For the Derby, I posted a few Top 5 Longshot blogs, and Musket Man ended up a decent 3rd from my list.
With the Preakness coming up on Saturday, I will mention a trio of price horses worth following, starting with General Quarters.
I did not like General Quarters at Churchill, but he figures to offer more value this time around.

The Tom McCarthy runner ended up 10th in the Derby, and he has been an enigmatic sort in his last four outings. Two-time graded winner is on a good race/bad race pattern, and if that holds up, …read more

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

Before we revisit the longshot list, let’s look at today’s Derby news. A field of 20 was drawn for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, but Win Willy was not among them. His ankle injury allowed Nick Zito to sneak into the field with Nowhere To Hide.
I started my Derby longshot list on April 11th, and 4 of my 5 originals picks made the field. Not bad considering all of the defections the past few weeks. Patena did not make it, and wouldn’t it figure that I had him in the Derby future pool…oops! Hopefully he will return …read more

Patena disappointed in the Blue Grass Stakes, so he will regroup and is out of the Derby chase. With Patena out, the updated longshot list includes a newbie at #3…
#5 – Flying Private finished an even 5th in the Arkansas Derby. The Lane’s End runner-up sits 20th on the graded earnings list with $124,000, and with the Lexington Stakes to be run this Saturday, he is not a lock to make the Derby…yet. The Wayne Lukas trainee owns a strong pedigree but needs to show more if he expects to make a dent on the first …read more

#5 – Patena has been on my radar screen since fine place finish in Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds in January. Dutrow/IEAH grabbed him shortly after that effort, but his subsequent Louisiana Derby effort was disappointing to say the least. He might not have cared for the off footing last time, so I will draw a line though that non-effort. He gets one more shot at Derby participation in Saturday’s Blue Grass (G1), and nothing less than an exacta finish will do, as he only has $20k in graded earnings at this stage. He owns strong breeding and could …read more

I Want Revenge lived up to top billing with a visually impressive Wood Memorial tally at the Big A on April 4th.
The Jeff Mullins trainee overcame a bad start and traffic woes to win handily, and he heads to Kentucky with plenty of momentum. West Side Bernie rebounded from a below par Lane’s End effort to land the place, but the winner was much the best.
Confident young rider Joe Talamo has plenty to feel good about, and Revenge will likely vie for Derby favoritism with Quality Road.
On the other side of the country, Pioneerof The Nile got the …read more

Tampa Bay Derby winner Musket Man takes on ten rivals in Saturday’s Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne Race Course. Eibar Coa hops aboard the versatile 7-2 morning line fav. He has won 3 of 4 and figures right there if able to handle a surface other than Tampa.
Giant Oak (9-2) is late running trouble-prone sort, and he is due for clear sailing and racing luck. The Chris Block runner needs pace help, and the speedy Perfect Song (6-1) figures to ensure honest splits.

Nowhere To Hide (5-1) will start from the rail for Nick Zito, and he was …read more

Saturday’s $300k Tampa Bay Derby has drawn an interesting field of 11, and note that there have only been two wire jobs in 61 races conducted at 8.5f. Stalk and pounce types perform best, and I will look for value contenders with the right running style.
Musket Man won his 1st three sprint starts and was hardly disgraced in Sam Davis show finish (post 9) at this distance here last time. He projects a ground saving stalking trip at playable odds. He sports a pair of local bullets for this, and note that he defeated Sam Davis winner General Quarters …read more