Weekend Review: KDFW Pool #1 closes// Park City victorious in return// Dynamic Strike takes Miracle Wood// Updated Wynn Odds// Pletcher discusses next starts// more...

Summary:

Dynamic Strike won the richest of weekend races for 3-year-olds with a one-length victory in the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park. Jockey Forest Boyce liked the way Dynamic Strike settled just off the pace, something he hadn’t done in his previous two wins// Park City, unraced since a debut maiden win at Saratoga last July, returned in fine form to take a Gulfstream allowance Saturday. The race was just six furlongs and the margin was only a neck, so Park City will have to keep progressing quickly to catch up on the trail// Doug O’Neill is not giving up hope that Mudflats could be a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender. One might think after a poor 7th place finish in his two-turn debut in the Jerome (G2) Mudflats would be considered a sprinter, but O’Neill still likes his stride and pedigree. He will start in Saturday’s San Vicente (G2), and with a strong showing will be given another shot at a route// Another San Vicente challenger, Treasure Bill, is also using the San Vicente as the first step towards bigger and better things. Trainer Ron Ellis said the colt could be bound for Arkansas if all goes well Saturday// Todd Pletcher gave a very informative interview Saturday to HRNN when he shed light on his plans for several lesser-known Derby contenders. Capo Bastone, who hasn’t raced since finishing 3rd in the Breeders Cup Juvenile in November, is pointed for a return race in two or three weeks at Gulfstream. Forty Tales, 2nd in the Hutcheson (G2) last week, will sprint again in the Swale (G2) March 2nd, but could be entered in a two-turn Derby point race after that// Time is ticking for any recent maiden winners to make some serious noise on the Derby trail. Salutos Amigos is one of those that can’t look back. The colt broke his maiden Saturday at Santa Anita by over three lengths and earned a very respectable 94 Beyer speed figure. His pedigree doesn’t scream distance however, so his back is really against the wall for now// Pool #1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday night with ‘all others’ the favorite as expected. The favorite of the individual selections came down to the wire with Verrazano (11-1) edging Flashback (12-1).  Not far behind was a 3-way tie with Itsmyluckyday, Violence, and Revolutionary (all 13-1). For the full list see below// A full list of contender workouts over the weekend is below// more…

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool #1:

Final Odds

Story: Near-record Derby Futures favor ‘all others,’ wild scramble for favored individual (Churchill Downs)

Wynn Las Vegas Future Odds 2/9/13

Click here (Courier Journal Blog)

Key Weekend Results:

2/9/13 Miracle Wood Stakes

Winner: Dynamic Strike

Chart: Equibase

2/9/13 Gulfstream Park Race 5: Allowance Optional Claiming

Winner: Park City

Chart: Equibase

2/9/13 Santa Anita Maiden Special Weight

Winner: Salutos Amigos

Chart: Equibase

Articles:

Dynamic Strike makes Miracle Wood his third straight victory (DRF)

Mudflats needs good San Vicente effort to rejoin Kentucky Derby trail (DRF)

Treasury Bill using San Vicente as stepping stone (Brisnet)

Goldencents, biomechanics, and oxygen debt (ThoroEdge Equine Performance)

Four new trends emerge in picking Champion (Lexington Herald Leader)

Verrazano has small stable dreaming big (Lexington Herald Leader)

Nominations:

El Camino Real Derby (G3) (Golden Gate Fields)

Rankings:

CTD Top 5

Workouts:

Saturday

Titletown Five- OP- 4F- 48:20- 2/61

Brown Almighty- OP- 5F- 1.00:40- B- 2/72

Texas Bling- OP- 5F- 1.02:60- B- 37/72

Frac Daddy- GP- 4F- 49:28- B- 23/34

Carried Interest- PMM- 5F- 1.00:40- B- 3/25

Sunday

Mountain Eagle- PMM- 4F- 50:77- B- 31/39

Manando- SA- 5F- 1.01:00- H- 18/64

Hear the Ghost- HOL- 6F- 1.15:00- H- 4/5

Dewey Square- GP- 5F- 1.01:93 B- 1/4 (Turf)

Purple Egg- TP- 5F- 1.01:40- B- 2/20

Capo Bastone- PMM- 5F- 1.01:93- B- 11/26

Normandy Invasion- PMM- 5F- 1.00:44- B- 1/26

Palace Malice- PMM- 5F- 1.01:01- B- 4/26

Overanalyze- PMM- 5F- 1.01:93- B- 11/26

Violence- PMM- 5F- 1.01:01- B- 4/26

Sky Commander- PMM- 4F- 51:08- B- 32/37

Delhomme- PMM- 5F- 1.01:28- B- 6/26

Integrity- PMM- 5F- 1.00:44- B- 1/26

Quotes and Tweets:

"Pletcher tells @HRRN Forty Tales likely for Swale, might stretch out for one #KyDerby prep after that"- J.J. Hysell via Twitter

"Pletcher on Capo Bastone: "The horse is training really well." Says seasonal debut in next few weeks"-DerbyContenders via Twitter

"Pletcher says plans for Palace Malice to be determined after this weekend's breeze"-DerbyContenders via Twitter

"Trainer @GrahamMotion tells @HRRN Crop Report is about two weeks away from an allowance race."- J.J. Hysell

"Motion says Cerro will be nominated to Fountain of Youth S. but Palm Beach S. likely then Spiral Stakes" -DerbyContenders via Twitter

Shug McGaughey on Captial OTB TV says he's considering Fountain of Youth S. for Orb but prefers an allowance next. -DerbyContenders via Twitter

Bold Challenger and Java's War worked sharp 1/2 in 48 flat. Both doing super. Java runs on March 3 in Palm Beach.- Kenny McPeek via Twitter

Frac Daddy and Taken By The Storm work 1/2 together easy 49.1. Frac foot seems fine. Workout two more times and find a good spot for him- Kenny McPeek via Twitter

"Mike Moreno & Eric Guillot's Salutos Amigos, 3yo colt by Salute the Sarge, a 94 Beyer in impressive Mdn-breaker Sat. @santaanitapark"- Steve Byk via Twitter

"Rosario to ride Sam Davis 2nd Dynamic Sky in Tampa Bay Derby, trainer Casse says"- Jennie Rees via Twitter

Vyjack learning to calm down// Miracle Wood odds// Interest in Mac the Man// 'All Others' strong in KDFW #1?// more…

Summary:

I’ve always respected trainers who breeze their own horses in the mornings. It’s “training” in it’s most natural and direct form, and a refreshing sight to see compared to the typical modern day trainer who spends most of his or her time with a cell phone glued to their ear. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez was aboard undefeated Vyjack Thursday morning, who breezed 5 panels in preparation for a start in the Gotham (G3) March 2 at Aqueduct. Rodriguez is working on getting Vyjack to relax more, as the colt has been headstrong in his three races. Clawback, Escapefromreality, and Overanalyze are mentioned in the article as also probable for the Withers// Byron King at the Daily Racing Form thinks there are some strong “all others” in the Derby Future Wager pool, but betting a group of second tier horses (for now) at around 9-5 odds doesn’t appeal to me. For full odds and links to free Future Wager PPs see links below// Although it will be a quiet weekend for big preps for the Kentucky Derby, Dick Downey writes of intriguing Triple Crown nominees racing in maidens and allowances at Gulfstream, Fair Grounds, and Aqueduct, plus the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel// The Miracle Wood features favorite Vegas No Show, who lost by over six lengths in the Jerome (G2) last time out. Dynamic Strike, with his affinity for the Laurel strip, seems a bit more appealing at 9-2 despite the bump up in class// Verrazano, the possible favorite once Pool #1 of the Future Wager closes Sunday, is now part-owned by the mega breeding and racing operation Coolmore. It seems business will go on as usual with his handling and preparations for the Derby// Owner/trainer Jeff Greenhill admitted he is getting a lot of calls to sell Mac the Man, winner of the two most recent 3-year-old stakes at Turfway. So far he is avoiding the temptation and just wants “to train a good horse”// more…

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool #1:

Click here for Brisnet PPs

Click here for DRF PPs

Upcoming Stakes:

Saturday 2/9/13

Miracle Wood Stakes

Laurel Park

One Mile

Entries

Articles:

Lots of Triple Crown nominees racing Saturday (The Downey Profile)

Vyjack gearing up for Gotham (DRF)

Greenhill would rather train Mac the Man than sell him (DRF)

Dynamic Strike perfect at Miracle Wood distance (DRF)

Coolmore purchases interest in Verrazano (DRF)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager has standouts among ‘all others’ (DRF)

Talking 3-year-olds (DRF Blog)

Workouts:

Vyjack- AQU- 5F- 1.00:73- B- 1/2

Quotes and Tweets:

"Big maiden winner @OaklawnRacing Kale's Kourage is so rambunctious he cut his nose on top of his stall door. Crew has it padded now"- Rolly Hoyt via Twitter