Pioneerof The Nile uncorked a strong 4f bullet in :46.62 at Santa Anita on April 15th. The Bob Baffert runner is an enigma for most handicappers as he continues to win on synthetic without earning flashy figs.

He has been flattered by his vanquished foes, including I Want Revenge and Papa Clem. I have always liked the son of Empire Maker and consider him a viable Derby threat. Note that his regular pilot Garrett Gomez also rides Dunkirk, and it will be interesting to see which colt he selects…stay tuned!
In other Derby news, Kentucky Challenge winner …read more

The world’s richest race will be run at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday, and the $6 million Dubai World Cup has attracted a wide open international cast.
Casino Drive appears poised for glory in this spot. I fancied the Japanese colt when he came to the US last year, and he has come into his own in ‘09 after an ambitious 3yo campaign. He owns fine positional speed and should enjoy this distance.
Albertus Maximus was my top in BC Dirt Mile and Donn, and he is thriving for Kiaran McLaughlin. He gets a distance test today.
Asiatic …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

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

Gulfstream Park is off to a flying start after fans flocked to the racing venue for Saturday’s strong opening day card.
Delightful Kiss stormed from 14th and last for a going away tally in the 19th running of the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope.
Johnny V booted home a pair, and Wesley Ward saddled two winners on the card, including romping Spectacular Bid winner Notonthesamepage.
Sunday’s feature race is the Grade 3 Old Hat for three-year-old filly sprinters, and all eyes are on Kiaran McLaughlin’s impressive debut winner Elusive Heat. $750k purchase is out of fleet mare Xtra Heat, and …read more

The promising Lieutenant Ron landed the outside post and has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s nine furlong $100k Grade 3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct Race Track in New York.
The Kiaran McLaughlin three-year-old has won three of his four sprint starts by a combined 20+ lengths, with his lone loss a show finish at six furlongs following a troubled start off a layoff. The West Point Thoroughbreds ridgling son of Graeme Hall makes his graded stakes bow while trying a route of ground for the first time. He is 2-2 at the Big A and …read more

Big Brown is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the $500k Monmouth Stakes (race 9), a nine furlong grass event for three-year-olds and up to be run on Saturday (9-13-08).
Big Brown is 6-7 lifetime, with his Belmont Stakes disaster his notable blemish. He began his career with a romping turf route wire job last September, then returned in March and rolled in an originally scheduled for the turf flat mile entry level race at the Gulf.
He proceeded to take the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness before his ill-fated Triple Crown attempt at Big Sandy. …read more

Heavy favorite Commentator ran his race in Monday’s Grade 1 Met Mile at Belmont Park, but Robert Frankel’s First Defence softened him up, which enabled Divine Park to run on by in the final yards.
Commentator broke on top and set fractions of 22-2/5, 44-2/5, and 1:09-3/5, but First Defence never let him have a breather. The former was 2nd best this day, and the latter weakened to 5th. First Defence runs well fresh and can come back strong if given a breather.
Divine Park was content to race in 6th before commencing his winning rally two furlongs out. The …read more