Regal Ransom lived up to his top billing with an easy wire job tally in the 30th running of the Grade 2 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on September 19th.
Under a heady ride by Richard Migliore, the Godolphin runner strolled through fractions of :24.05, :49.03, and 1:13.11. He got a mile in 1:36.95 and had plenty left in reserve to hold off the hard charging Blame in 1:49.63. The race was won between the quarter and the half when he was able to get away with two hidden furlongs in almost 25 seconds. Good horses …read more

Papa Clem was out for some light exercise at Pimlico on Tuesday morning. The Gary Stute trainee went five furlongs in 1:05.23. He finished a better than expected 4th in the Kentucky Derby, but I have never been a big fan of the Arkansas Derby winner, and he will not be among my top players in the Preakness .

Friesan Fire had to work well to be considered for the Preakness, and the Larry Jones runner did not disappoint with a swift :58.40 move. He was a bit banged up in an adventurous Derby run and needed …read more

Probable Derby fav I Want Revenge worked 4f in :50 seconds at Churchill on April 14th. The Mullins trainee took it easy over the muddy surface. Regular rider Joe Talamo was aboard for the move. Expect a more serious five furlong drill next week.
The Dubai duo of Regal Ransom and Desert Party are supposed to work over the Churchill surface on April 18th.
Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem arrived in Louisville on Tuesday. Pioneerof The Nile and Chocolate Candy are expected to arrive at Churchill on April 16th.

Over at Keeneland, Friesan Fire drilled five panels …read more

Friesan Fire (104 BSF) was the star of the week with a powerful stalk and pounce win in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He swept the graded 3yo schedule at Fair Grounds.
The son of A. P. Indy, trained by Larry Jones, will either contest the Blue Grass Stakes (April 11th) or train (at Keeneland) up to the Kentucky Derby.
Friesan Fire owns the right running style and pedigree to succeed on the 1st Saturday in May, but is he a Fair Grounds specialist, and did he peak too soon? He’s been kept in steady training, so I cannot blame his connections for …read more

Saturday (3-14-09) Fair Grounds recap

Sloppy track and yielding turf. Talented 3yo miss Rachel Alexandra was the only wire job winner on the day.
Four bagger for Robby Albarado. Hat trick for trainer Steve Asmussen, and Shaun Bridgmohan rode two. Jamie Theriot booted home a pair.
Everyone is buzzing about Friesan Fire’s romping win in the Louisiana Derby (G2), but it should be noted that filly Rachel Alexandra ran just as fast in her FG Oaks (G2) wire job, and she earned stronger pace figs.
Other highlights included Proudinsky’s repeat win in the grassy Mervyn Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (G2), …read more

There are no less than four Saturday Derby preps on tap, and each day this week I will preview one, starting with the Louisiana Derby.

I liked Patena in the Lecomte, and he ran on nicely to land the place in his initial try over conventional dirt. My Derby future (pool 1) play was subsequently purchased by IEAH and is now trained by Rick Dutrow, the same connections that brought us Big Brown last year. Well bred $250k Keeneland sales grad drilled a bullet at the Gulf on March 9th and figures to fire a big shot off the layoff under …read more

I Want Revenge uncorked a 113 BSF en route to a romping Gotham Stakes (G3) tally (replay below) while trying conventional dirt for the first time. He showed quality on synthetic, and his connections (Mullins/Talamo) were spot-on in saying he would move up on dirt. He will ship back to his Hollywood Park base before returning to the Big A for the Wood Memorial on April 4th.
Imperial Council ran a quality race to grab the place in his first start around two turns. If you like Shug’s well bred colt, don’t give up on him because the …read more

A field of 13 is set to tackle Saturday’s Grade 3 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, the final local prep for the Louisiana Derby (G2).

Indygo Mountain (A. P. Indy) rates a shot to rebound at a price. Bret Calhoun trainee was sensational in his Nov. ‘08 Churchill maiden breaker, then the wheels fell off the cart. Foot issues caused him to be scratched at the gate before a local allowance race in December, and he experienced a troubled beginning when resurfacing in the Lecomte. $600k Keeneland sales grad shows a strong 5f work for this and can right the …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

Saturday (1-10-09) Fair Grounds recap
Both surfaces seemed to play fair. A trio of six furlong wire jobs on the main, and one on the sod (5.5f).
Miguel Mena booted home a pair. Hat trick for Larry Jones, and jockey Terry Thompson rode two.
F.W. Gaudin Memorial: Mutadda (Leparoux-Amoss) rallied to beat my 13-1 top Grand Traverse. PVal-Mott fav Roi Maudit bled and was virtually eased.
Grade 3 Col. E.R. Bradley Hcp: French Beret (Graham-Frostad) nostrilized Golden Yank in a thrilling finish. Wise River was another 1/2 length back in 3rd.
Louisiana Hcp: Good And Lucky (PVal-Josie Carroll) turned the tables …read more