Overanalyze opens up in Arkansas Derby// Java's War gets the points in Blue Grass

Arkansas Derby (G1)

Winner (pts): Overanalyze (100)

2nd, 3rd, 4th (pts): Frac Daddy (40), Carve (20), Falling Sky (10)

Chart: Equibase

Replay: YouTube

Recaps: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet

Blue Grass (G1)

Winner (pts): Java’s War (100)

2nd, 3rd, 4th (pts): Palace Malice (40), Charming Kitten (20), Rydilluc (10)

Chart: Equibase

Replay: YouTube

Recaps: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet

Updated Kentucky Derby Point Standings

PPs and previews for Spiral and Sunland Derby// Pick of the litter added to Florida Derby cast// KDFW Pool #3 announced// more…

A full field of 12 will line up for the Spiral (G3) at Turfway Park Saturday. Multiple graded stakes winner Uncaptured is the favorite at 3-1. For PPs, previews and more check the links below// Steve Haskin commented on the Sunland Derby (G3) field and noted his surprise more heavy hitters are not shipping in given the $800,000 purse and virtual automatic entry to the Kentucky Derby for the winner. Shakin It Up will be the short-priced favorite, but he’s never gone two-turns before. Full entries, PPs, and previews below// Dale Romans says he will give Dewey Square, 7th in the Holy Bull (G3) and 5th in the Palm Beach (G3), another shot at the Derby. He will point for one of the major 170 point Derby preps. The announcement was made via a YouTube video, and it’s worth noting the production quality from Siena Farm is excellent. The major thoroughbred news sources should take a cue and realize there’s more you can do than just a single still shot camera on two people sitting at a card table// Pool #3 of the Derby Future Wager was announced today with Verrazano the individual favorite at 7-2 odds. It’s unfortunate they dropped Super Ninety Nine from the list as I was hoping to get nice odds on him. I still don’t understand how he is completely written off after one bad race with several excuses// Other updates for Wednesday included Pick of the Litter pointing for Florida Derby (G1), Carve likely for Arkansas Derby (G1), no rush for Looking Cool, and more…

Upcoming Kentucky Derby Points Races:

Saturday March 23

Spiral Stakes (G3)

Turfway Park

1 1/8 Miles

PPs: Click here

Time: 5:50 PM ET

Previews: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet

Sunday March 24

Sunland Derby (G3)

Sunland Park

1 1/8 Miles

PPs: Click here

Time: 6:40PM ET

Previews: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet

Upcoming Non-points race

Saturday March 23

Rushaway Stakes

Turfway Park

1 1/16 Miles

PPs: Click here

Previews: Bloodhorse

Articles:

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool #3: Press release and list (Churchill Downs)

Sunland Derby a class reunion for Pletcher and Marr (DRF)

Quinzieme Monarque to try Wood Memorial (DRF)

Arkansas Derby one possibility for Carve (DRF)

Nafzger resists Kentucky Derby fever with Looking Cool [Pick of the Litter added to Fla Derby] (DRF)

Merit Man to take stab at nine-furlong Florida Derby (Brisnet)

Dale Romans updates on Dewey Square [video] (Siena Farm via YouTube)

Who’s hot, who’s not March 20 (DRF)

Kentucky Derby Daily: March 20 (In The Money)

Kentucky Derby Report March 21 (Brisnet)

In the Money: 3-year-olds to watch (In the Money)

Another look at the new Derby points system (DRF Blog)

Pedigree Profile: Zaikov (Pedigree Power Blog)

Hear the Ghost joins the trail to Kentucky Derby (Spirit of Jefferson Blog)

Rankings:

Gary West Top 10 (ESPN)

Kentucky Derby Top 20 (DRF)

Workouts:

Nina's Dragon- GG- 6F- 1.14:20- H- 1/4

Rydilluc leaning toward Blue Grass// Picks and news for Tampa Derby, San Felipe// Carve might not make Rebel field// more…

Park City, who was a likely scratch in Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby (G2), is now definite for the race. Jack Wolf of Starlight racing cited Edgar Prado and the likely large Rebel field were reasons for staying in Tampa// Handicapper picks are starting to roll in for the two upcoming Derby point races. Those are linked below with more previews as well// It’s not unusual to hear trainers say their horses are training well or they like their spot in a race. Both D. Wayne Lukas and Doug O’Neill are happy with their positions on the Derby trail. O’Neill loves the #3 post position in the San Felipe (G2) for Goldencents, as it will allow him to gauge Flashback’s break from the #2 spot and act accordingly. Lukas was quoted as saying the Tuesday breezes by Oxbow and Will Take Charge were “excellent”. He also said Titletown Five tricked him into thinking he was ready for his comeback race in the Gazebo Stakes last Saturday. Although he proved he was not fit in the end, Lukas thinks the race will set Titletown Five up well for the next undecided destination// With the Rebel field looking crowded and the prospect of it splitting into two divisions no longer a possibility, some connections are getting nervous they won’t make the cut. Undefeated Carve could be on the outiside looking in if more than 14 enter// Gary Contessa announced through his Twitter account he is now leaning towards the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland instead of the Spiral (G2) at Turfway for recent Palm Beach (G3) winner Rydilluc. No reason was given, but the extra three weeks to the Bluegrass surely factors into the decision. The only drawback is the relatively quick turnaround to the Derby// more…

Upcoming Derby points races:

Tampa Bay Derby (G2)

Tampa Bay Downs

1 1/16 Miles

PPs: Click here

Time: 5:15 PM ET

TV: TVG

Previews: Brisnet / Bloodhorse / DRF / Churchill Downs [video]

Picks: Downey Profile / Bloodhorse [video] /

San Felipe (G2)

Santa Anita

1 1/16 Miles

PPs: Click here

Time: 6:35 PM ET

TV: TVG

Previews: Santa Anita / Brisnet / Bloodhorse / DRF / Churchill Downs [video]

Picks: Downey Profile / DRF [Video] / DRF [Byron King] /

Upcoming non-Derby points stakes races:

Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes

Aqueduct

6 Furlongs

PPs: Click here

Time: 4:52 PM ET

TV: TVG

Previews: NYRA / DRF /

Articles:

Purple Egg looks to turn potential into performance (Tampa Bay Downs)

O’Neill on Triple Crown trail again, now with Goldencents (Santa Anita)

Lukas very pleased with Rebel contenders Will Take Charge, Oxbow (Brisnet)

Dynamic Strike gets test in Private Term Stakes (DRF)

Haskin’s Derby Watch: Beware the second wave (Bloodhorse)

Kentucky Derby point system a game-changer (DRF)

Kentucky Derby Daily: March 7 (In The Money)

Pointing toward to the Kentucky Derby (Staten Island Advance)

Q&A: John Oxley talks Kentucky Derby trail, past and present (DRF)

Workouts:

Carried Interest- PMM- 5F- 1.01:03- B- 4/12

Quotes and Tweets:

"For my Twitter friends and followers only I am starting to lean toward the Blue Grass rather than the Spiral [for Rydilluc] but too soon to say for sure"- Gary Contessa via Twitter

"San Vicente winner Shakin It Up, scheduled for Sunland Derby for next start, worked 6f at SA this morning in 1:12.40"- Jay Privman via DRF

"Owner Jack Wolf says Park City will run in Tampa Bay Derby, rather than #Rebel. Field size, rider are factors"- Jennie Rees via Twitter