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…
Tampa Bay Downs: The $400,000 GII Tampa Bay Derby at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 Admire (12-1): Lightly-raced runner from Romans has logged some frequent flier miles this winter, as he’s been training in Florida, made his stakes debut when a decent fifth in Aqueduct’s GIII Withers last…
Aqueduct: The $300,000 GIII Gotham at 1-mile (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 Family Biz (30-1): Ginormous longshot ran in place when fourth in the local Jimmy Winkfield last month going 7 furlongs, though his best lifetime run was a course and distance third in the Jerome on New Year’s Day, so…
Gulfstream Park: The $400,000 GII Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 Code of Honor (6-1): Well-regarded son of Noble Mission has some Jekyll and Hyde in him, as he made a lot of friends when second in the GI Champagne at Belmont Park in October,…
Oaklawn Park: The $500,000 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) Oaklawn’s path to the Arkansas Derby begins with the pricey Southwest, which figures to be a key launching pad to the local GII Rebel next month. A potentially aggressive pace should aid the chances of California invader #7 SUENO (7-2), a…
Golden Gate Fields: The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau With synthetic racing falling out of favor over the past several years, Northern California’s top Kentucky Derby prep hasn’t been much of a feeding ground to Louisville, though there are still 17 points up…
Fair Grounds: The GII, $400,000 Risen Star at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 Plus Que Parfait (10-1): The first of six who exit last month’s local prep, the GIII Lecomte, was a middling fifth in his 3-year-old debut for Walsh, after a 2-year-old campaign that ended with a…
Tampa Bay Downs: The Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau A cast of relative unknowns tries to prove their worth at Tampa, with the local Tampa Bay Derby, as well as the Florida Derby, likely to attract those who run well. Stepping up…
Santa Anita: The $150,000 Robert Lewis at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau A short field kicks off the path to the Santa Anita Derby and it’s favored #5 MUCHO GUSTO (8-5) who looks tough to beat for Baffert off a clear second to stablemate Improbable in the GI Los…
Brooklyn Backstretch 