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 Mafaaz has been turned over to fine conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin, and a decision on his Derby desires should be coming soon.

Julian Leparoux has been named to ride Blue Grass winner General Quarters in the Kentucky Derby. Eibar Coa will remain with Illinois Derby hero Musket Man.

A full field of 12 will line up in the $300k Lexington (G2) at Keeneland on Saturday, and BC Juvenile runner-up Square Eddie is the marquee name. The Doug O’Neill runner has not been seen since January and is worth trying to beat at underlaid odds. I will analyze the Derby prep later this week.

Image: Newscom

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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.

Photo Credit: Newscom

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 Boy was a distant 2nd behind Curlin in this event last year, and he exits a sharp win in the local prep for this.

Well Armed owns dangerous speed and was 3rd, a neck behind Asiatic Boy in the ‘08 running.

My Indy is Godolphin’s hope. He has won his last two here but has never raced this far and could get hung out to dry tracking the pace.

Arson Squad is a late runner with the ability to land a share.

Anak Nakal does not have the speed to threaten these, but he can plug along for a minor award.

Happy Boy landed the place behind Asiatic Boy and My Indy in last pair here. He has the tactical speed  to make an impact.

Muhannak won the BC Marathon last year, but he has disappointed in two starts since.

Snaafy is 3-3 here but seems best up to a mile.

Gloria de Campeao was 8th in this event last year.

Joe Louis and Muller seem best at twelve furlongs, and Paris Perfect is seemingly better on turf.

Top 3 selections: (1) Casino Drive , (2) Albertus Maximus, (3) Asiatic Boy

Longshot to watch: Happy Boy

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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 (Empire Maker-Thunder Gulch) in the field. The promising Shug McGaughey runner has won two straight since losing his debut by a neck at the Spa last summer. He is bred to improve with distance/experience, and he needs graded earnings and a route foundation if he hopes to make it to the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. His most recent allowance victory at Gulfstream Park is featured below…

Mr. Fantasy earned triple digit speed ratings in both romping local tallies, and he’s the one to catch for the always dangerous Alan Garcia/Kiaran McLaughlin team. He’s one of two quality New York breds in the lineup.

I Want Revenge flees the West Coast synthetic surfaces, which is a good idea considering the Kentucky Derby is run on conventional dirt. I’ll give him one on the main, and if nothing else we may get a gauge on top SoCal prospect Pioneerof The Nile (pictured).

Naos graduated at the Big A late last year under today’s pilot Mike Luzzi, and he found trouble in his stakes bow in January. He got back on the beam in a triple digit speed rating entry level win at Philly last time, and the Pletcher trainee will try to make his presence felt in the lane at big odds.

Haynesfield is 3-3 over the local inner dirt for Steve Asmussen. He got away with soft splits in most recent wire job, but he showed on Jan 3rd that he is not a need to lead type. Still, the waters get deeper today for the NY bred.

Russell Road finished 2nd in his career bow at Charles Town, then reeled off six straight, including sharp win versus open company at Laurel Park on Jan 31st. Talented West Virginia bred gelding gets a class and distance test today.

Axel Foley is in the same synthetic boat as I Want Revenge, and he owns a sprint oriented pedigree. A win in this spot would be a surprise. Kiaran McLaughlin takes over the training duties.

Giant Ryan rounds out the field, and the overmatched NY bred looms a pace factor at the most.

Top 3 selections: (1) Masala , (2) Imperial Council , (3) Mr. Fantasy

Longshot to Watch: Naos (20-1)

Photo Credit: newscom.com

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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. Renda was ten clear of the show. Old Hat winner Gemswick Park ended up a disappointing 5th.

Capt. Candyman Can (Candy Ride) got off to a great start on the road to the Kentucky Derby with a handy victory in the seven furlong Hutcheson (G2). Hello Broadway, a half brother to Grade 1 winner Nobiz Like Showbiz was clearly 2nd best, and the top two may renew their budding rivalry in the Feb 28th Fountain of Youth (G2). Enigmatic graded winner Break Water Edison finished last.

Saturday (1-31-09):

Saratoga Sinner (Harlan’s Holiday) and Bear’s Rocket made all the running in the 9f Holy Bull (G3). West Side Bernie (3rd) and Beethoven (4th) were highly regarded runners returning from layoffs and breaking from bad outside posts. Both ran okay and can move up next time, but I was not impressed with this early Derby prep. I thought the Hutcheson was the better local 3yo race run this week. Danger To Society (7th) went to post as the fav and never looked comfortable.

Albertus Maximus wins the 2008 BC Dirt Mile!

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero Albertus Maximus is Dubai World Cup bound after a game victory over stubborn pacesetter Finallymadeit in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap. Einstein finished an even 3rd and was followed by 2-1 fav Arson Squad.

Barbaro’s little bro Nicanor had a troubled start and made a middle move before weakening to 10th in his career bow. Don’t know how good he’ll be, but his trainer (Michael Matz) had poor stats with first timers, and he should move up next time. He reportedly grabbed a quarter after stumbling at the start. He may end up on the turf at some point.

Sunday (2-1-09):

The 9th and feature race is the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) at nine furlongs on the turf, and Red Rocks is the 3-1 fav. I have always liked the former BC Turf (G1) winner, but this sports the look of a prep for longer events down the road.

The expected tepid pace may allow flat mile specialist Kip Deville to hang around longer than expected. He dons the hood and might get brave if able to sneak away early.

Court Vision continues to improve on the turf for Bill Mott, and I am expecting the 4yo to make a big late run under profitable 23% turf rider Ramon Dominguez.

Speaking of Mott, he has Mushka (Empire Maker) training well for the Grade 3 Suwannee River (race 7), and she should offer value at 8-1 on the line.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

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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 she has the speed and raw talent to run these into the ground.

The 5th race will be run at a flat mile on the turf, and I like the looks of Kent D/McPeek runner La Mousse (4-1). The daughter of Vision And Verse broke her maiden impressively at this distance, then fell less than a length short at nine furlongs in her first start versus winners. The stalking type is back at her winning distance and could easily run past these. Note that this jockey/trainer combo hooked up to win yesterday’s grassy 5th race with National Kid.

La Mousse maiden win – Churchill replay

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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 will make his presence felt throughout at low odds. He earned triple digit speed ratings in his three wins, and anything approaching that plateau will make him one tough customer. Alan Garcia has a return call.

That’srightofficer is a New York bred with an improving speed rating pattern. He has landed the place in three straight at this distance and could surprise today’s open company under regular pilot Edgar Prado.

Premium Gold is an enigmatic sort. It took him six tries to graduate, and he did it in style at Monmouth. He was dusted in his first start versus winners at the Spa, then came back to roll at that same venue in his next outing. A layoff followed, and he finished 5th in his Pegasus (G3) return. Well bred $400k purchase is versatile and earned a triple digit speed rating in an optional claiming win at this distance.

Big Truck has lost five straight since his upset win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Barclay Tagg is 22% with horses moving from turf to dirt, and Eibar Coa has options with the versatile sort.

Ready Set has been productive in a few similar graded events, including a win in the West Virginia Derby (G3) and a nose defeat in the Pegasus (G3) last time. $800k Keeneland sales grad will be finishing.

Web Gem is 0-10 this year and will almost certainly be overbet for Nick Zito at 9-2 on the line. Well bred $170k Keeneland sales grad is best used underneath if at all. Note that his lone win in 15 outings did occur here.

Wishful Tomcat has won two straight on the grass and four of his last five. Dominguez rides the speedster well, be he could be compromised early and often by the fleet Lieutenant Ron.

Coach Shaw rounds out the field at 20-1, and the consistent late runner is riding a six-race trifecta streak. He reunites with Eddie Castro, who booted him home in August, and the Mark Hennig trainee appears capable of rallying for a minor share.

Photo Credit: Newscom

Below is a YouTube replay of Lieutenant Ron breezing.

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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. He was last seen grinding out a win over Zito speedster Coal Play in the Haskell (G1).

Now, Big Brown returns to the turf in his final BC Classic prep, and he has not looked brilliant since the spring. Richard Dutrow and company maintain that the son of Boundary is better on turf, but that remains to be seen.

The media hype horse faces older for the first time and meets quality foes as well, including recent Grade 2 Baruch repeater Shakis (7-2).

The Kiaran McLaughlin runner got back on the beam in latest Saratoga score, and he is now 3 for 4 in nine furlong grass races since arriving in the US last year. Late striding 8yo horse is Big Brown’s equal on speed ratings. Joe Bravo hops aboard, and he is 3-6 with this barn at Monmouth.

Proudinsky is worth a look at 4-1. Robert Frankel trainee was troubled, close-up 6th in same race Shakis exits, and he was the fav that day. He may have needed the outing, and he is a 2-time graded winner at this distance.

Silver Tree (6-1) has been part of the exacta in 24 of 39 grass races and exits a local graded turf tally. 8yo horse is cross entered at Philly Park, along with Ballonenostrikes (20-1) and Drum Major (8-1).

Hotstufanthensome (12-1) is the horse for course with 11 exacta finishes in 14 local grass starts.

Kiss The Kid (10-1) owns early/pressing speed and is graded stakes placed on turf and dirt.

Get Serious (15-1) has won two straight allowance/optional claiming races on the turf and looms a pace player, along with Fagetaboutit Sal (30-1).

Nightscape (30-1), eligible for an entry level spot, rounds out the field.

Shakis looks like the one to beat on paper, and Proudinsky might be the value play. Big Brown projects the first run trip, and we will see if he has enough to hold off the aforementioned proven turf warriors.

Below is a replay of the 2008 Bernard Baruch featuring Shakis and Proudinsky, courtesy of YouTube.

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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 Kiaran McLaughlin trainee stopped the clock in 1:36-4/5 while remaining perfect in one-turn mile events. He picked up a cool $360k for his efforts and rewarded his backers with $6.50.

Lord Snowdon rallied from last to pick up the show, 3-1/4 lengths better than fellow closer Council Member.

Photo Credit: Newscom

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