Chasing The Derby: Clawback

Summary:

Top shelf Derby prospect Uncaptured is still on the mend from several injuries. His trainer Mark Casse is hoping for a return to racing by the second or third week of March, but the timeframe gets tighter by the day. Uncaptured will hopefully have his first breeze next week// Super Ninety Nine’s impressive allowance score at Santa Anita Thursday registered a 100 Beyer speed figure. Trainer Bob Baffert said Super Ninety Nine and 2nd place Code West would move up to stakes company next. The latter will probably ship to the Fair Grounds, while Super Ninety Nine could stay at Santa Anita// Rick Violette says Clawback will most likely get his first chance to stretch out in the Gotham (G3) March 2 at Aqueduct// Tour Guide is another sprinter whose connections are looking to stretch out on the Derby trail. He’ll either go to the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn or Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds// Not only was Friday a mere eve to a big Derby preview day, but it held its fair share of possible key races as well. One was an impressive debut win at Oaklawn by Big Lute, who won by over 4 lengths. Over at the Fair Grounds, Departing followed up his debut win with an impressive allowance score. It won’t be surprising to see both colts in stakes company next// More previews and handicapper picks for the busy Saturday// more…

Saturday Derby Points Races:

Withers (G3)

Aqueduct

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 4:18 PM ET/TVG

PPs: Click Here

Previews: NYRA / Brisnet / Bloodhorse / DRF DRF2

Picks: Downey Profile / Bloodhorse Video / DRF Video

Sam F. Davis (G3)

Tampa Bay Downs

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 5:23 PM ET/TVG

PPs: Click Here

Previews: Bloodhorse / DRF DRF2/ SB Nation

Picks: DRF Video / DRF Watchmaker/ The Downey Profile

Robert Lewis S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 5:03 PM ET/TVG

PPs: Click Here

Previews: Santa Anita / Bloodhorse / Brisnet / DRF DRF2

Picks: DRF Video

Saturday Non-Derby point races:

Hutcheson (G2)

Gulfstream Park

7 Furlongs

Time/TV: 5:05 ET/HRTV

PPs: Click Here

Previews: Brisnet / Bloodhorse / HR Nation / DRF

Picks: DRF Video / DRF Watchmaker

Gulfstream Park Race 5: Allowance Optional Claiming

1 Mile

Time/TV: 2:37 PM ET/HRTV

PPs: Click Here

96 Rocks Stakes

Turfway Park

1 Mile

Time/TV: 5:11 PM ET/TVG

Previews: Turfway Park / Bloodhorse

Articles:

Kentucky Derby prospect Uncaptured likely to make first start of 2013 in March (DRF)

Super Ninety Nine, Code West earn shots at Derby preps (DRF)

Clawback likely to wait for Gotham (DRF)

Tour Guide between Southwest and Risen Star for next start (DRF)

Three preps and a cloud of dust (Twin Spires Blog)

Three weekend stakes offer points to Kentucky Derby (Louisville.com)

Oxbow’s decisive first steps (Bloodhorse)

Countdown to the Crown- Week 5: Feb 1 (DRF)

A Heart the size of Texas: Texas Bling (Bloodhorse)

Kentucky Derby update for Feb 1 (In The Money Blog)

Workouts:

Mylute- FG- 5F- 1.00:20- B- 2/25

Will Take Charge- OP- 4F- 48:80- B- 2/30

Get Happy Mister- OP- 5F- 1.01:40- H- 2/26

Belvin- SA- 5F- 59:80- H- 1/53

Quotes and Tweets:

"Tim Ice says Brown Almighty, who worked this morning, is over his lung infection and is being pointed to the Southwest."- The Downey Profile via Twitter

Summary:

Champion Shaghai Bobby will apparently have no cakewalk in his 3-year-old debut—at least on paper. Todd Pletcher’s #1 prospect will face a graded stakes winner, two graded stakes placed runners, two listed stakes winners, and several other promising sophomores who could be sitting on a big race. Shanghai Bobby will start on the rail for the Holy Bull (G3), which drew an unexpected field of ten. Full previews and a link to free PPs below// Rick Violette has decided to give recent Jimmy Winkfield Stakes winner Clawback a chance to stretch out. The exact race is undecided, but it very well could be away from New York considering the timing of the Withers (G3) in less than two weeks is not ideal. Wherever he ends up it’s tough seeing Clawback excel at extra distance. Not that people pay attention to a horse’s dosage index much anymore, but a 7.00 is about the highest you’ll find of any possible Derby participant// Violette also mentioned that Carried Interest, who finished second to Overanalyze in his last race back in September, is gearing up for an allowance in February// Bob Baffert was pleased with Flashback’s workout in company at Santa Anita Wednesday morning. The colt is pointing to the Robert Lewis (G2) in a little over a week// The dust has fully settled from Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn, and we now have excuses for several of the disappointing finishers. Brown Almighty apparently had a “severe lung infection” and will be given another shot on the Derby trail in either the Risen Star (G2) or Southwest (G3). Officer Alex lost a shoe according to trainer Lynn Whiting, and also suffered a poor break and wide trip. He’ll give him another stakes try as well. All of these excuses could be valid, but it’s not enough for me to back the colts in their next race// Always in a Tiz was arguably the most impressive in the Smarty Jones when finishing a hard charging third after ending up stuck behind horses on the rail. Trainer Dominick Schettino noted he galloped out ahead of the field past the wire, but that’s not always what it’s cracked up to be considering a lot of horses are gearing down. Always in a Tiz’s next race plans remain up in the air// more…

Upcoming Points Race:

Holy Bull S. (G3)

Gulfstream Park

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 5:05 ET/TVG

PPs: Click here

Previews: DRF / Brisnet / Bloodhorse

Articles:

Holy Bull: Big money, few Derby points (The Downey Profile)

Eclipse Award winner Shanghai Bobby: Talented colt makes his pedigree (DRF)

Will the road to Louisville get Shanghaied? (Horseracing Nation)

Flashback works toward Robert Lewis (DRF)