Overanalyze gets outside post, Repole calm// Entries for 4 other stakes// Odds set for Pool #2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager// more…

Summary:

Entries were drawn for five Saturday races that could each carry Kentucky Derby implications. The obvious headliner is the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct, which will award 50 Derby points to the winner. That amount will most likely guarantee a spot in the Kentucky Derby gate. Overanalyze is the best on paper, but will start from the far outside in a 12 horse field. Previews and a link to free PPs can be found below// Departing, scratched from last weekend’s Risen Star (G2) due to a bad post position is going with option B in the Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston// The Gazebo Stakes at Oaklawn features a small but intriguing cast including impressive maiden winner Titletown Five, undefeated Colorado bred Get Happy Mister, and the former hyped allowance winner Malibu High// The John Battaglia Stakes at Turfway serves as a prep for the Spiral (G3) and drew horses that have raced in Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois, New York, Florida, California and its own backyard// It’s tough seeing any of the contenders in the Swale (G3) being able to stretch out on the trail and make their way to Louisville for the Derby. It was already reported that Merit Man will scratch due to the post// Opening odds were announced for Pool #2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.  ‘All others’ are favored again at 3-1 with Verrazano and Super Ninety Nine the 10-1 co-favorites for individual selections. Overanalyze (15-1), Vyjack (30-1), and Titletown Five (30-1) are particularly susceptible to fluctuating odds following their performances this Saturday// A nice article from Paul Moran at ESPN on the “mystique” of the Kentucky Derby with fantastic observations from novelist John Steinbeck when he attended the race in 1956// There was a small outcry over a DRF story explaining the reasoning behind the Beyer speed figures given to last Saturdays stakes races at the Fair Grounds. Once you actually read the article it seems to make sense that final time alone does not tell the whole story// more…   

Articles:

The return of Overanalyze (ESPN Blog)

Q&A: Mike Repole on Overanalyze, Derby, etc. (Courier Journal Blog)

Mike Repole more at ease this time around (DRF)

Fever knocks Balance the Books out of Palm Beach (Gulfstream Park)

Kentucky Derby prep horses to watch (allhorseracing)

In the Money: 3-year-olds to watch Feb 27 (In the Money)

Who’s hot, who’s not for Feb 27 (DRF)

Kentucky Derby Report Feb 28 (Brisnet)

The Kentucky Derby mystique (ESPN)

Horse Racing’s top bachelor [Tapit] (The Wall Street Journal)

Beyer figures not always based just on final time [Risen Star] (DRF)

Rankings:

Kentucky Derby Top 20 (DRF)

ESPN Top 10 (ESPN)

Jerry Bossert’s Top 15 (NY Daily News)

Top 10: Kevin’s best bets (Sports Chat Place)

Workouts:

Zeewat- GG- 4F- 49:60- H- 5/14

Pataky Kid- TB- 5F- 1.00:80- B- 1/6

Little Jerry- HOL- 5F- 1.00:80- H- 7/23

Quotes and Tweets:

"GP alw winner Capo Bastone headed to Rebel 3-16, with John Velazquez to ride, reports Aron Wellman of owner Eclipse Thoroughbreds"- Jay Privman via Twitter

“Trainer Bob Hess Jr. says Merit Man almost certain to scratch out of Saturday's Swale after drawing post 2 ini 13 horse field” - Mike Welsch via Twitter

Picks roll in for Holy Bull// All eyes on Shanghai Bobby// Pataky Kid breezes for Hutcheson

Summary:

Every January as we begin the serious countdown to the first Saturday in May, it comforts us to have a star attraction. When you have literally hundreds of possible contenders spread out across the country, it’s nice to have some shared point of reference. You have high hopes, think he’s overrated, or simply feel indifferent, but he nonetheless takes the ceremonious first step on the real trail to Louisville. Like Union Rags and Uncle Mo before him, this year’s attention hog is Shanghai Bobby, whose mundane paddock schooling Thursday was the biggest news of the day on Derby blogs, press releases, and Twitter.  The noise meter will undoubtedly overheat Saturday, regardless of how Shanghai Bobby finishes, because his performance will shape the narrative for the next chapter//

Handicapper picks for the Holy Bull streamed in Thursday. Itsmyluckyday will apparently be on a lot of tickets along with favorite Shanghai Bobby// Trainer Dale Romans thinks his Holy Bull entrant Dewey Square has developed nicely and gained confidence since his third place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club in November// Tulira Castle’s trainer James DiVito said virtually the same thing in regards to his colt’s progression, while also noting his aggressiveness.  A link to handicapper picks, previews, and free PPs for the Holy Bull can be found below// Tom Proctor will use the Hutcheson (G2) at Gulfstream Park February 2 as the return race for Pataky Kid. The Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) winner has not raced since a 5th place finish in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill in October// more…

Holy Bull S. (G3)

Gulfstream Park

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 5:05 ET/TVG

Entries/PPs: Click here

Previews: Gulfstream Park / DRF / Brisnet / Bloodhorse / ABR Live [Trackus Blog] / Courier Journal

Picks: The Downey Profile / DRF / Bloodhorse Bloodhorse2 / Triple Crown Champ /

Articles:

Gulfstream Park Notes [Dewey Square, Tulira Castle, Shanghai Bobby] (Gulfstream Park)

Shanghai Bobby returns to spotlight in Holy Bull (Gulfstream Park)

Shanghai Bobby starts road to Kentucky Derby in Holy Bull Stakes (DRF)

Napravnik making a name for herself (Gulfstream Park)

Pataky Kid tunes up for return in Hutcheson (DRF)

Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Will Take Charge (Horseracing Nation)

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

Contender watch list (SB Nation)

Workouts:

Mylute- FG- 4F- 50:60- B- 29/43

Get Happy Mister- OP- 5F- 1.01:60- 4/20

Pataky Kid- GP- 5F- 1.00:72- B- 7/21 (Gate)

9 entered for Saturday’s LeComte// Get Happy Mister transferred to Von Hemel, will he ever stretch out?// Avare arrives at Oaklawn

Summary

It’s interesting to see what angle the major horse racing publications use when previewing a race with no clear-cut favorite. Nine entries were drawn for the LeComte (G3) this Saturday at the Fair Grounds, while Oxbow, Circle Unbroken, Avie’s Quality, Malibu High, and Golden Soul all received first paragraph attention.  The LeComte field represents a diverse cast in both accomplishments and geography.  The entries have raced in California, New York, Canada, Kentucky, and West Virginia.  Accomplishments range from maiden wins (Oxbow, Hawaakom, Golden Soul, Ive Struck a Nerve), allowance winners (Malibu High, Fear the Kitten, Heitei), a listed stakes winner (Avie’s Quality), and a graded stakes winner (Circle Unbroken)// With Calvin Borel on the sidelines with a wrist injury, Miguel Mena gets the temporary assignment aboard undefeated Malibu High.  I’m sure he’s happy to fill in for a $200,000 stakes race, but knowing he’s only a stopgap replacement will surely damper his enthusiasm if the colt performs well. Full entries and a link to free PPs for the LeComte can be found below// Palace Malice, last seen in August easily winning a Saratoga maiden contest, was entered in an allowance Saturday at Gulfstream. Todd Pletcher most likely has bigger plans for him after that// Undefeated Get Happy Mister was transferred to Kelly Von Hemel’s barn and pointing for the six-furlong Gazebo Stakes March 3 at Oaklawn. I normally wouldn’t pay much attention to a sprinter from Arapahoe Park, but the fact he’s won his four races by a combined 31 1/4 lengths and sired by Fountain Of Youth winner First Samurai I’ll keep him on my watch list.  You would hope his connections would at least try to stretch him out// More ink for Brown Almighty who will be making his dirt debut in the Smarty Jones Stakes on Monday.  The buzz generated for this slightly above-average turf runner is astounding, but apparently his trainer Tim Ice feels he’ll show a new dimension on dirt.  Among the challengers Brown Almighty will face is another buzz horse Avare. The Doug O’Neill trained sophomore is a recent winner of the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita and just arrived at Oaklawn// more…

Entries:

LeComte Stakes (G3)- Fair Grounds- 1M 70 yards- 5:55 ET

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

PPs: Click Here

Preview Articles: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet /

Articles:

Brown Almighty to make dirt debut in Smarty Jones (DRF)

Pedigree Profile: Vyjack (Horse Racing Nation)

Get Happy Mister, winner of Gold Rush Futurity, in Von Hemel’s barn (DRF)

Kentucky Derby Report 1-17-13 (Brisnet)

Workouts:

Heitei- EVT- 4F- 51:15- B- 2/10

Oxbow- OP- 4F- 50:20- B- 5/9

Tweets:

Photo of Avare at Oaklawn by Nick Hines via Twitter: