Chasing The Derby: Neck n' Neck

A not-so-quite full field will line up for Saturday’s Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Saturday. Southwest (G3) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Secret Circle and Delta Jackpot (G3) winner Sabercat undoubtedly lead the field. Aside from those two, there are challengers that must be respected including; Scatman who gave Secret Circle everything he could handle in the Southwest; Adirondack King who ran longer than most in his his 3^rd place finish in the Southwest; Jake Mo who bounced back to form with a 2^nd place finish in the other division of the Southwest; and allowance winners Atigun and Najjaar who both have won at the Rebel distance and probably prefer going even farther. Preview articles and link to PPs can be found below// Motor City is officially off the Derby Trail. Trainer Ian Wilkes says the Iroquois (G3) winner is too far behind in preparation. Wilkes’s other charge Neck n’ Neck is possible for the Florida Derby (G1)// Speaking of the Florida Derby, trainer Patrick Byrne is still high on his prospect Take Charge Indy. He has no regrets with scratching from the Tampa Derby (G2) and thinks the added distance will help// Maiden winner and Zayat Stables owned Paynter will point for the Illinois Derby (G2) as a hopeful stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby// A nice video interview below with Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Farm on Creative Cause…

Rebel (G2)

Preview Articles: Bloodhorse / DRF / Brisnet / TTimes / Oaklawn Barn Notes 3/15

PPs: Click here (look for 3/17 Secret Circle)

Picks: That Handicapping Show (Bloodhorse) / Late mover could win runnin’ Rebel (The Downey Profile)

Articles

Oaklawn trainer Lauer dreams big with Rebel contender Scatman (DRF)

Kentucky Derby hopefuls showing separation (Sports Network)

Motor City off Derby Trail; Neck n’ Neck could stay (The Downey Profile)

Byrne ‘looking forward’ to Florida Derby with Take Charge Indy (Brisnet)

Raconteur, Hakama land in softer spot for Private Terms Stakes (DRF)

Paynter to make next stop in Illinois Derby (Bloodhorse)

Creative Cause interview with Mark Taylor of Talor Made Farm [video] (YouTube)

Works

Majestic Stride OP- 5F- 1.04:60- B- 23/23

Bourbon Courage FG- 4F- 48:20- B- 6/52

Right to Vote PMM- 5F- 1.01:65 B- 1/4

The arduous Derby trail claimed another contender with the injury announcement of Stephanoatsee. Last year’s Kentucky Derby winning trainer Graham Motion said “It’s disappointing. I was starting to get a little excited”. The Count Fleet runner-up and half-brother to Preakness winner Shackleford should be back in training in 2 months// Union Rags seems to be rounding into form quickly. His third move since the layoff was a snappy 1 minute and 4/5 seconds for five furlongs. The bullet went to another CTD Contender Take Charge Indy who was more than a full second quicker// It was confirmed that San Pedro Stakes winner Midnight Transfer will stretch out next in the San Felipe (G2) in early March, a race which should also draw Sham (G3) winner Out of Bounds. Bob Baffert blamed a bad ride for Drill’s poor effort in the San Pedro, which is not unusual for the trainer to do. I don’t think it mattered, as the colt has clearly not shown any gameness down the stretch in his last four races// Jeff Bonde confirmed Majestic Stride will try the two-turn Southwest (G3) next. He believes the son of Trippi can handle the added distance, while many believe pedigree says no// The Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs always draws some sneaky horses just below the radar- often ones with trainers that want to avoid the tough Gulfstream circuit. The race is less than two weeks away, but there haven’t been many indications of who will make the field… until now. Neck n’ Neck and Chief Energy, two maiden winners, are pointing for the race along with Grade 3 winner Prospective// I’m always a sucker for Kentucky Derby trends, and Jeff Scott at the Saratogian reveals 4 of the past 5 winners started their sophomore campaigns in March. They are among a group of only 18 Kentucky Derby entries in the past 5 years to do so, with the other 82 entries starting in January or February. Looking even further back, famous Derby winners Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Alysheba, and Sunday Silence all started their 3-year-old campaigns in March as well. Makes you wonder about the January and February graded stakes we pay so much attention to…

Articles

Stephanoatsee off Derby trail with pastern injury (DRF)

Union Rags has sharp work prepping for Fountain of Youth (DRF)

Midnight Transfer to go long in San Felipe (DRF)

Dan Illman: Midnight Transfer thoughts (DRF Blog)

Majestic Stride targets Southwest Stakes after maiden win (DRF)

Two [Neck n’ Neck and Chief Energy] headed to Tampa for Sam F. Davis (DRF)

Derby trail’s late starters (The Saratogian)

3-year-olds to watch 1/24 (In The Money Blog)

Liquidity Trap tries again at same level (DRF)

Mr. Bowling game in LeComte Stakes [pedigree profile] (Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds]

Rankings