Earlier this week, a few minutes before the draw for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, trainer Jonathan Thomas sat by himself in a corner. He wasn’t consulting a condition book. He wasn’t talking to a client. He wasn’t even looking at his phone. He was just… sitting there. Though the Florida Derby was…
Sunland Park: The Grade II, $800,000 Sunland Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau While this year’s Sunland Derby doesn’t figure to have a lasting impact on the Kentucky Derby, it is an automatic qualifier of sorts, as the winner will be all but guaranteed a spot in the…
Fair Grounds: The $1 million GII Louisiana Derby at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 10-40-20-10) by Brian Nadeau #1 Bravazo (7-2): Streaking Calumet homebred has turned into a different horse this year for Lukas, as he’s 2-for-2 and enters off an upset win last month in the local prep, the GII Risen Star,…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade II, $900,000 Rebel at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5 by Brian Nadeau #1 Title Ready (8-1): Price player is the first of three for Asmussen and really impressed in his 3-year-old debut, when he added blinkers and walloped a N1X crew over the track and distance, while far…
Turfway Park: The $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at 1 1/8 miles (20-8-4-2) by Brian Nadeau While the Polytrack Era has died down in a big way, and the synthetic/turf specialists here probably won’t have a direct impact on this year’s Kentucky Derby, there is an outside chance the winner will qualify with the 20 points…
Santa Anita: The Grade II, $400,000 San Felipe at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) #1 Bolt d’Oro (2-1): The long awaited 3-year-old debut is at hand for this son of Medaglia d’Oro, who was a deserving odds-on favorite when last seen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar in November but…
Aqueduct: The Grade III, $300,000 Gotham at 1-mile (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 Dial Operator (10-1): Exciting newcomer has looked awesome rallying in two wins against tons lesser to kick off his career at Monmouth and Laurel Park, respectively, and now ships up I-95 for the acid test to see where…
Tampa Bay Downs: The Grade II, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5 by Brian Nadeau #1 Arazi Like Move (50-1): Big longshot was a well-beaten seventh behind today’s rival World of Trouble in the local Pasco in January when last seen and picks one heck of a tough…
Gulfstream Park: The Grade II, $400,000 Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5 by Brian Nadeau #1 He Takes Charge (20-1): Experienced runner took five starts to break through but did look good winning over the track and distance last time, and this rail draw is perfect for his stalking…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade III, $500,000 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau #1 My Boy Jack (12-1): California invader was a well-beaten third in Santa Anita’s GIII Sham to Baffert hotshot McKinzie, who is atop several Derby lists at this point, so that run should give him some…
Brooklyn Backstretch 