 6-furlong breeze at Oaklawn// Sunday’s Sunland Derby currently has nine probables with a full list found in the link below// More Spiral (G3) news with a list of probables and a feature on Balance the Books. The colt’s Spiral start will be his 3-year-old debut after being delayed due to a fever// Java’s War, best known for not getting completely dominated by Verrazano in the Tampa Derby (G2), will go next in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. Trainer Kenny McPeek thinks he’s best on turf, but makes no bones about having Derby fever// Buried in an article about Oxbow heading to the Arkansas Derby, which is not really breaking news, there was a mention that D. Wayne Lukas may train Rebel (G2) winner Will Take Charge up to the Derby instead of racing in another prep beforehand. While the trend in recent years has been to extend the weeks between a final prep and the Derby as much as possible, it’s a surprising tactic for the old-school Lukas// more…

Articles:

Titletown Five will skip Sunland Derby, head to Fair Grounds (DRF)

Hornung: Winning Kentucky Derby would be ‘greatest thrill of my life’ (Courier Journal Blog)

Nine probable for Sunland Derby (DRF)

Spiral notes on Uncaptured, Capo Bastone, and Black Onyx (Turfway Park)

Balance the Books taking Spiral Shot (DRF)

Java’s War opts for Blue Grass over UAE Derby (Bloodhorse)

Oxbow firm for Arkansas Derby [Will Take Charge may train up to Derby] (DRF)

Lukas has a hot hand after Rebel Stakes exacta (Courier Journal)

Trainer Stall has full plate as meet winds down (DRF)

Kentucky Derby Daily: March 19 (In The Money)

Hangin’ with Haskin: Dry in the desert (Bloodhorse Blog)

Pedigree Analysis: The upside of Shakin It Up (Bloodhorse)

Where they’re going next (Downey Profile)

May Madness (Zipse at the Track)

Grab a bite and hangout for Derby chat (Hello Race Fans)

Workouts:

Tesseron- PMM- 5F- 1:04.21- B- 3/8

Titletown Five- OP- 6F- 1.16:20- B- 1/1

Counting Days- SA- 5F- 1:00.80- H- 4/30

Quotes and Tweets:

"Looking likely talented Sunbean will be excluded from La Derby, which is wrong. Bottom of list (below even claimers!) cuz he's LA-bred"- Marcus Hersch via Twitter

Praise continues for Vyjack// Super Niney Nine blazes 4-furlongs// Probables for Tampa Derby and San Felipe// more…

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)

Vyjack benefiting from extended stay in New York (DRF)

The unlikely story of Vyjack (Bloodhorse)

Departing ready for bigger stakes after easy win in Texas Heritage (DRF)

Kentukcy Derby Under the Radar: Departing (DRF)

Tampa Bay Derby a major prep for Kentucky Derby (DRF)

Spiral Stakes at Turfway next for Balance the Books (DRF)

Flashback drills for Saturday’s San Felipe [with probables] (Santa Anita)

Kentucky Derby Daily: March 4 (In The Money)

Zito to serve 15-day suspension for clenbuterol positive (DRF)

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

Weekend Review: Oxbow wins LeComte// Palace Malice 2nd to Majestic Hussar at Gulfstream// 9 set for Smarty Jones// Brown looking at Bluegrass for turf runners// Holy Bull workouts

LeComte Stakes (G3)

Winner (pts): Oxbow (10)

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Jon Court

2nd, 3rd, 4th (pts): Golden Soul (4), Fear The Kitten (2), Ive Struck a Nerve (1)

Chart: Equibase

Replay: Bloodhorse

Wrap-up Articles: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet

CTD Analysis: Two camps seem to be forming after Oxbow’s absolute domination in the LeComte Saturday.  A few were impressed, but many felt it only proved the field was weak.  I will stay cautiously optimistic and not pitch my tent in either camp.  There have surely been weaker fields in an early January graded stakes for 3-year-olds.  The cast included winners of graded stakes, listed stakes, and open allowances- not to mention promising maiden breakers.  True, there were questions for many of those winners, such as how they would take to dirt or if their pedigree would allow them to excel going two-turns.  And the answer for now is they all failed.  However, you can’ rule out the possibility Oxbow has simply progressed and matured. And it’s not as if his résumé was weak going into the race.  Before his lackluster 4th last time out on synthetic in the CashCall (G1), he convincingly won a crowded maiden contest at Churchill by over 4 lengths.  Lukas has always been high on him and pointed out the win was even more impressive considering he was one of the only late shippers.  Oxbow’s sire Awesome Again won multiple grade 1’s going 10 furlongs, and there are also distance signs on his dam side. The main concern for Oxbow is his frontend running style. His two wins have come in wire-to-wire fashion, something that does not happen often in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby. Oxbow will be pointed to the Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds February 23 or possibly the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn February 18.

It’s difficult to get excited about any other LeComte participant, but I’m not giving up on 2nd place finisher Golden Soul who was bumped and pinched back at the start.  He then had to race wide most of the way and wound up making a good run down the stretch.  Jockey Brian Hernandez thinks he put in a solid effort considering the obstacles and step up in class and believes he’ll get better with added distance and seasoning.

Upcoming Points Race:

Smarty Jones Stakes- 1/23/13

Oaklawn Park

1 Mile

Derby Points 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th: 10, 4, 2, 1

Time/TV: 5:38PM ET/TVG

PPs: Click Here

Preview Articles: DRF / Brisnet / KentuckyDerby.com Video Preview

Picks: Triple Crown Champ /

Weekend News Summary:

Trainer Chad Brown is pointing two of his best 3-year-old turf stars, Noble Tune and Balance the Books, to the Bluegrass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 13. They will start in a turf race before that, which means if they qualify for the Derby we will have no measure of how well they will perform on dirt.  Defenders of turf and synthetic runners like to point out Kentucky Derby winners Animal Kingdom, Big Brown, Barbaro, and others had success off dirt before coming to Louisville, but they don’t mention the long list of those who failed to make the switch. Just last year, horses that competed on synthetic or won their best races on it, finished 3rd (not bad), 4th (not bad), 8th, 9th, and 20th (real bad).  A mixed bag for sure, but results that won’t cause me to run to the windows and bet on either Noble Tune or Balance the Books on the first Saturday in May// Majestic Hussar crashed the return party for Saratoga maiden winner Palace Malice in an allowance at Gulfstream Saturday. Majestic Hussar also broke his maiden at Saratoga in August, but followed it up with a dismal 7th place in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) before a comeback 2nd in another Gulfstream allowance in December.  While trainer Eddie Kenneally is confident and asserted he will put the colt on the Derby trail, the fact that Majestic Hussar’s two wins have both come on sloppy sealed tracks gives pause.  The Fountain of Youth (G2) February 23rd is the likely next race target// There has been some mystery on the status of Purple Egg, an undefeated colt by Lion Heart, who was scratched from both the Gulfstream Park Derby and Pasco Stakes.  Trainer Jane Cibelli finally admitted Purple Egg was still suffering the effects of a fever and they are taking it slow// Clearly Now, 3rd in the Display Stakes at Woodbine in December, is pointing for the Holy Bull (G3) Saturday.  He’ll face newly minted 2-year-old Champion Shanghai Bobby and a likely short field.  Shanghai Bobby had his final work before the Holy Bull Sunday, going 5 furlongs in 1:00.88.  Bern Identity and Dewey Square both posted 5-furlong moves at Palm Meadows and Gulfstream respectively// Reports from Aqueduct suggest Todd Pletcher’s Revolutionary is training like a monster.  He’s on schedule for the Withers (G3) on February 2// more…

Articles:

Shanghai Bobby posts final Holy Bull breeze [plus works by Dewey Square and Bern Identity] (Bloodhorse)

Clearly Now joins strong field for Holy Bull Saturday [plus news on Shanghai Bobby and Majestic Hussar] (Gulfstream Park)

Revolutionary preps for Withers with eye-catching workout (DRF)

Brown has plan to give turf runners chance at Kentucky Derby (DRF)

Majestic Hussar returns in sharp form, may target Fountain of Youth (DRF)

Clawback sticks to sprinting in Jimmy Winkfield (DRF)

Top 20 intriguing under-the-radar 3-year-olds (In the Money Blog)

Workouts:

Saturday:

Vyjack- AQU- 4F- 51:01- B- 17/23

Itsmyluckyday- CRC- 4F- 48:40- B- 2/57

Honorable Dillon- PMM- 5F- 1.01:70- B- 15/22

Fury Kapcori- HOL- 6F- 1.12:40- H- 1/3

Tour Guide- FG- 4F- 49:20- B- 29/88

Sunday:

Dewey Square- GP- 5F- 59:10- B- 1/20

War Academy- SA- 4F- 48:20- H- 6/27

Violence- PMM- 4F- 50:90- B- 41/45

Capo Bastone- PMM- 4F- 49:55- B- 24/45

Overanalyze- PMM- 4F- 51:62- B- 44/45

Normandy Invasion- PMM- 4F- 49:93- B- 34/45

Bern Identity- PMM- 5F- 59:33- B- 1/13

Shanghai Bobby- PMM- 5F- 1.00:88- B- 5/13

Verrazano- PMM- 5F- 1.00:88- B- 5/13

Revolutionary- BEL- 4F- 48:05- B- 13/78

Quotes and Tweets:

“Oxbow scheduled to ship back to #Oaklawn today, trainer Wayne Lukas said. Several next-race options, including Southwest and Rebel at Oaklawn”- Robert Yates via Twitter

Shanghai Bobby, Normandy Invasion, & more work at Palm Meadows// Frac Daddy 'leaning' towards Holy Bull

Articles:

Shanghai Bobby breezes 5F at Palm Meadows (Bloodhorse)

McPeek leaning toward running Frac Daddy in Holy Bull (Gulfstream Park)

Tweets:

“Turf stakes-winners Balance the Books, Noble Tune could both wind up in Blue Grass @Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown says”- Jennie Rees via Twitter

Works:

Golden Soul- FG- 4F- 48:40- B- 1/61

Bern Identity- PMM- 5F- 1.00:40- B- 6/21

Palace Malice- PMM- 5F- 1.01:42- B- 12/21

Shanghai Bobby- PMM- 5F- 1.01:42- B- 12/21

Normandy Invasion- PMM- 4F- 49:33- B- 17/45

Verrazano- PMM- 4F- 49:45- B- 24/45

Overanalyze- PMM- 3F- 36:94- B- 4/15