Tagg pair readying for Derby

Barclay Tagg tasted Derby success in 2003 with Funny Cide, and he has two gents pointing for the Derby this year.

Tale of Ekati, currently third on the graded earnings list, is the more formidable of his two charges. The son of Tale of the Cat enjoyed a productive juvenile campaign, and he returned in the Louisiana Derby, a tough spot for his seasonal bow. He never got going in a disappointing effort, but better days were just around the corner.

Next up was the Wood Memorial, and he tracked a fast pace carved out by recently injured two-year-old champ War Pass, and he slowly wore down the speed in a solid effort.

He proved he could track a fast pace and win, but it took more than forty seconds to finish the nine furlong contest, and that does not bode well for his ten furlong chances. He could easily continue to advance, but he would need to improve his stamina significantly to hold off more than one talented off the pace runner. He breezed a solid five furlongs in 1:00-1/5 at Keeneland on April 23rd.

Big Truck is in the same boat as Pyro, as he attempts to rebound from a below par Blue Grass effort. Son of Hook and Ladder breezed four furlongs in forty-nine seconds at Keeneland on April 22nd. Again, it is hard to dismiss a poor final prep when so many quality horses are coming to the Derby in sharp condition.