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

Ten 3yo’s will line up for Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G2), and the million dollar pot is a serious bit of change for those still hoping to quality for the Kentucky Derby.

Old Fashioned does not have graded earnings issues, but he suffered his first career loss in the Rebel, and his stamina has looked suspect in both of his ‘09 outings.
The Larry Jones trainee needs to ration his speed if he expects to be a Derby player, and new pilot Terry Thompson will try to get him to relax this time around.
Win Willy shocked the world in …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

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

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

Tuesday (2-24-09) Fair Grounds recap
Edge to early/pressing types on the main. Turf course played fair.
Robby Albarado, Shaun Bridgmohan, and Jamie Theriot each booted home a pair.
Overbid (Eric Guillot) looked good in a clearly best flat mile entry level tally (race 8). The SoCal synthetic specialist may have found his niche routing on dirt.
Selva (Albarado/David Carroll) turned back a challenge from On The Menu (Larry Jones) en route to a sharp wire job tally in the 65th running of the Mardi Gras Stakes. 3-time stakes winner dashed 5.5f on the turf in 1:04.63.
Friday (2-27-09) Fair Grounds …read more

Friday (2-20-09) Fair Grounds recap
No wire jobs on the main. Stalkers and closers fared best on the turf.
Hat trick for Brian Hernandez Jr. John Jacinto booted home a pair. Sam Breaux saddled two winners on the card.
Sharp stalk and pounce optional claiming turf win under Robby Albarado for returnee Costa Rising (race 5). The Louisiana-bred performer is likely headed back to the stakes ranks if able to remain healthy. Hope I get to see him at LaD this summer.
Turf marathon specialist Transduction Gold has been competitive from Kentucky to SoCal, and he returned in the pink …read more