Wednesday was quiet on the Kentucky Derby front. Square Eddie jogged, and Desert Party visited the starting gate.
Papa Clem galloped and will have one more drill in the near future.
West Side Bernie is expected to work on Saturday.

On Thursday morning, General Quarters breezed five furlongs in 1:01.79. The drill ranked 13th of 30 moves at the distance. He did not finish up strongly in a lackluster work. Julien Leparoux will ride the Tom McCarthy’s Blue Grass hero.
Desert Party continues to make a nice appearance. I liked him when he ran in the US last year and consider him a viable …read more

Fountain of Youth
Early/pressing type Quality Road (Elusive Quality) was easily best over clear runner-up Theregoesjojo (Brahms) in the one-turn mile (113 BSF). The aforementioned duo are expected to go next in the Florida Derby, which will be their initial foray around two turns. Without route foundation, they could be in deep water on the 1st Saturday in May, but they are serious players over the Gulfstream speedway, especially the winner. Don’t be shocked in either or both ship out of town (Wood Memorial?) for the next engagements.
Graded route hero Beethoven (Sky Mesa) ran on well to land the …read more

Saturday’s $200k Sham Stakes is a key local nine furlong prep for the April 4th Santa Anita Derby, and many of these need graded earnings if they hope to make it to the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby.

The Pamplemousse, the 9-5 morning line favorite, has won two straight, including the Grade 3 San Rafael at a flat mile here. Alex Solis/Julio Canani are 4-7 together, and the early/pressing type might get brave if able to sneak away early. He gets a stamina test today and will not offer much wagering value.
Mr. Hot Stuff is on the upswing …read more

Weekend recap (Feb 21-22), plus news and notes

Georgie Boy did not disappoint as the heavy fav in Saturday’s San Carlos (G2). Halo Najib ran well to garner the place, and I would not be surprised if the Mike Mitchell runner stretched out in the near future.
On Sunday, Spring House held off Church Service to repeat in San Luis Obispo Hcp (G2). Zambezi Sun finished a disappointing 6th in US bow…he still might be Big Cap bound.
Rail Trip ran his record to 4-4 on Friday, but the promising Ron Ellis runner is not expected for the Big Cap. His …read more

Arkansas:
Old Fashioned has arrived at Oaklawn Park in advance of his next start, the Grade 3 Southwest on February 16th. Ramon Dominguez is expected to pilot the undefeated Remsen (G2) winner for Larry Jones.
Remsen Stakes replay
Florida:
Seven furlong Hutcheson (G2) 1-2 finishers Capt. Candyman Can and Hello Broadway are expected to battle it out again in the flat mile Fountain of Youth (G2) on Feb 28th.
Holy Bull (G3) winner Saratoga Sinner earned a much improved speed rating in his surprise tally on Saturday. He was all over the pace and raced on the good part of the …read more

Travers (G1) hero Colonel John makes his final start as a three-year-old as Santa Anita kicks off their winter meet on December 26th. The Grade 1 Malibu has drawn a field of seven sophomores, led by the Colonel.
Eoin Harty’s charge was last seen finishing a solid 6th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic versus a salty group of older international company. Besides the Travers, Colonel John also won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Sham (G3), both at Santa Anita Park.
2008 Breeders Cup Classic replay
He began his career with a place finish at Del Mar in 2007, and he …read more

Saturday (12-13-08) Hollywood Park recap
Early/pressing types dominated on both surfaces.
Hat trick for Joel Rosario.
Laragh grabbed the early lead as expected. She turned back a few backstretch challengers before gamely prevailing by a length in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet. Edgar Prado rode the turf/synthetic specialist for John Terranova II.
Sunday (12-14-08) Hollywood Park preview
Sunday’s 9-race card features the $75k On Trust Handicap, to be contested at the unusual distance of seven and one-half furlongs on Cushion Track. Likely favorite Dancing in Silks was last seen finishing 2nd behind Into Mischief in the Damascus at Oak Tree.
The …read more

Friday night’s Grade 2 Meadowlands Cup Handicap is a $350k race for three-year-olds and up traveling nine furlongs on the main track, and it serves as one of the final prep races for the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 8-horse field is lead by Past the Point.
Past the Point (Indian Charlie-AP Indy) is a vastly improved Darley Stable 4yo, and his trainer Eoin Harty is already loaded for bear in the BC Classic with Goodwood winner Well Armed and Travers hero Colonel John, both owned by WinStar Farm.
Past the Point showed promise as a three-year-old with a solid show finish …read more

The compact four-horse Swaps (G2) at Hollywood Park on Saturday (July 12th) was a tactical race, and Tyler Baze outmaneuvered Martin Pedroza (Two Step Salsa) and Garret Gomez (Colonel John) en route to a great ground saving 1-1/4 length tally aboard Tres Borrachos. He completed the nine furlongs in 1:49.29 and paid a generous $24.00. Madeo trailed throughout.
Two Step Salsa was away in slightly awkward fashion, but Pedroza seized the early lead in short order, while Tyler Baze established inside position and took a snug hold of the eventual winner. Colonel John, last seen finishing 6th of 20 in …read more

A field of six has been assembled for the Grade 2 $350k Swaps, to be run on Saturday, July 12th at Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero Colonel John leads the way.
The talented son of Tiznow has not been seen since a disappointing 6th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), his first start on conventional dirt. He made a nice backstretch move after a slow start and early traffic on the first Saturday in May, but he flattened out while beaten more than 14 lengths in Big Brown’s impressive romp.
His completed his Swaps preparations with a five furlong …read more