Departing wins easily at Fair Grounds// Super Ninety Nine, Code West moving up// Tour Guide, Clawback look to stretch out

Summary:

Top shelf Derby prospect Uncaptured is still on the mend from several injuries. His trainer Mark Casse is hoping for a return to racing by the second or third week of March, but the timeframe gets tighter by the day. Uncaptured will hopefully have his first breeze next week// Super Ninety Nine’s impressive allowance score at Santa Anita Thursday registered a 100 Beyer speed figure. Trainer Bob Baffert said Super Ninety Nine and 2nd place Code West would move up to stakes company next. The latter will probably ship to the Fair Grounds, while Super Ninety Nine could stay at Santa Anita// Rick Violette says Clawback will most likely get his first chance to stretch out in the Gotham (G3) March 2 at Aqueduct// Tour Guide is another sprinter whose connections are looking to stretch out on the Derby trail. He’ll either go to the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn or Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds// Not only was Friday a mere eve to a big Derby preview day, but it held its fair share of possible key races as well. One was an impressive debut win at Oaklawn by Big Lute, who won by over 4 lengths. Over at the Fair Grounds, Departing followed up his debut win with an impressive allowance score. It won’t be surprising to see both colts in stakes company next// More previews and handicapper picks for the busy Saturday// more…

Saturday Derby Points Races:

Withers (G3)

Aqueduct

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 4:18 PM ET/TVG

PPs: Click Here

Previews: NYRA / Brisnet / Bloodhorse / DRF DRF2

Picks: Downey Profile / Bloodhorse Video / DRF Video

Sam F. Davis (G3)

Tampa Bay Downs

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 5:23 PM ET/TVG

PPs: Click Here

Previews: Bloodhorse / DRF DRF2/ SB Nation

Picks: DRF Video / DRF Watchmaker/ The Downey Profile

Robert Lewis S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park

1 1/16 Miles

Time/TV: 5:03 PM ET/TVG

PPs: Click Here

Previews: Santa Anita / Bloodhorse / Brisnet / DRF DRF2

Picks: DRF Video

Saturday Non-Derby point races:

Hutcheson (G2)

Gulfstream Park

7 Furlongs

Time/TV: 5:05 ET/HRTV

PPs: Click Here

Previews: Brisnet / Bloodhorse / HR Nation / DRF

Picks: DRF Video / DRF Watchmaker

Gulfstream Park Race 5: Allowance Optional Claiming

1 Mile

Time/TV: 2:37 PM ET/HRTV

PPs: Click Here

96 Rocks Stakes

Turfway Park

1 Mile

Time/TV: 5:11 PM ET/TVG

Previews: Turfway Park / Bloodhorse

Articles:

Kentucky Derby prospect Uncaptured likely to make first start of 2013 in March (DRF)

Super Ninety Nine, Code West earn shots at Derby preps (DRF)

Clawback likely to wait for Gotham (DRF)

Tour Guide between Southwest and Risen Star for next start (DRF)

Three preps and a cloud of dust (Twin Spires Blog)

Three weekend stakes offer points to Kentucky Derby (Louisville.com)

Oxbow’s decisive first steps (Bloodhorse)

Countdown to the Crown- Week 5: Feb 1 (DRF)

A Heart the size of Texas: Texas Bling (Bloodhorse)

Kentucky Derby update for Feb 1 (In The Money Blog)

Workouts:

Mylute- FG- 5F- 1.00:20- B- 2/25

Will Take Charge- OP- 4F- 48:80- B- 2/30

Get Happy Mister- OP- 5F- 1.01:40- H- 2/26

Belvin- SA- 5F- 59:80- H- 1/53

Quotes and Tweets:

"Tim Ice says Brown Almighty, who worked this morning, is over his lung infection and is being pointed to the Southwest."- The Downey Profile via Twitter

No rush for Mylute// Avie's Quality works for Lecomte// More updates on Pletcher prospects

Tom Amoss announced Mylute, third in the Delta Jackpot (G3), will skip Saturday’s Lecomte (G3) at the Fair Grounds and point for the Risen Star on February 23 instead.  Apparently nothing is wrong with the colt, but Amoss would like to give him more time after a 6 race juvenile campaign.  I don’t understand why this is a surprise and even how he was listed as probable for the Lecomte considering Mylute has not registered a workout since his last race December 26// Trainer Bret Calhoun is still deciding between the Lecomte or Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn for Tour Guide.  He said it greatly depends on the condition of the track at Oaklawn, which recently was damaged with a sinkhole// Avie’s Quality was the lone Lecomte probable to workout today. He turned in a 4-furlong breeze timed in 48.70// Proud Strike broke his maiden in his third start last Saturday for Steve Asmussen, and the trainer seems excited for the future.  He will either start next at the Fair Grounds or Oaklawn.  Part of the promise for Proud Strike lies in the fact he was second to much-hyped Bradester in a maiden contest at Churchill last November// Yesterday DRF informed us on the current status of Todd Pletcher’s top Derby prospects, but today Jennie Rees has an update on all 15.  No major developments however, and I’m still anxious to see where Verrazano ends up// The top two finishers of the California Derby, Zeewat and Wildcat Moon, will make their next starts in the logical El Camino Real Derby (G3) February 16// more…

Articles:

Mylute will wait for Risen Star [and notes on Proud Strike] (DRF)

Looking at Todd Pletcher’s Derby prospects (Courier Journal Blog)

Zeewat’s victory in the California Derby makes him local favorite for El Camino Real (DRF)

Workouts:

Avie’s Quality- PMM- 4F- 48.70- B- 7/20

Holy Bull, Lecomte probables// Gulfport ruled out// Archwarrior saga continues

Summary:

Probable 2-year-old Champion Shanghai Bobby will likely face a small field in his 2013 debut in the Holy Bull January 26 at Gulfstream.  Allowance winner Tulira Castle was added to the probable mix and posted a long six furlong breeze at Gulfstream today. Another allowance winner Bradester and Gulfstream Park Derby winner Itsmyluckyday have also been mentioned as possible for the Holy Bull//  By Bob Fortus’ count, there are 10 sophomores pointing for the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds January 19, which is the next prep to offer Derby points.  Sugar Bowl stakes winner Tour Guide, recent allowance winner Malibu High, and Display stakes winner Avie’s Quality head the probable list.  Others include Golden Soul, Fear the Kitten, Mylute, Oxbow, I’ve Struck a Nerve, General Election, and Hawaakom// The mystery has been solved over the status of Gulfport, an impressive Churchill Downs allowance winner, who missed a scheduled start in the Jerome Stakes (G2).  He unfortunately sustained a cracked cannon bone when working out in late December and is officially off the trail.  It’s a definite blow for the connections and trainer Dale Romans, who held high hopes for the well-bred son of Unbridled’s Song// Just when I thought we had somewhat definitive news on Archwarrior- that he is taking a break in Kentucky and under a tight timeframe to make the Derby- the still questionably official Twitter account IamArchwarrior reiterated he will definitely miss the Run for the Roses and hope for the Belmont.  Until I read an actual article, I’ll still withhold from taking him off the contender list// J.J. Hysell notes turf runner Brown Almighty has posted two bullet works on the Oaklawn dirt in preparation for Smarty Jones Stakes January 21.  There seems to be quite a bit of buzz for his upcoming debut on dirt// Steve Haskin argues we should always “expect the unexpected” when it comes to the Derby and points to Giacomo, Mine That Bird, and Smarty Jones as all having serious question marks before winning the Derby// more…

Articles

Tulira Castle joins Holy Bull probables (DRF)

Lecomte field shaping up (DRF)

Jimmy Winkfield, Withers among options for Clawback (DRF)

CD allowance winner Gulfport off Derby trail with cracked cannon bone (Courier Journal Blog)

Brown Almighty taking to the Oaklawn dirt (In the Money Blog)

Coundown to the Crown: Week 2- Jan 11 (DRF)

Haskin’s Derby Trail- The powers of illusion (Bloodhorse Blog)

Cincinnati radio station to sponsor Turfway’s second Spiral prep (Brisnet)

Works:

Malibu High- LD- 7F- 1.29:60- H- 1/1

Hear the Ghost- HOL- 6F- 1.12:60- H- 2/8

Tulira Castle- GP- 6F- 1.13:20- B- 1/2