Hold Me Back returned in style to nab the $500k Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park, and he has thrust himself into the Kentucky Derby picture thanks to his $282,000 graded payday.
He showed quality last year with a pair of Polytrack wins to kick off his career, and he was shelved after a 14-length defeat in the Remsen Stakes last November. Bill Mott is excellent with layoff runners, and he had the son of Giant’s Causeway in prime condition on Saturday.

Last year’s winning Ky Derby rider Kent Desormeaux is now 2-2 with this one, and he is …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

The 29th running of the Grade 2 Super Derby from Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, to be run as race 11 on Saturday, September 20, 2008, has attracted a field of 10.
I was at the post position draw this morning, and owner Bill Boorhem was elated when Star Production landed post 7…just what the doctor ordered.
Here are some Super Derby facts that may come into play in 2008…
*** Halo is the dam sire of My Pal Charlie, and it should be noted that Halo sired two Super Derby winners in the past (Sunny’s Halo and Sunday Silence).
*** Pat Valenzuela …read more

Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown ran his record to seven wins in eight starts with a gritty wire job over older graded foes Proudinsky and Shakis in Saturday’s grassy $500k Monmouth Stakes.
As I stated in my preview blog, I thought that Big Brown would sit the first run stalking trip behind one or two other speedsters, but he was carving out legit fractions and had enough energy to hold off the the aforementioned Grade 2 winners.
Proudinsky loomed a serious threat turning for home and looked as if he would go by Big Brown in midstretch, but the classy …read more

Big Brown’s trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. showed no class throughout the Triple Crown series. Mr. Dutrow guaranteed victory in the Belmont Stakes, and he was hardly shy in his pre-race statements, but shortly after his prized colt ran last in the Test of Champions, the outspoken conditioner was nowhere to be seen.

A battery of tests did not produce a reason for his poor effort, and now Mr. Dutrow has decided to blame jockey Kent Desormeaux.
Mr. Dutrow is wondering why Kent D essentially pulled Big Brown up turning for home, and the trainer is also questioning his antics around …read more