Chasing The Derby: Pure Fun

Summary:

Two Kentucky Derby contenders had longer than normal breezes today. Itsmyluckyday worked a mile at Calder and the report from the Daily Racing Form reminds of us of how nice it is when Mike Welsch is present. Not only are there informative quotes from trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., who was more than pleased with the move, but Welsch makes the astute observation that the Calder course was “cut up pretty well” just before the renovation break// At Churchill Downs, Dallas Stewart sent Golden Soul out for a strong 6-furlong breeze. The colt currently sits at #23 in the point standings (or #21 depending on the leaderboard you look at) and Stewart thinks he’s “very credible”. Although Golden Soul’s recent prep outings are nothing to write home about, he was always closing and Stewart contends the more distance the better// A decision has still not been made on whether Falling Sky will start next in the Kentucky Derby, but the would-be rider is set in stone. Luis Saez, who rode Falling Sky to victory in a December allowance at Gulfstream, would get his first Derby mount aboard the son of Lion Heart// Several handicappers have weighed in on how they see Saturday’s Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland shaping up. Picks are linked below// Dave Tuley at the Daily Racing Form makes an argument of parlaying your Derby horse from race-to-race (in other words: betting the selection to win in each of the Triple Crown Races) as opposed to betting the Triple Crown wager beforehand offered by Wynn Las Vegas. He uses Verrazano’s 12-1 odds to win the Triple Crown as an example of where you would most likely make more money betting him to win in each leg of the Triple Crown// more…

Upcoming Kentucky Derby Points Race:

Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G3)

Keeneland

1 1/16 Miles

PPs: Click here

Previews: Keeneland / DRF / Bloodhorse

Picks: Downey Profile / Bloodhorse THS [video] / DRF Video / DRF Byron King / DRF Weekend Warrior

Articles:

Itsmyluckyday works sharp mile at Calder (DRF)

A test of resolve: Can Itsmyluckyday go the distance? (Brisnet)

Golen Soul works, Frac Daddy gallops, Java’s War arrives (Churchill Downs)

Mike Smith talks Derby (Brisnet)

Outsiders with a chance in Kentucky Derby 139 (The Voice-Tribune)

Parlay often outperforms Triple Crown future wager (DRF)

TCI: Kentucky Derby preview April 18 [video] (Bloodhorse)

Jersey-born jockey Napravnik Derby-bound again (Hunterdon County Democrat)

Point-Counterpoint: Midnight Lute vs. War Pass (Horseracing Nation)

Lukas, Stevens headline ‘It’s My Derby’ party (Bloodhorse)

Churchill Downs strengthens security policies, expands screenings (Churchill Downs)

Rankings:

Derby Gauge Top 15 (In The Money)

Works:

Itsmyluckyday- CRC- 1M- 1.43:20- H- 1/2

Golden Soul- CD- 6F- 1.12:40- B- 1/3

Quotes and Tweets:

"Itsmyluckyday:26.82 :53.82 1:18.29 mile in 1:43.10 last 1/2 :49.29 finished well when asked over cut up track just B4 break at CRC"- Mike Welsch via Twitter

Golden Soul, hoping to get into #KyDerby, breezed 6F in 1:12.40 to 7/8 pole. Splits: 12, 23.40, 35, 46.80 & 59. Out 7F in 1:27.40- Derby Media via Twitter

"If Falling Sky runs in the Derby, Luis Saez would ride, says Nick Sallusto, racing manager for the owners"- Davide Grening via Twitter

Summary:

Dale Romans has been known to catch Derby fever as much as anyone, but has decided to take a conservative approach with Dewey Square. Instead of running in Saturday’s Blue Grass (G1), he will point for the Derby points deprived Illinois Derby (G3), with the Preakness (G1) the goal. Romans has been high on Dewey Square, but his 3-year-old season has been dissapointing with a 7th in the Holy Bull (G3) and 5th in the Palm Beach (G3). It seems like a wise, yet still ambitious decision// The Blue Grass looks to be a popular race, with as many as 18 horses vying for the 14 spots. Kenny McPeek believes Java’s War is sitting on a big effort, as the colt appears to relish the Polytrack. No one seems to mention Java’s War has already raced on the surface in last year’s Dixiana Breeders Futurity (G1), where he finished a troubled 3rd by 1 3/4 lengths. In other Blue Grass news, Garrett Gomez picked up the mount on Palace Malice. Gomez is searching for a Derby mount in the wake of recently injured Flashback. More Blue Grass notes and happenings can be found in the barn notes linked below// Shades of 1996 are developing with D. Wayne Lukas pointing multiple colts to the Kentucky Derby, and one of them with Gary Stevens possibly aboard. Oxbow is apparently doing well ahead of Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G1) and Lukas hopes to get another Kentucky Derby entrant with Channel Isle in the Blue Grass. Lukas confirmed that Will Take Charge with bypass the Blue Grass and train up to the Derby saying “we have nothing to gain” by squeezing in another race. That means Will Take Charge will have a 7-week racing break between his win in the Rebel (G2) and the Kentucky Derby// Nice article from Jay Cronley at ESPN about the futility of strategizing your bets for the Kentucky Derby// A filly could grab some Derby points after all with the announcement by Kenny McPeek that Pure Fun may enter the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. If she were to win, Pure Fun would only earn 20 points, which is likely not enough to the make the Derby starting gate// Updated Kentucky Derby future odds from Wynn Las Vegas linked below// more…

Articles:

Barn Notes: 3 more colts ready to enter Blue Grass if opportunity arises [full list of probables] (Keeneland)

Java’s War looks like legit Blue Grass contender (DRF)

Lukas barn loaded with talented 3-year-olds on Triple Crown trail (DRF)

Will Take Charge will train up to race (DRF)

Haskin: Give Verrazano a break (Bloodhorse Blog)

A whimsical Derby (ESPN)

Sticking with Normandy Invasion (ESPN)

Pure Fun may try males in Lexington (DRF)

Illinois Derby, Preakness for Dewey Square (Bloodhorse)

Futures

Wynn Las Vegas 4/8 (View From Vegas)