Chasing The Derby: King and Crusader

Showing posts with label King and Crusader. Show all posts

11 starters for Sam F. Davis// Algorithms gets 7pt Beyer bump// Dual Qualifiers revealed, does it matter?

A robust and intriguing field of 11 was announced for Saturday’s Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. While Reveron, winner of the Gulfstream Park Derby, was installed as the favorite at 3-1 odds the race offers many other angles. If you like horses that have shown an affinity for the surface, you have to like Prospective who won the Pasco Stakes just three weeks ago. If class is your angle, you could like State of Play who is a Grade 2 winner, albeit on turf at Saratoga back in September. Ecabroni is a recent maiden breaker at the tough Gulfstream circuit whom many feel has a lot of upside based on his connection to red-hot trainer Todd Pletcher. The full field with PPs, race replays and more can be viewed here // Entries were also drawn today for the WEBN stakes at Turfway, which is a logical prep for the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (G3)// In a rather big adjustment, The Daily Racing Form has revised Algorithms’s Beyer Speed Figure from Saturday’s Holy Bull to a 105. That’s a 7-point increase from the preliminary number, and now gives him the highest figure in his class// Rick Dutrow’s King and Crusader could be headed to the Gotham Stakes (G3). The colt is perhaps best known for being disqualified from a stakes in Maryland due to receiving lasix too close to post time. Weeks later he won two races in four days, a rigorous schedule that is unheard of these days for promising 3-year-olds// Perhaps the most talked about Derby-related news of the day was the release of the Experimental Free Handicap weight assignments. The objective for the Jockey Club panel is to assign weights to the best 2-year-olds of the previous year as if they were going to run a 1 1/6 miles race. Hansen and Union Rags were the high weights tied at 126 pounds. Some Kentucky Derby handicappers eagerly await the assigned weights in order to figure “dual qualifiers” or those that are both within 10 pounds of the high weight and also have a dosage index (pedigree indicator) less than 4.00. Dual qualifiers at one time ruled the Triple Crown races, but due to numerous factors, including the recent trend of light 2-year-old seasoning, only 3 of the last 15 Kentucky Derby winners were dual qualifiers. This year there are 13 dual qualifiers and they are listed in the article below (Drill is omitted from the list, perhaps because the author believes he is no longer pointed to the Derby)…

Upcoming Graded Stakes
Withers S. (G3), Robert B. Lewis S. (G2), & Sam F. Davis (G3) race page here. Includes PPs, articles, picks, and race replays for all entries.

Articles

Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3): DRF / Bloodhorse / Brisnet / TTimes

Fat or fit? Opinions may vary [State of Play] (Downey Profile)

Trainer Casse eager to get going (Toronto Sun)

WEBN Stakes: Brisnet / DRF

Heading into Lewis Liaison keeps winning (DRF)

Baffert holds the aces in Robert B. Lewis (Sports Network)

I’ll Have Another a wildcard in Lewis Stakes (Bloodhorse)

Withers win would boost Alpha’s status for Kentucky Derby (DRF)

The Jockey Club 2011 Experimental Free Handicap 3YO Males (Jockey Club)

Dosage Dual Qualifiers for 2012 Kentucky Derby (NY Post)

Early guide to Kentucky Derby prospects flying under the radar (DRF)

Algorithms’s Holy Bull Beyer changed to 105 (DRF)

King and Crusader may try Gotham (DRF)

Exfactor works good half mile at Fair Grounds (Bloodhorse)

Kentucky Derby Report (Brisnet)

Withers honors one of racing’s early icons (DRF)

Picks

Withers: Dick Downey’s Picks-The Downey Profile / Bloodhorse THS

Robert Lewis: Commish’s Picks-The Downey Profile / Bloodhorse THS

Works

Team Six- FH- 5F- 1.02:00- B- 1/2

Exfactor- FG- 4F- 49:20- B- 8/20

Right to Vote- 3F- 35:60- B- 1/6

Drill- SA- 4F- 49:20- H- 16/28

Short field expected for Holy Bull// Updated Kentucky Derby Futures// Dutrow saga won’t go away

The Holy Bull (G3) on January 29^th looks to be a bad betting race. As of now, only four horses are committed, including 2-year-old champion Hansen. The other three according to DRF include Algorithms, Consortium, and My Adonis. Fort Loudon, who finished 7^th in the Breeders Cup Juvenile (G1) won by Hansen, could make the field five deep// Updated future odds were released from Wynn Las Vegas. Twelve new additions and several big drops including yesterday’s Smarty Jones Stakes winner Junebugred from 300-1 to 100-1. As much as I like Sky Kingdom, 35-1 just doesn’t seem fair for an allowance winner in January. Union Rags and Liaison remain the co-favorites at 12-1//The saga of King and Crusader’s disqualification from the Maryland Juvenile Championship won’t go away. Now the owner has filed an appeal// Dale Romans-trained Cozzeti apparently had a nice workout Sunday on turf and is pointing for the Kitten’s Joy Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream//Surprisingly little news on Saturday’s Lecomte (G3) at the Fairgrounds. Entries should be drawn tomorrow. A large field is expected.

Articles

Hansen to return in Holy Bull (DRF)

Early Triple Crown nomination deadline looms (Bloodhorse)

Riccio, owner of Dutrow-trained disqualified stakes winner, files appeal (TTimes)

Futures

Wynn Las Vegas 1/16/12

Works

Rousing Sermon- SA- 6F- 1.14:80- H- 1/1

Night Tide- SA- 5F- 59:80- H- 6/29

Hakama- FH- 3F- 37:00- B- 1/4

Thursby- PMM- 5F- 1.05:40- B- 3/6 (Turf)

Late report from 1/10/12: Ever So Lucky- CAMDEN- 5F- 1.02:00- B- 1/2 (Turf)

Speed Figures*

Top winning 3yo BRIS figs last wk: Ecabroni-97; Hardened Wildcat-97; Two Seventeen-96; Spring Hill Farm-96; Silver Max-96; Phantom Fury-96

Winning 3yo Beyers last week: Ecabroni-84; Hardened Wildcat-86; Two Seventeen-82; Spring Hill Farm-79; Silver Max-86; Phantom Fury-84.

*Source: DerbyContenders Twitter

Junebugred a neck in front in Smarty Jones// Dutrow goes 1-2 in Jimmy Winkfield// Hansen takes Eclipse

While the filly On Fire Baby was the star attraction before the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Monday, Junebugred took the winner’s check afterwards. Guided by jockey Joe Bravo, the victor started just off the pace and on the rail. After swinging a few paths out to pass tiring foes, Bravo swung back to the rail for the winning move. Charging on the outside was 17-1 shot Reckless Jerry who ended up passing Junebugred past the wire. Both horses will probably end up in the Southwest (G3) at the same track in February. Aside from racing 4-wide, On Fire Baby really had no major excuse, but did finish an admirable 3^rd by only a little over a length. Jockey Joe Johnson thinks stretching out further will help, while trainer Gary Hartlage was unsure of her next race// King and Crusader picked up a second victory in four days, but this time it was without the tag and for stakes money. Rick Dutrow’s once disqualified charge sat just off the quick pace and held on for the score. Dutrow’s other entry Reserved Quality made a spirited run on the outside for 2^nd. Winning owner James Riccio said King and Crusader will get about 6 weeks off which could mean the next race will be the Gotham (G3) in March// A nice feature article on Creative Cause below. The “And Down The Stretch They Come” blog is worth a daily consult// All the debate and intrigue turned out to be pretty clear-cut. Hansen defeated Union Rags in voting for 2-year-old Champion by a score of 194 to 52…

Results:

Smarty Jones S.- Oaklawn

Winner: Junebugred

Chart: Equibase chart

Video: Bloodhorse Replay

Articles: Oaklawn / DRF / Bloodhorse / Brisnet / TTimes / Miami Herald

Jimmy Winkfleld S.- Aqueduct

Winner: King and Crusader

Chart: Equibase chart

Video: Bloodhorse Replay

Articles: NYRA / DRF / Brisnet / TTimes

Articles:

Creative Cause gives Harrington hope in 2012 (And Down The Stretch They Come)

Bargain purchase looking ready for big step up [Ted’s Folly] (DRF)

State of Play to try dirt in Sam F. Davis Stakes (DRF)

Another easy victory for Hansen (Bloodhorse)

2012 Kentucky Derby countdown (Miami Herald)

Works:

Dan and Sheila PMM- 4F- 48:76- B- 1/11

Fed Biz SA- 6F- 1.11:80- H- 1/9

Daddy Nose Best SA- 5F- 1.01:40- H- 14/38

Chips All In SA- 5F- 1.03:60- H- 37/38

Basmati HOL- 6F- 1.14:80- H- 7/7

Out of Bounds HOL- 3F- 37:20- H- 8/20

Hello Prince CRC- 4F- 50:80- B- 7/13

Mr. Bowling FG- 5F- 1.00:40- B- 2/16

Seven Lively Sins FG- 4F- 50:00- B- 16/51

4 workouts for Lecomte// 2 Stakes on tap Monday// Beyers from Sat. Stakes// Atigun to Southwest?

Illustration by Marcy Leonard via cardsbymarcy on Twitter

Several articles on the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn. Optimizer is the mild favorite followed by the filly On Fire Baby. Trainer Allen Milligan is very confident with both of his entries Jake Mo and King Corral// The Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct will also be held Monday. Rick Dutrow’s King and Crusader is the favorite and will be running for the second time in 4 days// Beyer speed figures were released today for Saturday’s stakes. Prospective earned a 75 for the Pascal win while Russian Greek earned a 74 from the California Derby. Both relatively low when discussing Kentucky Derby potential// Tom Amoss reveals Shared Property won’t be 100% primed for the Lecomte (G3) next week, in favor of saving some spark for bigger events down the trail. Four Lecomte probables- Hammer’s Terror, Z Dager, Capetown Devil, and El Padrino- worked Sunday. Their times can be seen below// Atigun, 5^th in November’s Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), won a competitive allowance at Oaklawn Sunday. The Southwest (G3) is the next logical spot// Monday will also bring an answer to the 2-year-old champion question when the annual Eclipse Awards will be held. Buzz seems to be leaning towards Union Rags, but I still feel Hansen should get the nod…

Results

Oaklawn- Race 7- AOC- Winner: Atigun- chart

Entries

Smarty Jones S.- Oaklawn Park- entries

Jimmy Winkfield S.- Aqueduct- entries

Articles

Oaklawn barn notes 1/15 for Smart Jones S. (Oaklawn Park)

The Morning Line: Smart Jones Stakes (The Derby Post)

On Fire Baby the horse to beat in Smarty Jones Stakes (Graded Stakes Blog)

Amoss looking forward to Lecomte with Shared Property (Brisnet)

Hansen among finalists for Eclipse Awards (Cincinnati Enquirer)

Works:

Unbridled's Note- SA- 5F- 1.03:00- H- 25/25

Hammers Terror- FG- 5F- 1.01:40- B- 4/45

Capetown Devil- FG- 5F- 1.02.80- B- 20/45

Z Dager- FG- 4F- 50.80- B- 43/80

Algorithms- PMM- 5F- 1.02:41- B- 21/35

El Padrino- PMM- 5F- 1.02:02- B- 16/35

Notes and bits from web and Twitter:

Beyers of notable Sat.: Russian Greek 74 (GG-Cal Derby); Prospective 75 (TAM-Pasco S); MDN breaking 3yo's: GP MSW (7f): Eckabroni 84; AQU MSW (6f): Hardened Wildcat 86; AQU NY/MSW (6f): Panthro 74.- Steve Byk via Twitter

Secret Circle going to Arkansas// Drill pointing to San Vicente, Creative Cause may skip// Dutrow drama// Bullet for Casual Trick

The Oaklawn Park meet started Friday, which is yet another sign the Kentucky Derby Trail is about to go full swing. Gary West covers several prospects in his article for ESPN, including three for D. Wayne Lukas who will race in Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes// Bob Baffert is strongly considering sending Secret Circle to Oaklawn for the Southwest (G3). It’s good to see he hasn’t decided to take the colt off the trail just yet// Baffert also said Drill will probably wind up in the 7-furlong San Vicente (G2). Drill has been well beaten in his last three stakes tries, but may already have enough in graded earnings to make the Derby gate// Creative Cause, 3^rd in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) had a so-so workout Friday, but trainer Mike Harrington said that’s the norm in the mornings. Harrington is thinking twice about the San Vicente (G2) as Creative Cause’s comeback race given the expected speed horses// Rick Dutrow ran two horses in an optional claimer at Aqueduct Friday and there’s the possibility he will wheel both of them back on Monday in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes. Dutrow’s King and Crusader wired the field in today’s race, but it was revealed he was disqualified from his previous race, the Maryland Juvenile Championship, when he was given lasix too close to post. Will this guy ever lose his license?// Dale Romans can finally celebrate Silver Max breaking his maiden. The Romans-described “sleeper” Kentucky Derby candidate was the bridesmaid in his first five tries, but wired his competition today on turf.

Articles

Oaklawn opens up to possibilities (ESPN)

Secret Circle may try Southwest (DRF)

Drill likely to start year in San Vicente (DRF)

Lecomte figures to draw large, competitive group (DRF)

Dutrow’s King and Crusader disqualified from Juvenile Championship (The Baltimore Sun)

Reveron kicks off 2012 Triple Crown chase (Bloodhorse)

Countdown to the Crown Week 2 (DRF)

Stay ahead of herd for Derby futures (Las Vegas Review Journal)

Churchill Downs Spring Meet 2012 press release (Churchill Downs Media)

Kentucky Derby saddle towel colors including new also-eligibles (Churchill Downs Media)

Works: