Santa Anita: The GI, $1 million Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100-40-20-10) by Brian Nadeau #1 Roadster (5-2): The first of two from Baffert looked good winning his comeback here last month, when he settled just off the early pace in an optional-claimer and drew off late, in what…
Keeneland: The GII, $1 million Blue Grass at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100-40-20-10) #1 Somelikeithotbrown (10-1): Turf/Poly specialist has been a terror for Maker since a no-show debut sprinting in the slop at Saratoga and will now try to take his graded stakes form to real stuff in the hopes of qualifying…
Aqueduct: The GII, $750,000 Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100-40-20-10) by Brian Nadeau #1 Tax (9-2): The 3-year-old version of Rodney Dangerfield has gotten little respect on the Triple Crown Trail this year but has done nothing but impress—and run fast—in his two starts since being claimed by Gargan, which…
As John McConnell walked out to the track at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, March 30, following the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile, he looked almost stunned. Grabbing the shank from exercise rider Nick Bush, he walked homebred Prince Lucky in a circle, then headed towards the winner’s circle, where his father Daniel was waiting. McConnell fils shouldn’t…
Gulfstream Park: The GI, $1 million Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100-40-20-10) #1 Hidden Scroll (5-2): The most polarizing horse in training seems to have as many lovers as he does non-believers after he flew on the lead when he tried two turns in the local GII Fountain of Youth…
Sunland Park: The GIII $800,000 Sunland Park Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 Mucho Gusto (8-5): Deserving heavy favorite will take all the beating for Baffert off a dominant win in the sloppy GIII Robert Lewis in early February at Santa Anita, while showing a newfound rating…
Fair Grounds: The GII, $1 million Louisiana Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100-40-20-10) by Brian Nadeau #1 Roiland (12-1): Deep, deep closer passed some stragglers late in both the local GIII Lecomte and GII Risen Star, when he was third behind today’s heavy favorite War of Will, and is one of…
Oaklawn Park: The $750,000,000 GII Rebel (Division 2) at 1 1/16 (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: (37.5-15-7.5-4) #1 Market King (30-1): Lukas speedster figures to take these as far as he can on the engine, as he stretches out off a close third in a local 6F optional-claimer, and a race removed from pressing and holding…
Oaklawn Park: The $750,000,000 GII Rebel (Division 1) at 1 1/16 (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: (37.5-15-7.5-4) by Brian Nadeau #1 Extra Hope (6-1): The first of four Santa Anita invaders impressed in his seasonal debut, when he pressed a hot pace in an optional-claimer over a sloppy track and kicked clear late, in what was…
Turfway Park: The $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 20-8-4-2) A deep field for the is on tap for the Ruby, which will take place over the Polytrack at Turfway and give the winner 20 Derby qualifying points, which could put him potentially close to the bubble, come entry…
Brooklyn Backstretch 