Chasing The Derby: Pee H Dee

Showing posts with label Pee H Dee. Show all posts

Possible full gate for Rebel, several contenders drop out// Servis's chance for Derby imminent// New rankings

John Servis has not made the cherished pre-Kentucky Derby walk from the backside of Churchill Downs to the paddock since saddling 2004 winner Smarty Jones. He hopes to do it again in 2012 with one or both of his main prospects Adirondack King and Ill Conceived. The former will try to improve off his 3rd place showing in the Southwest (G3) this Saturday in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn. Ill Conceived will be entered in the Vinery Spiral (G2) at Turfway, the same track he finished 2^nd by a nose in the John Battaglia Stakes last time out// Another Derby winning trainer, Graham Motion, hopes to send maiden winner Went the Day Well to the Spiral as well. That’s the same pre-Derby prep Motion used for winner Animal Kingdom, however Motion is concerned the race may overfill// There’s a fairly interesting allowance at Oaklawn Friday that features several failed runners from the Southwest Stakes (G3)- Unbridled’s Note and Ring It Up. They were considered for the Rebel (G2), but going in the easier spot instead// The more interesting 3-year-old allowance Friday is at Gulfstream where Grade 1 winner Currency Swap meets Grade 2 winner Gemologist. Both colts are undefeated and have connections with serious aspirations of making the Derby// more…

Articles

Servis’s two Kentucky Derby prospects facing tests (DRF)

Pee H Dee on to Rebel (The Downey Profile)

Went the Day Well eyes Vinery Spiral (DRF)

Rebel nominees opt for allowance route (DRF)

Delaware path from rags to riches (Bloodhorse Blog)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile continues as key race (DRF)

Baffert relies on intuition to guide prospects to prep races (DRF)

Gemologist, Currency Swap meeting in ‘12 debuts (DRF)

Currency Swap, Gemologist clash at Gulfstream (Bloodhorse)

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

Who’s hot, who’s not 3/17 (DRF)

Derby graded earnings rule- again (DRF)

Kentucky Derby report 3/15 (Brisnet)

Entries

3/17 Broad Brush Stakes- Aqueduct

3/17 Private Terms Stakes- Laurel Park

Rankings

Kentucky Derby Top 20 (DRF)

Wireplayers Derby Dozen Vol 3 (WirePlayers Blog)

Derby Dozen- the third (A Leg Up Blog)

Super Six Derby Pix (They Are Off Blog)

Works

Hierro- SA- 4F- 51:40- H- 10/10

Summer Front- PPTC- 4F- 51:20- B- 7/9

Notes and bits from web and Twitter

“Spring Hill Farm had successful knee surgery; no screw needed. Will get 60 days rest and turnout. Connections hopeful for full recovery.”- Jason Shandler via Twitter

El Camino Real to get 5// More next race plans from Pletcher// Kentucky Derby Future Odds updated

A small field of just five is expected for the El Camino Real Derby (G3) February 18^th. Kentucky Derby winning trainer Graham Motion will most likely ship graded stakes-placed Lucky Chappy who has only raced on turf in previous tries. The other four probable runners are Russian Greek, Rockinarz Recruit, Unveiled Heat, and Cahill Chrome// Dale Romans revealed Grade 1 winner Dullahan has been absent from the work tab due to a cough. Luckily he already has $375,000 in graded earnings, so there is no rush to squeeze him into a race. The Palm Beach (G3) on turf and then Bluegrass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland is still the tentative plan// While the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn is expected to draw some familiar entries from the Smarty Jones Stakes held in mid-January, there will also be some intriguing additions. Not only could Bob Baffert ship Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Secret Circle, but several impressive Oaklawn-based maiden and allowance winners could join the fun too. Cyber Secret (who was mistakenly left off the list of early Triple Crown nominations), Apprehender, and Pee H Dee are expected to push the field to at least eight deep// Even more next race plans were announced for Todd Pletcher contenders, albeit mostly from his B-team. Dan and Sheila, 4^th in the Lecomte (G3) last out, will head to New York for the Gotham (G3) along with recent maiden breaker Raconteur. Big Blue Nation will step down to an allowance before being considered for another stakes. Pletcher is not giving up on Our Entourage who will be moved to turf in his next start, and the trainer also just attained Declaration of War from Coolmore who will get a try on the trail as well. Gemologist wouldn’t be considered a B-team player based on his KY Jockey Club (G2) win at Churchill Downs in November. He’s tentatively scheduled to take a two prep schedule similar to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver that starts off in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) or Rebel (G2)// I’ve listed some recent speed figures from Kentucky Derby preps over the last few days, but a particular maiden winner at the Fairgrounds Friday went unnoticed. Bourbon Courage earned a whopping 103 Beyer speed figure in his debut, which is the second highest in his class. The son of Lion Heart went off at 15-1 odds and flew home with a final time just over a tick off the track record for 6-furlongs. No news yet on where he’ll end up next// The latest Kentucky Derby futures from Wynn Las Vegas were released late Monday. Alpha, winner of the Withers Saturday, jumped all the way to 11-1, just behind 10-1 co-favorites Union Rags and Algorithms. Other interesting changes were Sam Davis winner Battle Hardened at 30-1 (from 125-1) and Robert Lewis victor I’ll Have Another 65-1 (from 200-1)// Paul Moran comes down hard on owner Dr. Hansen’s decision to color the mane and tale of his horse- likening the visual to a carousel horse among other things…

Articles

Russian Greek among 5 probables for El Camino Real (DRF)

Colt [Cyber Secret] added to Triple Crown nominations list (Bloodhorse)

Big Beyer propels Cyber Secret to Southwest (DRF)

Romans not pressing Dullahan (DRF)

Creative Cause will take on Drill and Secret Circle in his seasonal debut (Bettor.com)

Ho-hum, Pletcher loaded again (Bloodhorse Blog)

Todd Pletcher’s plethora of Kentucky Derby contenders (Louisville.com)

Triple Crown: O’Brien pair among the entries (Betting.Betfair)

2012 Kentucky Derby analysis: The Withers Stakes (G3) (Bleacher Report)

Kentucky Derby future wager pool 1 set to open Friday (DRF)

Alpha lives up to his name (The Derby Post)

Hansen deserves better (ESPN)

Hansen, Union Rags top list of early Illinois Derby nominations (TTimes)

Trio of Derby preps gets Derby trail off and running (Turf ‘n’ Sport)

Rankings

Paulick Derby Index 2/7 (Paulick Report)

Works

Swag Daddy- AQU- 4F- 48:02- 1/5

Best Speed Figures From The Week*

3yo winning Beyers last week: I'll Have Another-96; Bourbon Courage-103; Alpha-90; Cyber Secret-96; Ender Knievel-88

Top 3yo winning BRIS figs last week: I'll Have Another-102; Bourbon Courage-102; Alpha-100; Cyber Secret-100; Ender Knievel-98

*Source: DerbyContenders via Twitter

Consortium to get Lasix in Holy Bull// Handicappers try to beat Hansen// Southwest, Withers, Robert Lewis come into focus

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reveals Holly Bull entrant Consortium bled a bit in his last race, a 2^nd place finish behind another Holy Bull starter Algorithms. He’ll try Lasix for the first time Sunday, which could spark some improvement// Handicapper picks are rolling in for the Holy Bull. It looks like many believe Hansen should win, but will try to beat him in their wagers with Algorithms on top// Reveron is still on target for the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. Trainer Augustin Bezara, who hails from Venezuela and does not speak English, said through an interpreter that the colt is doing well in morning jogs and gallops. In a style a bit unorthodox from North American trainers, he does not often send his horses on official works between races// Apprehender, a dominating debut winner Thursday at Oaklawn, will start next in the Southwest (G3). He earned a high Beyer of 97 for his 5.5 furlong maiden score. Looking at his sire, Posse, you could guess he might not like a stretch-out, but his dam was a Grade 1 winner at 9 furlongs. A horse by the awful name of Pee H Dee is also possible for the Southwest, as long as an allowance in early February doesn’t fill as expected. His stablemate Ring It Up will point for an allowance with longer-term hopes of going to the Rebel (G2) on March 17// The lineup for the Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct is a little more clear. In addition to highly touted Alpha, the field could swell to nine with Hakama, King Kid, Phil Dancer, Speightscity, Swag Daddy, Tiger Walk, How Do I Win, and Longview Drive. The latter two are only questionable. Presumed favorite Alpha will have several more gate schooling sessions based on his issues in prior races// Last year it seemed Bob Baffert was focused on splitting his Kentucky Derby contenders between California, Arkansas, and New York, but it looks like he could have two top prospects in this year’s Robert Lewis (G2) at Santa Anita. Liaison, winner of the CashCall Futurity (G1) and Sky Kingdom, a troubled fifth in the same race are pointed for the 9-furlong contest next week. The latter also earned a bullet from his 5-furlong work Friday, when he went 58:40, which was best of 67 other workers. He and Liaison will most likely confront Empire Way, Rousing Sermon, and I’ll Have Another in the Robert Lewis.

Holy Bull S. (G3)- race page with pps, race videos, articles and more here

Articles

McLaughlin looks for Consortium to improve (The Downey Profile)

Apprehender out to capture Southwest after flashy debut [and info on Reckless Jerry] (Oaklawn Park Barn Notes)

Baffert points Liaison, Sky Kingdom to Robert Lewis Stakes (DRF)

Countdown to the Crown Week 4 (DRF)

Kentucky Derby contenders are getting harder to predict (Los Angeles Daily News)

Hansen starts path to Kentucky Derby in Holy Bull Stakes (DRF)

Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park could shape Kentucky Derby [video] (The Wall Street Journal)

Hansen will start 2012 Kentucky Derby journey in Holy Bull (Graded Stakes Blog)

Despite training trends, Holy Bull remains important step on Kentucky Derby Trail (The Brock Talk Blog)

Holy Bull Picks: Thorofan Blog / Dick Downey