I Want Revenge fired a four furlong bullet (:47.34) on Tuesday, and he deserves to be favored based on Gotham-Wood Memorial wins and morning activity at Churchill. I will most likely have him in my Top 3…but not on top!

Take The Points has been removed from Derby consideration by Todd Pletcher, who already has Dunkirk (Edgar Prado), Join In The Dance (Chris Decarlo), and Advice (Rene Douglas) set to compete. He will wait for the Preakness.

Atomic Rain (Joe Bravo) sneaks into the 20th spot for Kelly Breen, who also has West Side Bernie. The former worked 4f in :47.20 at Monmouth.

Another defection and Nick Zito makes the big dance with Wood Memorial show finisher Just A Coincidence.

Image: Newscom

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Square Eddie had his final Derby work on Sunday. He went an easy four furlongs in :50.51, and reports on him have been positive all along. I thought his much needed Lexington prep was perfect, but I am not thrilled about his chances at ten furlongs versus top company. He wheels back quickly and tries conventional dirt 2nd start back from an injury.

Flying Private reportedly had a good gallop, and I still plan on using the Lukas runner in my exotic wagers. Another fine gallop for The Nile as well.

Mr. Hot Stuff went 5f in a minute and change at Santa Anita. Colonel John’s baby bro still needs a rider, and Eoin Harty is waiting as long as possible in case of a late defection.

Advice works on Monday, and Quality Road will have a critical move that will likely determine his Derby status.

Mine That Bird, Join in the Dance, Take the Points, Chocolate Candy, Pioneerof The Nile, and Friesan Fire will all work Monday.

Flat Out was a longshot to make the Derby based on graded earnings, and an injury on Sunday sealed his fate. He will be out of action for four months.

Image: Newscom

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The Doug O’Neill trainee is coming off a layoff/injury and could be short on conditioning in first start in 91 days.

Omniscient (6-1) looked good in two straight route wins at Fair Grounds for Albarado/Asmussen, and the versatile son of Pulpit sports a local bullet for this.

Brave Victory (8-1) was compromised by race shape/track profile at the Gulf last time. Johnny V hops aboard the Nick Zito runner.

Masala (6-1) adds blinkers for Todd Pletcher. He ran into probable Derby fav I Want Revenge in stakes bow last time, and he meets no such rival today.

Conservative (15-1) has won two straight and is bred to be any kind. He will be finishing at a price.

The Plays:

Omniscient to win

Trifecta box Omniscient, Brave Victory, Masala, Conservative

In Friday’s Kentucky Derby news, Quality Road worked a bullet six furlongs in 1:12.03 at Belmont Park. The Florida Derby hero seems to be over his quarter crack problem and looms a prominent throughout threat on the first Saturday in May.

Regal Ransom , Desert Party, and Musket Man are scheduled to work at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Papa Clem will work seven panels on Sunday.

Flying Private has arrived in Louisville, and the Wayne Lukas runner will work early next week.

Charitable Man will pass on the Derby. The lightly raced Kiaran McLaughlin trainee desperately needed the Blue Grass and could make some noise later this year.

Image: Newscom

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Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride-Seattle Slew) continues his Kentucky Derby march, and he needs a win here to boost his graded earnings. He’s won 3 of his last 4, with his lone loss in that timeframe a fine 3rd to Pioneerof The Nile in the CashCall Futurity (G1). He nabbed the local prep for this and is training forwardly for Jerry Hollendorfer. Russell Baze got to know him last time, and seemingly the longer the better for this promising, well-bred sort. Below is a replay of his Real Quiet Stakes victory at Hollywood Park (11-8-08).

Rendezvous (Victory Gallop) has won three straight, including last pair here for new trainer Hollendorfer. He’s an exacta threat at a price.

Axel Foley (Officer) ran an improve race to land the place in the Cal Derby here last out, and he adds blinkers in hopes of turning the tables on formidable fav Chocolate Candy. With Square Eddie suffering from shin problems, this colt may be Doug O’Neill’s best chance at making the Kentucky Derby. Note that he owns a sprint oriented pedigree, so nine furlongs could be pushing the envelope.

Massone (Menifee) is a consistent SoCal invader for veteran trainer Ron McAnally. He finished a solid 2nd in first start versus winners at Santa Anita, but note that winner Shafted came back to disappoint in Robert Lewis Stakes (G2).

A Quick Sting (Score Quick) will carve out the splits from the rail, and Mel Stute’s 1-17 colt can hang on for a minor award.

Completing the six pack is Raising Memo (Grey Memo), who always runs his race. He handles the local synthetic footing and owns positional speed, but he steps up from the claiming ranks and seems up against it.

Top 3 selections: (1) Chocolate Candy, (2) Rendezvous, (3) Axel Foley

Photo Credit: newscom.com

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Square Eddie made an immediate impact when sent to the US in the fall of 2008, as he rolled to a sharp win over Keeneland’s Polytrack in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity.

The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was next on his dance card, and he ran a big race to land the place behind likely 2yo champ Midshipman.

The son of Smart Strike ran six times last year, so he has plenty of foundation heading into his 3yo season. I do not expect him to be fully cranked for the San Rafael, but he is capable of winning nonetheless. The Doug O’Neill charge will be ridden by regular pilot Rafael Bejarano.

2008 Breeders Cup Juvenile replay featuring SQUARE EDDIE

Charlie’s Moment (Indian Charlie) should offer value at 10-1 on the line. He won a stakes event at Fairplex and has valuable route/stakes experience.

Brother Keith (Johar) is the wild card for Robert Frankel. He looked good in his debut sprint win at Churchill in November. He tries a route of synthetic ground in his stakes debut off a layoff, and the $150k Keeneland sales grad is one to keep an eye on.

The Pamplemousse drew the rail and is on the improve for the red hot Julio Canani. He has shown running style versatility, and the recent graduate gets tested for class in this graded event.

Fiddlers Afleet fired in all seven of his New York starts. Versatile sort has never tried synthetic ground and is best used underneath if at all.

Ryehill Dancer ships in from Ireland and makes his first start since August for new trainer John Shirreffs. He placed in a group two and has some turf talent, but he has never tried a route or tested synthetic.

Papa Clem (Smart Strike) controlled the pace in local maiden win versus Mayor Marv, who is favored to graduate in today’s 3rd race. He reunites with Tyler Baze and looms a pace factor at the very least.

Feisty Suances rounds out the field. He is fast and will take them as far as he can. The gritty Cal-bred is probably not good enough to win but could hang on for a share. Note that he is cross entered in the $100k California Derby at Golden Gate, and he would meet Jerry Hollendorfer’s talented stretch runner Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride) and BC Juvenile 7th place finisher Gallant Son.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

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CALIFORNIA:

Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) scorched five furlongs in :57-3/5 on Jan 11th. Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby hopeful is expected to contest the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) on Feb 7th.

Fleet filly Indyanne was unable to recover from a sesamoid injury which occurred in the La Brea on Dec 27th. It was hoped that she would be saved for broodmare duties, but she had to be put down on Jan 13th.

Carla Gaines trainee Point Encounter (Point Given), an impressive opening day debut winner at Santa Anita, suffered a soft tissue injury and is off the Kentucky Derby trail.

San Pasqual Hcp (G2) hero Cowboy Cal is expected to go next in the Feb 7th Strub.

Malibu (G1) winner Bob Black Jack is out until summer following an unspecified injury.

Square Eddie is expected to take on Robert Frankel’s impressive maiden winner Brother Keith in Saturday’s flat mile San Rafael, an early season Kentucky Derby prep.

Square Eddie works at Santa Anita

FLORIDA:

BC Classic participant Go Between (Bill Mott) died of heart failure following a workout on Jan. 13th. The late son of Point Given was always one of my fav horses and will be missed.

LOUISIANA:

Fair Grounds racing resumes on Thursday (1-15-09), so check back tomorrow for my daily news and notes from that venue.

Photo Credit: newscom.com

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A pair of Polytrack wire jobs on Saturday, with stalking types taking the bulk of the other synthetic races carded. Nothing wrong with outer lanes. Two of the three turf races were taken in wire-to-wire fashion.

Rafael Bejarano rode four winners on Saturday afternoon, including two stakes, and Robby Albarado also booted home a pair of stakes winners. Dale Romans saddled two winners on the card.

Sing Baby Sing stalked the pace and upset the apple cart in the 156th running of the Grade 3 Phoenix. 3-2 fav Talent Search saved the place by a neck over Keeneland specialist Carnacks Choice. The winner completed the 6f synthetic test in 1:08.48.

Chamberlain Bridge pulled off a wire job upset over Smart Enough in the 12th running of the Woodford, a five and one-half furlong turf sprint.

Square Eddie was a razor sharp winner of the Grade 1 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity. The much the best overseas two-year-old went 8.5f in 1:43.04 and paid $20.20. Doug O’Neill is expected to take over the training duties, and he figures to take a crack at the BC Juvenile if all goes according to plan. I have added a replay of this race below, courtesy of YouTube.

Thorn Song was a strong wire-to-wire winner over fast closing 9f specialist Shakis in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. War Monger sat a nice stalking trip and lost 2nd on the line.

Indyanne got back on the winning track with a gritty wire-to-wire head victory over defending champ Wild Gams in the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America. She ran the 6f over Polytrack in 1:08.50, and the Greg Gilchrist trainee might return to her NoCal base to prepare for the BC Filly & Mare Sprint.

SUNDAY PREVIEW

Sunday’s 10-race card features a Pick 6 carryover of $121,430. The feature race is the $500,000 Grade 1 Spinster for fillies and mares traveling nine furlongs on Polytrack.

Multiple graded winner Unbridled Belle, trained by Todd Pletcher, is the 2-1 morning line fav, and note that this will be her first synthetic start.

Godolphin runner Little Belle won the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland and is the 5-1 2nd choice.

Sharp Susan should sit a decent stalking trip for Bill Mott, and Wake Up Maggie, Indescribable, Model, Carriage Trail, Jiboom, Say You Will, and Rosinka have all won on synthetic in the past.

This wide open Sunday feature is my racingonthenet free selection of the day.

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