Gotham draws 13, Hansen gets bad post// Consortium, Junebugred latest off Trail// Future Wager Pool #2 odds released

The Gotham Stakes (G3) drew a big field of 13, highlighted by the entry of 2-year-old Champion Hansen.  He was assignd the unfortunate post #12, which is not optimal on the Aqueduct inner track.  Nonetheless, Hansen is the overwhelming favorite at 6-5.  Second choice is My Adonis at 5-1, who trailed Hansen by just a half-length at the wire in the Holy Bull (G3).  There are several other contenders who could be maturing at the right time and on the verge of a breakout performance.  Raconteur, Side Road, and Stealcase are ones we’ll keep an eye on. Entries and preview articles for the Gotham below// More defections from the Trail Wednesday.  Consortium was withheld from the Gotham due to an ankle chip and will not point for the Derby.  That same injury was attributed to Junebugred, winner of the Smarty Jones Stakes and a disappointing 6^th in the Southwest (G3).  Also, catching up to a bit of old news, Bob Baffert’s Sky Kingdom will be out 60 days which knocks him off the Trail as well// The morning line odds for the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool #2 were released.  Once again ‘All Others’ are favored at 3-1, however Union Rags is close behind at 4-1. A little surprised to see allowance winner Fed Biz is the third choice at 12-1.  It will be interesting to see if the public keeps him that low.  Six new individual horses were added: Bodemeister, Castaway, Mark Valeski, News Pending, Scatman, and Secret Circle// Speaking of Scatman, trainer Michael Lauer says his phone has been ringing steadily with calls from reporters ever since Scatman challenged Secret Circle all the way to the wire in the Southwest.  The colt will try the Rebel (G2) next, which could setup a rematch if Secret Circle ships back// Bob Baffert’s Fed Biz and Liaison had extended 6-furlongs works and are still on track for the San Felipe// Currency Swap, winner of the Hopeful (G1) last year, is training slowly for a return to racing.  Trainer Teresa Pompay says the colt will ideally race in an allowance at Gulfstream followed by a Derby prep// more…

Gotham Stakes (G3)

Entries here

Preview articles: NYRA / Bloodhorse / Brisnet / DRF

Articles

Consortium on shelf with ankle chip (Bloodhorse)

Bone chip takes Junebugred off TC Trail (Bloodhorse)

Champion Hansen in New York state of mind (TTimes)

On the farm: the weaning of Hansen (Hansen Blog via Courier Journal)

Motion takes a pass on Gotham with two candidates (DRF)

Triple Crown victory one of few eluding Dominguez (DRF)

Baffert pair work for San Felipe (Bloodhorse)

Scatman targets Rebel, Junebugred off trail (Oaklawn Barn Notes)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool #2: ‘All Others’ favored (Churchill Downs)

Romans mulls News Pending’s next start (The Downey Profile)

Calhoun has two shots to produce a Kentucky Derby prospect (DRF)

Currency Swap getting late start (The Downey Profile)

Union Rags’ pedigree suggest he can hit Kentucky Derby’s distance (The Saratogian)

Union Rags the latest Kentucky Derby contender to have Pennsylvania ties (DRF)

3-year-olds to watch 2/28 (In The Money Blog)

Who’s hot, who’s not 2/29 (DRF)

Who is the real News Pending? (Bloodhorse Blog)

Kentucky Derby Report March 1 (Brisnet)

Rankings

Super Six Derby Pix (They Are Off Blog)

Works

Motor City- PMM- 4F- 52:22- B- 20/20

Animal Spirits- FG- 3F- 37:80- B- 11/14

Night Tide- SA- 7F- 1.25:60- H- 1/2

Liaison- SA- 6F- 1.13:80- H- 4/12

Fed Biz- SA- 6F- 1.13:40- H- 3/12

Brother Francis- SA- 6F- 1.12:00- H- 1/12

Algorithms off Trail// Florida Derby possible for Alpha, El Padrino// Creative Cause works// Ever So Lucky injured

As is often the case, the rigors of the Kentucky Derby Trail rear their ugly head early and often. Algorithms is officially off the Trail and will have surgery to remove a fractured splint.  A heartbreaking loss for all connections considering he was a serious contender for the Derby// Ever So Lucky has a bruised foot, however the plan is to still make the Swale Stakes (G2) March 10^th// Looks like Southwest (G3) winner Secret Circle will return to Oaklawn to try the Rebel (G2).  Even more revealing was owner Mike Pegram stating he’s not giving up Derby hopes for Drill, winner of the 7-furlong San Vicente but dissapointing in recent two-turn attempts.  Derby Fever already creeping up in February?// Interesting article from DRF on Mark Valeski.  Trainer Larry Jones thought the colt looked “fat” before the Risen Star and hopes the tough stretch duel will help tighten him up.  He also said he won’t train the colt too hard leading into the Louisiana Derby (G2) based on his history of sore shins// Creative Cause had a perfect 6-furlong work at Hollywood Park in preparation for the San Felipe (G2) according to trainer Mike Harrington.  He could face his stablemate Empire Way, but the latter may ship to Oaklawn for the Rebel (G2) instead// Theoretically the Florida Derby (G1) could offer an enticing Derby preview featuring not only Kentucky Derby favorite Union Rags, but possibly other top contenders Alpha and El Padrino.  Alpha’s trainer Kiaran McLaughlin likes the idea of a small field and ensuring Ramon Dominguez rides the colt, while Dominguez could have a conflict in the Wood Memorial in New York where he would probably opt to ride Hansen instead.  As for El Padrino, it still doesn’t seem the Florida Derby is first choice for his owners or Todd Pletcher, but they’re keeping the option open// A good article on all of Dale Romans’s Derby prospects. Romans doesn’t seem too confident in Finnegan’s Wake switching to dirt in Saturday’s Gotham (G3), but he’ll try nonetheless.  

Gotham Probables: Chief Energy, Consortium, Cop A Tude, Dan and Sheila, Done Talking, Hansen, King and Crusader, Maan, My Adonis, Pretension, Raconteur, Tiger Walk (Source: The Downey Profile)

Articles

Algorithms to undergo surgery, off Triple Crown Trail (TTimes)

Ever So Lucky has foot bruise (DRF)

Creative Cause drill quick three-quarters (Bloodhorse)

Florida Derby under consideration for El Padrino (Bloodhorse)

Secret Circle still in running for Derby (Princeton Daily Clarion)

Florida Derby possible for Alpha (DRF)

Hansen is ready for Aqueduct’s Gotham Stakes (Graded Stakes Blog)

Mark Valeski not at his peak (DRF)

Can Union Rags stretch out (TrueNicks)

Don’t sleep on Romans (Bloodhorse Blog)

On the move: Rafael Bejarano (Bloodhorse Blog)

Rankings

CTD Top 5

AP Top 10 (Associated Press)

Works

Coalition- BEL- 5F- 1.02:88- B- 11/20

Creative Cause- HOL- 6F- 1.11:80- H-1/1

Longview Drive- HOL- 4F- 48:20- H- 4/24

Hierro- SA- 6F- 1.13:20- H- 1/2

Speightscity- BEL- 5F- 1.02:55- B- 6/15

Speed Figures*

Top 3yo winning BRIS figs last week: Secret Circle & The Lumber Guy-103 Union Rags-102; El Padrino-101; Castaway & Politicallycorrect-97

3yo winning Beyers last week: Secret Circle-102; The Lumber Guy-86 Union Rags-95; El Padrino-98; Castaway-92; Politicallycorrect-83.

*Source: DerbyContenders via Twitter

Notes and bits from web and Twitter:

Baffert says his two San Felipe runners 3-10 at SA will be Fed Biz and Liaison. Bejarano will ride one, other rider TBD- Jay Privman via Twitter

Sabercat could go to 3-17 Rebel for 2012 debut, rather than 3-10 San Felipe, Asmussen says. Nakatani will have mount - Jay Privman via Twitter

Union Rags in good order, News Pending may get rematch// Updated Kentucky Derby future odds, rankings

Union Rags photo by Julien Leparoux

Michael Matz reported Union Rags was none the worse for wear the day after his Fountain of Youth (G2) score.  The Florida Derby (G1) still remains the next target and will be the only race for Union Rags between now and the Kentucky Derby.  Dale Romans was praising the effort by second place finisher News Pending and said the Florida Derby is a strong consideration as well. A decision on what to do with Algorithms, who scratched from the race with a splint injury, will not be made until later in the week// More news for Saturday’s Gotham Stakes (G3). DRF features Mark Casse’s Stealcase, who has already raced against several stakes winners in his maiden tries, including Hutcheson victor Thunder Moccasin.  Check out the Todd Simmons piece from the Staten Island Advance about a morning stroll at Belmont that offers a different flavor and beat to your normal thoroughbred reporting// Updated future odds were released by Wynn Las Vegas.  Not surprisingly, Union Rags plummeted to 4-1 as the favorite.  Can’t see why anyone would take those odds in February, but many do// Out of Bounds had an extended workout at Hollywood Park Monday.  He’s still on track for the San Felipe (G2)// Updated rankings from Steve Haskin as well as myself// I’ve also updated the CTD Contender page here.  If you like updates to the site on Twitter you can follow CTD here or on Facebook here.

Kentucky Derby Futures

Wynn Las Vegas 2/27

Articles

Union Rags standing tall after Fountain of Youth triumph (DRF)

How high should we be on Union Rags? (Zipse at the Track Blog)

Union Rags Kentucky Derby favorite (Forbes Online)

After the wire 2/26 [video] (Bloodhorse)

Home sweet home page (ESPN)

Petals on the Path: On the way to the Gotham (Staten Island Advance)

Stealcase jumping from maiden to Gotham Stakes (DRF)

Spiral nominations spike up (The Downey Profile)

Tampa Bay Derby lands 38 nominations (The Downey Profile)

Under the radar: Scatman (DRF)

Castaway got better and better as a yearling (Bloodhorse)

Weekend review (And Down The Stretch They Come)

The Roses Challenge (Thorough-Graphics)

In Kentucky, 2015 Kentucky Derby winner could arrive any day now (NPR Blog)

Rankings

CTD Top 5

Haskin’s Derby Dozen [with video] (Bloodhorse)

Works

Rousing Sermon- HOL- 6F- 1.13:20- H- 1/2

Out of Bounds- HOL- 7F- 1.25:60- H- 1/2

Ender Knievel- PMM- 5F- 1.02:90- B- 9/13

Swag Daddy- AQU- 4F- 48:55- B- 2/8

Notes and bits from web and Twitter:

“Fractions for Out of Bounds. 48.80 to top. 112.80 at wire. Out to the bottom in 125.60. Best part move was absence of real pressure”- Donald Harris via Twitter