First off, I apologize for not having Stallion Spotlight yesterday. A family emergency came up and was not near a computer yesterday. While this is a huge weekend race wise with lots of good races all around of the country, I will only preview the four Derby and an Oaks preps. All these races are EDT.
At Tampa Bay Downs
$300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III, Race 11, 5:26 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Perfect Bull, 116, Dean Butler
2. Musket Man, 116, Daniel Centeno
3. Nowhere to Hide, 116, Alan Garcia, A 116
4. Hello Broadway, 116, Eibar Coa
5. Warrior's Reward, 116, Carlos Montalvo
6. Sumo, 116, Jeremy Rose
7. Join the Dance, 116, Elvis Trujillo
8. General Quarters, 122, James Lopez
9. Bear's Rocket, 116, Ronnie Allen, Jr.
10. Justdontcallmejeri, 116, Jesus Rios
11. Top Seed, 116, Rajiv Marah
General Quarters will have to prove that his Sam F. Davis win was no fluke. And he’s up against Hello Broadway who is a really nice horse. A half brother to G1 winner Nobiz Like Shobiz, Hello Broadway could follow his brother’s hoof steps at have his final prep in the Wood Memorial depending on how he does here of course. Warrior’s Reward is coming off a second place finish in an allowance, where he was beaten by FL Derby bound Dunkirk. The 10th place finisher in his maiden win, could break his maiden soon (Aka Nicanor). I really like Hello Broadway in this race, with Warrior’s Reward second and General Quarters third.
Top three:
Hello Broadway
Warrior’s Reward
General Quarters
At Oaklawn Park
$300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II, Race 10, 5:50 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Old Fashioned (KY), 122, Ramon A. Dominguez
2. Hamazing Destiny (KY), 115, Terry J. Thompson
3. Poltergeist (TX), 117, Quincy Hamilton
4. Pointing Home (FL), 115, Julio A. Garcia
5. Wise Kid (KY), 117, Jose C. Caraballo
6. His Greatness (KY), 117, Larry J. Sterling, Jr.
7. Captain Cherokee (KY), 117, Luis S. Quinonez
8. Silver City (KY), 117, Jon Kenton Court
9. Win Willy (KY), 117, M. Clifton Berry
In 2005 there where two horses: Rockport Harbor, a son of Unbridled’s Song owned by Fox Hill Farm, and Afleet Alex, a son of Northern Afleet who was trained by Tim Richey. Rocky was based at Philadelphia Park, the home track of Smarty Jones, Alex was based at Delaware Park (my home track). With the Delaware Valley coming off Smarty fever, Rocky and Alex where destined to do well on the Triple Crown They finished second and last respectfully in the Rebel. However, that was their only matchup, Rocky’s foot proved to be too much to do the TC, and well Alex went on to bigger and better things. Now another son of UBS carrying the colors of FHF and a horse trained by Richey face off. They are Old Fashioned, the Southwest winner and Wise Kid, a son of Lemon Drop Kid and his coming off an allowance win. I really like Wise Kid in this spot, he might just have what it takes to upset Old Fashioned. Look for Captain Cherokee, the half brother of 2 time BC Sprint winner Midnight Lute to be a factor as well. His dad Sir Cherokee won the AR Derby back in 2003.
Top three:
Wise Kid
Old Fashioned
Captain Cherokee
At the Fair Grounds
$600,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II, Race 9, 4:45 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Free Country (KY), 122, Kent J. Desormeaux
2. Soul Warrior (KY), 122, Shaun Bridgmohan
3. Patena (KY), 122, Robby Albarado
4. Terrain (KY), 122, Julien R. Leparoux
5. Flying Pegasus (KY), 122, John R. Velazquez
6. Giant Oak (IL), 122, James Graham
7. Uno Mas (KY), 122, Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
8. Papa Clem (KY), 122, Rafael Bejarano
9. Friesan Fire (KY), 122, Gabriel Saez
Friesan Fire vs. Patena: Round 2, and this time Patena has a new trainer. Rick Dutrow takes over for Josie Caroll after being bought by IEAH after the Lacomte. Flying Pegasus was second in the Risen Star. Expect a better race out of Giant Oak and beware of Papa Clem, if he shows that he can take to dirt, the Cali horses can be very dangerous in the Derby.
Top three:
Fresian Fire
Patena
Giant Oak
$400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II, Race 6, 3:07 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Our Dahlia (KY), 121, Kent J. Desormeaux
2. Four Gifts (KY), 121, Robby Albarado
3. Rachel Alexandra (KY), 121, Calvin H. Borel
4. African Skies (GB), 121, Edgar S. Prado
5. Flying Spur (KY), 121, Patrick A. Valenzuela
6. War Tigress (KY), 121, James Graham
This is a no contest. Rachel Alexandra should take this and be ready for either the AR Derby or Fantasy Stakes (both at Oaklawn). With her stablemate War Echo out, look for Four Gifts to get up there for second and I gotta go with Flying Spur for third, just for her name.
Top three:
Rachel Alexandra
Four Gifts
Flying Spur
At Santa Anita Park
$200,000 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II, Race 4, 2:03 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (All Weather)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. He's Really Big (CA), 115, Aaron T. Gryder
2. Pioneerof the Nile (KY), 122, Garrett K. Gomez
3. Feisty Suances (CA), 115, David R. Flores
4. Shafted (KY), 115, Joel Rosario
5. Jeranimo (FL), 115, Brice Blanc
6. Kelly Leak (FL), 115, Victor Espinoza
7. New Bay (KY), 115, Joseph Talamo
Another no contest, Pioneerof the Nile is the heavy favorite. I love that there is a horse in here named He’s Really Big, and just for that I’ll pt him second, and Shafted for third again for his name.
Top three:
Pioneerof the Nile
He’s Really Big
Shafted
Also this weekend: Honest Man is in action, a G1 out at SA (not really a great field, which is why I’m not previewing it.) and a few other nice stakes races.
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