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 the locals looking like a bit of a mixed bag, it’s no surprise to see #1 PAVED as the favorite, and judging by that romp at today’s distance on the turf at Santa Anita in fast…
Fair Grounds: The Grade II, $400,000 Risen Star at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 50-20-10-5) by Brian Nadeau #1 High North (15-1): Versatile son of Midnight Lute makes his 3-year-old debut for a potent Cox barn that’s having a banner meet and will look to pull off a surprise with a colt who…
Happy 10th anniversary to the Brooklyn Backstretch Charity League. It’s taken several forms over the year, inspired by the Saratoga Special Derby fantasy league, run by Brian Nadeau, way back in the days of yore. Last year we raised just under $1,900 for racing charities across the country, donated by our top three finishers with the…
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 #1 Navy Armed Guard (15-1): The lone maiden has actually run about as fast as anyone but the chalk in his last two on the dirt, which includes a neck loss when second…
Santa Anita: The Grade III, $150,000 Robert Lewis at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) #1 Ayacara (GB) (8-1): Son of Violence goes for the Desormeaux brothers and makes his first start on the dirt since a distant fourth behind Bold d’Oro’s freakish effort in the track and distance GI FrontRunner in October,…
Gulfstream Park: The Grade II, $350,000 Holy Bull at 1 1/16 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau #1 Enticed (3-1): The chalk was an all-out winner over fellow rival Tiz Mischief when last seen in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club at this trip in November at Churchill Downs, which immediately vaulted him…
Aqueduct: The Grade III, $250,000 Withers at 1 1/8 miles (Kentucky Derby qualifying points 10-4-2-1) by Brian Nadeau #1 Firenze Fire (9-5): By far the most accomplished member of the field was all-out to get up to win the local Jerome in the mud in what was his first start since he didn’t fire while…
by Brian Nadeau Oaklawn Park: The $150,000 Smarty Jones at 1-mile (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 10-4-2-1) Bob Baffert may have a wing in the Oaklawn Hall of Fame one day, as he’s shipped in countless 3-year-olds over the years to take home the hardware in their lucrative sophomore series, and this year looks no different…
Aqueduct: The $150,000 Jerome at 1-mile (Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 10-4-2-1) The Jerome may have come up light, but it does mark the return of GI Champagne winner #7 FIRENZE FIRE (3-5), who didn’t fire in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but has found a very soft group for his 3yo debut for Servis, and the son…
So pleased that handicapper Brian Nadeau has signed on for another year of previewing Derby preps and Triple Crown races. A veteran of the Saratoga Special, he handicaps regularly for Capital OTB TV in upstate New York and Horseplayer Now, and you’ll find him here on Twitter. Welcome back to the Derby trail, and stay tuned…
Brooklyn Backstretch 