CALIFORNIA:

Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) scorched five furlongs in :57-3/5 on Jan 11th. Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby hopeful is expected to contest the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) on Feb 7th.

Fleet filly Indyanne was unable to recover from a sesamoid injury which occurred in the La Brea on Dec 27th. It was hoped that she would be saved for broodmare duties, but she had to be put down on Jan 13th.

Carla Gaines trainee Point Encounter (Point Given), an impressive opening day debut winner at Santa Anita, suffered a soft tissue injury and is off the Kentucky Derby trail.

San Pasqual Hcp (G2) hero Cowboy Cal is expected to go next in the Feb 7th Strub.

Malibu (G1) winner Bob Black Jack is out until summer following an unspecified injury.

Square Eddie is expected to take on Robert Frankel’s impressive maiden winner Brother Keith in Saturday’s flat mile San Rafael, an early season Kentucky Derby prep.

Square Eddie works at Santa Anita

FLORIDA:

BC Classic participant Go Between (Bill Mott) died of heart failure following a workout on Jan. 13th. The late son of Point Given was always one of my fav horses and will be missed.

LOUISIANA:

Fair Grounds racing resumes on Thursday (1-15-09), so check back tomorrow for my daily news and notes from that venue.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Many of the top contenders threw in clunkers, and none more so than heavy favorite Pyro. His team is already blaming the Polytrack surface for his puzzling 10th place finish, and they may be correct. He could easily bounce back in three weeks, but he will be meeting of core group of sharper foes, and I would rather take a square price on a sharp horse than fair odds on a horse trying to rebound.

Nick Zito’s Cool Coal Man stalked and weakened from the inside, and I have to question his true talent and stamina at this point.

Big Truck weakened to 11th and looks to be out of serious Derby consideration, and Gotham hero Visionaire rallied to finish a non-threatening 5th.

The story of the day was Pletcher, and Monba is back on the beam after his Fountain of Youth debacle. He is now 2-2 on Polytrack, and it should be noted that he did win an entry level race at Churchill last November. $200k purchase has the pedigree to run all day, and with top connections in his corner, he seems to rate a longshot gander in three weeks.

Cowboy Cal ran a big race, but that was not surprising because turf horses seem to relish synthetic tracks. He looms a stalking presence at the very least if his connections opt to give the Derby a whirl.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever