Well here it is, weekend preview. Really not much Derby and/or Oaks wise. But the two races that are, are huge ones. Plus the best early season race for older males, two of my favorites running in a prep for the Oaklawn Handicap, and it's another boys vs girl matchup.
We start off in New York, at Aquaduct on Saturday is the Gotham Stakes.
$250,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III, Race 9, 4:18 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt) PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Naos (KY), 116, Michael J. Luzzi
2. Russell Road (WV), 116, Travis L. Dunkelberger
3. Masala (FL), 116, Eibar Coa
4. Axel Foley (KY), 116, Richard Migliore
5. Mr. Fantasy (NY), 116, Alan Garcia
6. Haynesfield (NY), 120, Charles C. Lopez
7. Imperial Council (KY), 116, Rajiv Maragh
8. I Want Revenge (KY), 116, Joseph Talamo
9. Giant Ryan (NY), 116, Jeffrey Sanchez
This races is loaded with talent. Masala is coming off a second place finish at Gulfstream, the winner Take the Points just finished second last week in the Sham. Axel Foley and I Want Revenge come in from Cali. But the three to keep an eye on are Haynesfield, Imperial Council and Mr. Fantasy. These three could become the Wood Memorial favorites if they do in this race. Haynesfield will most likely go off as the favorite. But I like Imperial Council in this race, although he is going two turns for the first time. The big reason why is that he is by Empire Maker (2003 Belmont winner, much to my dismay, but that's a story for another day), out of a mare by Thunder Gulch (1995 Derby and Belmont winner). And if you go back farther, his dam's broodmare sire is Risen Star (1988 Preakness and Belmont winner), and his sire's sire is Unbridled (1990 Derby winner). Mr. Fantasy is the half brother to last year's Indiana Derby winner Tin Cup Chalice. He's by E Dubai, who happens to be the sire of one of my favorite Darley horses (although I think he's retired or exported), Wafi City. Two turns should also not be problem for him as his broodmare sire is 1979 Derby and Preakness winner Spectacular Bid. Hayesfield is the questionmark. While he won the first prep, the Whirlaway, he's by a champion sprinter. Instead I'm going to put Masala who is by Lion Heart.
Top three:
Imperial Council
Mr. Fantasy
Masala
Next it's off to Oaklawn Park.
Oaklawn Park - March 7th, 2009 - Race 9Razorback H. - Grade: 3
Estimated Local Post Time: 5:02 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $150,000
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles Surface: Dirt
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name
1 Spotsgone (KY) 6 Horse 113 Joe M. Johnson
2 Jonesboro (KY) 7 Horse 117 Calvin H. Borel
3 Catmantoo (KY) 6 Gelding 112 M. Clifton Berry
4 Let It Rock (FL) 4 Colt 113 Terry J. Thompson
5 Silver Edition (KY) 4 Colt 113 Bryan McNeil
6 Shim's Pride (KY) 6 Gelding 113 Israel Ocampo
7 Prom Shoes (KY) 5 Horse 117 Christopher A. Emigh
I've been waiting for this match-up for a few weeks. The class of the field is defending champ Jonesboro, and Essex winner Prom Shoes. These two have been thorns in each others sides for a year, and this time it's going to be very interesting. Look for last year's Essex winner Spotsgone to set the pace for Jonesboro and his stablemate Shoes. I'm going with Let It Rock for third, just for his name. But the Shoes will take it and go into the Oaklawn Handicap as the local favorite (depending on who ships in).
Top three:
Prom Shoes
Jonesboro
Let It Rock
Last, but not least, three Grade 1 races at Santa Anita.
Santa Anita Park - March 7th, 2009 - Race 7
Santa Anita Oaks - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 3:07 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Three Year Old
Sex: Fillies Purse: $300,000
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles Surface: All Weather Track
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name
1 Stardom Bound (KY) 3 Filly 122 Mike E. Smith
2 Burg Berg (KY) 3 Filly 122 Tyler Baze
3 Miss Silver Brook (KY) 3 Filly 122 Alex O. Solis
4 Hooh Why (FL) 3 Filly 122 Robby Albarado
5 Stormy Slew (KY) 3 Filly 122 John R. Velazquez
6 Nan (KY) 3 Filly 122 Corey S. Nakatani
7 Will O Way (KY) 3 Filly 122 Russell A. Baze
8 Beltene (CA) 3 Filly 122 Joel Rosario
9 Third Dawn (KY) 3 Filly 122 Rafael Bejarano
10 Acronym (KY) 3 Filly 122 David Romero Flores
This is a make or break race for Stardom Bound, a solid win and she'll try boys next time out in the SA Derby. Otherwise it will be the Oaks. This is her race to lose. Alot of people people like Miss Silver Brook, and Hooh Why was second to Patena last year up at Woodbine (this was before IEAH bought him).
Top three:
Stardom Bound
Miss Silver Brook
Hooh Why
Santa Anita Park - March 7th, 2009 - Race 9
Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 4:07 PM
Race Type: StakesBreed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $300,000
Distance: One Mile Surface: Turf
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name
1 Ventura (KY) 5 Mare 118 Garrett K. Gomez
2 Mast Track (KY) 5 Horse 117 Julien R. Leparoux
3 Monterey Jazz (KY) 5 Horse 116 Russell A. Baze
4 Hewitts (FL) 5 Gelding 114 David Romero Flores
5 Wise River (KY) 6 Horse 116 Robby Albarado
6 Artiste Royal (IRE) 8 Ridgling 119 Rafael Bejarano
7 Dixie Chatter (KY) 4 Colt 115 Tyler Baze
8 Mr Napper Tandy (GB) 5 Horse 113 Joel Rosario
9 Global Hunter (ARG) 6 Horse 116 Jose Valdivia, Jr.
10 Becrux (ITY) 7 Gelding 115 Edgar S. Prado
11 Gio Ponti (KY) 4 Colt 118 Ramon A. Dominguez
12 Victory Pete (FL) 4 Colt 113 Mike E. Smith
Ventura vs the boys: Round 2. She was the runner up in last year's Woodbine Mile before upsetting Indian Blessing in the BC Filly/Mare sprint. This is probley her max distance, look for her stablemate Mast Track to set the early pace. I would love Dixie Chatter to take it, he's had such bad luck since he was 2. I really don't like Gio Ponti in this spot.
Top three:
Dixie Chatter
Ventura
Mast Track
Santa Anita Park - March 7th, 2009 - Race 10
Santa Anita H. - Grade: 1
Estimated Local Post Time: 4:37 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $1,000,000
Distance: One And One Fourth Miles Surface: All Weather Track
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name
1 Matto Mondo (CHI) 5 Horse 116 Rafael Bejarano
2 Cowboy Cal (KY) 4 Colt 120 John R. Velazquez
3 Heroi Do Bafra (BRZ) 7 Horse 111 Michael C. Baze
4 Monba (KY) 4 Colt 114 Edgar S. Prado
5 Colonel John (KY) 4 Colt 119 Garrett K. Gomez
6 Magnum (ARG) 8 Gelding 116 Joel Rosario
7 Blue Exit (KY) 4 Colt 115 Robby Albarado
8 Einstein (BRZ) 7 Horse 121 Julien R. Leparoux
9 Dansant (GB) 5 Horse 116 Tyler Baze
10 Cause (KY) 4 Colt 110 Jon Kenton Court
11 Court Vision (KY) 4 Colt 119 Ramon A. Dominguez
12 Zambezi Sun (GB) 5 Horse 116 Victor Espinoza
13 Champs Elysees (GB) 6 Horse 118 Jose Valdivia, Jr.
14 Stream Cat (KY) 6 Gelding 114 Alex O. Solis
The hot horse right now is Cowboy Cal, Einstein is comming off a 3rd place finish in the Donn and should be helped by the synthtic surface. Court Vision is coming off a 3rd place finish in the Gulfstearm Park Turf and is my pick to win the race. Col. John may need a race, Magnum looks like he's a new horse. Champs Elysees ran well in this race last year, his stablemate Zambezi Sun is coming off a short layoff. Dansant is a very interesting horse as he's Euro based. Now go watch Cal's stablemate Monba shock us all again and win the whole thing.
Top three:
Court Vision
Cowboy Cal
Einstein
As I reported last night, Manga was in danger of filing for bankruptcy. They did that today, link. It's Chapter 11 bankruptsy.
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