Saturday’s $300k Rebel Stakes is the final local prep for the Arkansas Derby. The 8.5 furlong graded event has drawn a field of 9, and Old Fashioned is the 7-5 morning line choice.

The aforementioned Larry Jones (shown w/Wayne Lukas) trained fav is undefeated in four lifetime starts, and the $800k son of Unbridled’s Song owns fine early/pressing speed. I am not sure how much farther Old Fashioned wants to run, but he is effective at this distance and could easily make it five straight.
Wise Kid owns a strong pedigree (Lemon Drop Kid-Seeking The Gold), and he has won two …read more

The $200k San Felipe is the final major local prep for the Santa Anita Derby (April 4th), and the lone stakes winner (Pioneerof The Nile) looms a standout in the field of seven.

Pioneerof The Nile has won his last two graded synthetic routes at this distance (8.5f) since moving to the Bob Baffert barn, and today’s pilot Garrett Gomez is 2-2 with him. The son of Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker does not have to win this as he has more than enough graded earnings to make it into the Derby starting gate, but the class of the field …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

Aqueduct’s $250k Gotham Stakes is an important two turn graded test for Derby hopefuls, and the final local prep for the $750k Wood Memorial (G1) at nine furlongs on April 4th.

Masala was clearly 2nd best behind stablemate Take the Points at the Gulf last time, and that one came back to finish a fine 2nd behind The Pamplemousse in the Sham Stakes (G3) last weekend. Todd Pletcher is 23% 2nd off a layoff, and his strong late pace fig last time bodes well for his route chances.
Imperial Council is a $130k Keeneland sales grad with the best pedigree …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

A field of nine will go to post in Saturday’s Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita, an early season prep for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April.

Bittel Road (Stormy Atlantic) was stuck out in post 10 in the CashCall Futurity, and he was hardly disgraced in 4th place finish. He owns valuable stakes experience and owns running style vesatility for Johnny V/Pletcher. He appears capable of reversing decisions on his CashCall rivals.

Pioneerof The Nile (Empire Maker) won the CashCall from off the pace, and he is reportedly working great for this. Baffert will have him fully …read more

Before I take a look at Super Bowl Sunday’s graded races, let’s review the big events run this week at the Gulf.

Thursday (1-29-09):
Old Hat (G3) runner-up Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality-Xtra Heat) won a 6f allowance race as Alan Garcia pleased and stopped the clock in a rapid 1:08.94. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee is definitely headed back to the stakes ranks, and I would not want to tussle with the fleet miss around one turn.
Friday (1-30-09):
Old Hat (G3) show finisher Frolic’s Dream (Smoke Glacken) rebounded to nab the seven panel Forward Gal (G2) by 2.5 easy lengths. …read more