WRRB: Good Week, or Bad Weak?

The weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby are flying by and now there are just 6 weeks and two days until the most exciting two minutes in sports commences and racing has crowned a new Derby champion. Each and every prep race is crunch time, it’s now or never for those horses who might be on the earnings bubble with less in graded stakes earnings than the majority of their more recognized counterparts. The Florida Derby this Sunday could play a huge role in the way the 20 horse field lineups on the first Saturday in May as a deep field of colts lines up for their chance at history.

Known as the Lanes End Stakes from 2000-2010, Turfway Park’s signature event for three year olds was renamed the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr.3) this year with a purse of $500,000. For the first half mile and slightly beyond it appeared as it race favorite Positive Response might be on his way to his second consecutive stakes win but Decisive Moment dispersed any such thoughts when he moved up to challenge for the lead around the far turn and easily took command. Second choice in the betting, Animal Kingdom, raced in last through the first half before gradually moving up along the inside of horses. As the field approached the homestretch Decisive Moment continued to move strongly on the lead as Animal Kingdom came off the turn, drove to the far outside and gunned for the front runner. Those two put on a thrilling display down the stretch as Animal Kingdom moved quickly up alongside Decisive Moment and appeared as if he would pull away, but Decisive Moment tenaciously rose to the challenge and fought head and head. Animal Kingdom finally broke loose from his determined rival and shook clear for a 2 ¾ length victory.

Decisive Moment was the first horse to arrive at Churchill Downs to contest the Kentucky Derby, taking up residence in barn 41. Animal Kingdom earned $285,000 for his first graded stakes win which should be enough to earn him a spot in the Kentucky Derby. I really liked the way he looked winning the Spirol, determination is something I always prize in a young colt.

The Louisiana Derby took most of the attention this past weekend. With a $1 million jackpot ,of which $600,000 is awarded to the winner, it virtually assured the victor a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. Pants On Fire became the colt to fill that starting position as he held on in the stretch to win the Louisiana Derby Saturday by a neck over fellow long-shot Nehro. Heavy race favorite and Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man lost a shoe early in the race but was still able to get up for third, beaten by just one length. Both Pants On Fire and Mucho Macho Man will be heading to the Derby. Second place finisher Nehro ran a terrific race to almost get up for the win after switching leads very late in the homestretch and darting through on the rail.

[caption id="attachment_1271" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Daisy Devine - Hodges Photography/Alexander Barkoff"][/caption]

Plum Pretty, Summer Soiree and Daisy Devine, they sound like a cheesy singing group of southern belles but in reality they comprise a trio of talented fillies that all won major stakes race en route to the Kentucky Oaks. Plum Pretty demolished the Sunland Park Oaks field for fun on Sunday, winning by 25 lengths and making Bob Baffert wish he had instead run her in the Sunland Derby against the colts. She earned a 99 Beyer for her effortless victory.

Summer Soiree wasn’t far behind with her 10 ¾ romp in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks at Oaklawn Park, earning herself a career best 91 Beyer. She has won her last two race by more than 20 combined lengths and is undefeated in two starts this year.

Daisy Devine won the Fair Grounds Oaks by half a length over St. John’s River with Niji’s Grand Girl 1 ¾ lengths back in third and Inglorious in fourth. The Kafwain filly sat just off the pace set by Grandacious before taking the lead coming off the turn and held sway all down the homestretch, just holding off the furious closing rush of St. John’s River. Inglorious disappointed after finishing a strong second to Kathmanblu in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, finishing fourth while seeming to have trouble finding her best stride until very late in the race.

Rocket Man ran his foes off their feet in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-1) when he won the premier sprint race by 2 ¼ lengths. Rating in second for the majority of the 6 furlong race behind Euroears, Rocket Man had to fight hard down the stretch to gain the lead from his stubborn rival, finally taking the lead with vigorous urging and drawing off for the win as the heavy favorite. His running style is very interesting for a sprinter. He doesn’t sprint for the wire when he gets clear running in the stretch, he grinds out his move from just off the pace.

Rahy’s Attorney and Prince Will I Am have formed a dynamic rivalry in their last two races and on Saturday Rahy’s Attorney exacted revenge on his opponent, winning his fifth graded stakes win when he captured the Pan American Stakes (gr.3) at Gulfstream Park with Prince Will I Am a close third. The win brought the 7-year-old geldings lifetime earnings up to $1,957,090, just short of the $2 million mark.

Zardana has been retired from racing after an ankle issue was discovered. The graded stakes winning filly will always best be remembered for having defeated 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in her 2010 debut in the New Orleans Ladies.

Was it an overall strong weekend for racing or a relatively mediocre one?

Make sure to stop by Kentucky Oaks Runner on Horse Racing Nation tomorrow for my breakdown of the Gulfstream Oaks.

Kentucky Derby Future Pool #3: No Suprises

The Kentucky Derby Future Pool #3 will open on Friday for three days of wagering with eight new betting interests listed. Removed from round #3 of the Derby future pool are Sweet Ducky, Sway Away, Archarcharch, Gourmet Dinner, J P’s Gusto, Machen, Rogue Romance and Runflatout. Included among the new betting interests are Premier Pegasus, the impressive winner of the San Felipe as well as Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire. The other six individual choices are Nehro, Twice the Appeal, Watch Me Go, Mr. Commons, Decisive Moment and Animal Kingdom.

Any guesses as to who goes off strongly favored at odds of 3-1? Uncle Mo once again gets the nod. It’s impressive the amount of respect he still commands with only one weak prep race so far this year while colts like Premier Pegasus and Soldat who have each won major preps over quality fields go off at odds of 8-1 and 10-1 respectively.

Any thoughts on the value of horses like Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go, Robert B. Lewis winner Anthony’s Cross and Sam F. Davis winner Brethren all at odds of 50-1? I’d like to take a chance on some of that action, especially with Anthony’s Cross who appears to be peaking at exactly the right time and might be better than most think in the Santa Anita Derby. Brethren could be worth playing some too if he can bounce back in the Arkansas Derby with a big effort.

The 9 furlong Florida Derby (gr.1) this weekend should hopefully be adding a little more clarity to the Kentucky Derby picture as four of the leading Kentucky Derby contenders in Soldat, Dialed In, Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve will all be running. Other possibles for the race that could make an impact are Bowman's Causeway, Arch Traveler and possibly undefeated Hutcheson Stakes winner Flashpoint who is also being considered for the 7 furlong Swale Stakes on the same day.

Arienza and the Novel Nine

Summer Soiree and Plum Pretty won by explosive margins over the weekend in key Kentucky Oaks preps but there was one other race that may have produced a serious Kentucky Oaks contender. Arienza is beyond a doubt the most royally bred 3-year-old filly in the nation as the daughter of 2002 American Horse of the Year and three time Champion Older Female Azeri and 2000 European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway. Arienza was scratched from the 6 furlong Prima Donna Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in favor of going two turns in a 1 mile Optional Claiming Allowance the next day.

The decision proved to be a good one as the chestnut filly remained undefeated in two lifetime starts. Arienza broke like a bolt from the gate and took a one length lead heading into the first turn. Under tight restraint the talented filly rolled down the backstretch two lengths clear of her closest opponent with ears pricked, getting the half mile in :48.05. Entering the far turn Arienza’s two length lead diminished quickly as Hidatsa made a bold rush for the lead. It was a futile move by the challenger as Arienza quickly opened up once again with just a shake of the reins, coasting down the homestretch and under the wire an easy winner by 2 ½ lengths. Her gallop out was exceptional as she continued to pull away with confidence.

In both her starts the official charts have made the following notes; (1^st start) confident, ridden out and (2^nd start) cleared, plenty left. With a pedigree like Arienza’s the sky is the limit and the displays of talent she has produced so far give no reason to think she won’t be able to compete with the nation’s top fillies. Her final time for the mile was a fairly slow 1:38.05 but it was the ease with which she won that really counts. It is also worth mentioning that Giant’s Causeway was the leading North American sire in 2009 and 2010.

Arienza’s next start could come in the Fantasy Stakes on April 10^th where she would face Joyful Victory. [Check out the complete post and the latest Novel Nine rankings on Horse Racing Nation]

Mission Possible: Burning Pants and the hero of Japan

If someone had wanted to write the perfect heart-warming, emotional and uplifting ending to the 2011 Dubai World Cup they could not have thought of a better scenario than the beautiful display of love, encouragement and affection shown for the first ever victory by a Japanese horse on March 26th. Coming just two weeks after the devastating tsunami hit Japan and left more than 27,000 dead or missing, Victoire Pisa flew down the Meydan home stretch to post the first ever victory by a Japanese-bred horse in the 16 year history of the Dubai World Cup. To complete the magic Transcend held on gamely after setting most of the fractions on the front end to finish a close second by half a length, making it a 1-2 punch for Japan. Winning jockey Mirco Demuro tearfully told reporters afterward: “It’s unbelievable. It’s like I woke up.”

The slow pace of :26.7 for the 400 meters and :53.1 for the 800 meters completely shot down the closing kicks of American hopes Gio Ponti and Fly Down who finished 5^th and 13^th respectively. Fly Down received a very rough trip and was twice bumped into the rail according to jockey Julien Leparoux. The final time for the race was a snail-like 2:05.94 for the 2,000 meter race (about 1 ¼ miles).

[caption id="attachment_1253" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Pants On Fire - Hodges Photography/Chris Bennett"][/caption]

The heat was cranked way up on the Kentucky Derby trail as Pant’s On Fire led the $1 million Louisiana Derby (gr.2) field on a merry chase as Fair Grounds on Saturday en route to a stubborn neck victory. Liondrive was quickest into stride as the gates flew open, striding out to take the lead over Pants On Fire who swiftly moved up to his outside with Mucho Macho Man 1 ½ lengths behind. The field moved into the turn with positions staying virtually the same, Elite Alex took up the rear of the 12 horse field as the opening quarter went in a :23.43. Down the backside Nehro moved up on along the rail to take second with Mucho Macho Man right at his throatlatch, up front Pant’s On Fire was lapped just a length off of Liondrive who ran the opening half in :47.53. From there Pants On Fire began to make his move, coming up to Liondrive as the field approached the far turn and taking command as the homestretch loomed ahead. From behind Mucho Macho Man launched his move, overtaking Nehro for third and charging for the leaders. Far back Elite Alex was also mounting his bid, coming about 10 paths wide into the stretch as the field strung out. Down the stretch Pants On Fire withstood the final challenge from Mucho Mach Man under a strong drive as Nehro came up on the rail to snatch second.

Mucho Macho Man finished a length behind the front two in third while Elite Alex ran a very good race to secure 4^th after circling the entire field coming off the turn. Pants On Fire started the year with a third place finish in the Count Fleet Stakes before just missing by a head to Wilkinson in the LeComte Stakes (gr.3). It was nice to see the winner rating off the pace for most of the race and he showed a fierce determination in the homestretch to hold off the two closing finishes of Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. Both Pants On Fire and Mucho Macho Man will be heading to the Kentucky Derby.

[caption id="attachment_1254" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Mission Impazible - Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr."][/caption]

Mission Impazible announced his imminent return to the ranks of the Graded stakes winners in a big way in Fair Grounds Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap. Exactly one year after his Louisiana Derby win, Mission Impazible hit the jackpot once again at Fair Grounds as he contested the early lead in the New Orleans Handicap before disposing of his rivals and running off to a 1 ½ length victory over Apart with Grade 1 winner Giant Oak a nose back in third.

Mission Impazzible started his year with a second place finish in a 1 mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park before just missing to Demarcation in the Mineshaft Handicap (gr.3) by a neck. He finished 9^th in the Kentucky Derby last year and was sidelined until his allowance runner-up effort with a knee injury. His effort here was stellar against a strong field and the most encouraging thing about his win was that every single horse was mounting a rally in the homestretch and moving forward and he still held on well to win. I think this was one of the strongest wins of the weekend and I can't wait to see what Mission Impazible can do if he gets to run for an entire year.

Check out my latest Kentucky Oaks post on Kentucky Oaks Rail Runner on Horse Racing Nation.

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A Glorious Fair Grounds Oaks

While there was little in the way of Kentucky Oaks caliber racing taking place last weekend this weekend features two fields of fillies that are more than capable of making the grade in the big dance. Inglorious is the big cheese running this Saturday but before we get to the races a few things have happened since last week that may have a significant impact on the outcome of the Kentucky Oaks.

Grade 1 winning filly Rigoletta has been retired from racing. It was announced on Wednesday that a tendon injury was discovered after her sixth place finish in the Honeybee Stakes on March 12^th and rather than risk her coming back at a lesser level of racing she will instead be bred this year. Last year Rigoletta won the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes to finish out her juvenile campaign after finishing third in the Grade 1 Darley Debutante.

The Grade 1 Ashland Stakes has become the most anticipated Kentucky Oaks prep of the season. On Monday leading Kentucky Oaks contender Kathmanblu was withdrawn from consideration for the Fair Grounds Oaks this weekend in favor of the April 9^th Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. On Thursday trainer John Ward announced that his star filly Dancinginherdreams will also make her next start in the Ashland Stakes. It will be the first time the gorgeous Tapit filly tries her luck around two turns. She will also be racing over synthetics for the first time and stretching out to 1 1/16 miles. It was originally assumed she would head for the 1 1/8 mile Gulfstream Oaks on April 2^nd but Ward likes the extra week his filly will receive when she heads for the Ashland. Needless to say the Ashland results will play a huge role in the overall Kentucky Oaks picture and might very well decide the race favorite. [Read the complete post here on Horse Racing Nation]

WRRB March 24th: Passion and More

The Factor has been stealing headlines line a fish takes to water since his impressive win in the Rebel Stakes on Saturday but there was a slew of other big stories this past week that can stand well on their own. For starters Havre de Grace announced she is ready to leap the proverbial barrier in 2011 and become one of the nation’s leading older female runners when she soundly defeated Blind Luck in the Azeri Stakes on Saturday. Many racing enthusiasts and industry insiders alike think she could well wind up becoming the leading older female by year’s end. She may just have caught up to her arch nemesis Blind Luck this year and looks unlikely to stop improving from here. The sky’s the limit with this impressive filly.

Hilda’s Passion took very little attention in online racing forums and media outlets over the weekend, even the bloggers were virtually silent on her blistering Inside Information Stakes (Gr.2) win at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. From start to finish the race was all about Hilda’s Passion who set swift fractions of :22.07 and :44.20 through the first half mile before shaking clear of Amen Hallelujah at the top of the stretch and romping home by more than 5 lengths. She stopped the clock in the stunning time of 1:20.45 for the 7 furlongs, breaking the track record of 1:20.88 set by Big Drama in 2009 on the dirt track. Together she, Big Drama and Tackleberry if he runs in more sprint distance races, appear to have a strangle hold on the sprint divisions this year.

Bandbox confirmed the confidence of many backers when he emerged victorious from the Private Terms Stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park by 1 ½ lengths, bringing his overall career stats to 4 wins in 6 starts. He will not be pointed to the Kentucky Derby trainer Rodney Jenkins said after the race while also stating, “We’re not going to rule the Preakness out. The horse is doing too good.” I for one hope they give his a shot. He is obviously talented but I love that he has shown the desire to fight for the win when he gets challenged in the stretch. That’s an excellent quality in any colt with his sights set on the Classics.

Kentucky Derby candidate Rogue Romance is off the Derby trail after a fracture was discovered in the colts left forefoot. In his last start the Smarty Jones colt finished third in the Risen Star Stakes on February 19^th. Fortunately the injury has not been deemed career threatening and Rogue Romance should be back to run another day after approximately three months of stall rest.

For the second time in his life Square Eddie has been retired to stud duty after a tumultuous return to the races that saw him set a 6 ½ furlong track record at Santa Anita and finish unplaced in two Grade 1 races. After a stellar juvenile season in 2008 he never quite lived up to his reputation in 2009 as a 3-year-old and was shipped of for a stallion career last year.

Rigoletta, best remembered for winning the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes as a juvenile, has been retired due to a tendon injury discovered after he 6^th place finish in the Honeybee Stakes. She has been moved to Drew Nerdiello’s Chesapeake Farm near Lexington Kentucky until breeding plans are finalized.

Zenyatta’s historic Breeders’ Cup Classic  run continues to be one of the most compelling stories in horse racing lore and ESPN’s coverage of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic has been chosen as one of six nominees for a Sports Emmy Award. Here’s to hoping it wins and extends the saga of Zenyatta, adding to her already enormous list of victories, let’s have one more for the ‘Queen’!

Guess what race got a makeover last week? The Grade 1 Wood Memorial will no longer be said in a single breath as Resorts World New York has become the sponsor for the pivotal sophomore race changing the official title to Resorts World New York Wood Memorial (gr.1). Try saying that 10 times fast, I guarantee this is one race that will forever be referred to as ‘Wood Memorial’ or simply the ‘Wood’. Along with the name makeover the Wood purse has been raised to a dazzling $1 million. Let’s hope that can help attract a deep field to face Uncle Mo on April 9^th.

This weekend headlines the Dubai World Cup card with a very diverse field set to contest the signature event while back home in the States we’ve got the Louisiana Derby stacking up to be one of the more intriguing Derby preps of the season with the return of Risen Star winner Mucho Macho Man.

Check in tomorrow on my Horse Racing Nation blog for a breakdown of some of the Kentucky Oaks preps this weekend.

Inglorious the Favorite: The Novel Nine

This past weekend offered little in the way of Kentucky Oaks prep action as only two major stakes races were run for 3-year-old fillies but one of the two could be a prelude of better things to come. The Santa Paula Stakes and Cicada Stakes didn’t feature much in the way of proven quality fillies but the Santa Paula result showcased a promising run by Mildly Offensive.

Making the second start of her young career the speedy filly rated just behind California Nectar until the ¼ mile mark and then dragged herself to the lead, full of run and looking very strong. By the time she entered the stretch she was already more than a length in the lead and continued to extend her advantage from there under a hand ride by jockey Rafael Bejarano. She won by 4 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:15.70 on a sloppy track for the 6 ½ furlongs.

This daughter of Sharp Humor is one to keep an eye on for sure but perhaps not for the Kentucky Oaks as no mention has been made yet as to her short term goal this spring. Her gallop out wasn’t particularly strong which prompts me to think she could be at her best running sprint distance races and might not be as effective stretching out.

This weekend’s Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies lost a leading Kentucky Oaks contender on Monday when Kathmanblu’s connections announced their decision to skip the race in favor of the April 9^th Ashland Stakes (gr.1). Apparently trainer Kenny McPeek thinks his filly could use some more time before her next start and he would also like to get a Grade 1 win under her belt. This means that the Bluegrass Cat filly will have almost exactly one month between her Ashland run and the Kentucky Oaks, a schedule that should have her sharper than ever coming into the Oaks. She turned in a bullet 5 furlong move on Saturday finishing in a time of :59.80.

With the withdrawal of Kathmanblu the way is paved for Canadian shipper Inglorious to assume the title of favorite race favorite in the Fair Grounds Oaks. Inglorious finished second to Kathmanblu in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds last month in the third start of her career. There should be nothing to stand in the way of this talented filly taking her third stakes victory on Saturday.

There is little adjustment in this week’s Novel Nine rankings with the biggest change being Inglorious jumping up two spots from #6 to #4. [Read the complete post here on Horse Racing Nation]