Say Hello to Tampa, Arcadia and Hot Springs!

With the two most anticpated 4 and 6 year old debuts in quite a while this weekend, I'm putting this weekends Derby and Oaks preps preview tonight instead. Without the daughters of Medaglia d' Oro and Street Cry starting, it was going to be a very nice weekend as it is. Three Derby preps in Florida, Arkansas and California, plus 2 Oaks preps in Florida and Arkansas. It starts to really getting to crunch time as horses need graded stakes earnings in order to make the start on on the 30th and 1st of April and May respectivley.

At Tampa:
11th (5:30)
Tampa Bay Derby (G3)
1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $300,000
Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Uptowncharlybrown Centeno D E Seewald Alan 116 Blk-On L 5-2
2 2 Tuvia's Force Lezcano J Zito Nicholas P 116 L 12-1
3 3 Gleam of Hope Martinez W Reinstedler A L 122 L 15-1
4 4 Slammy Boy Lebron V Reinstedler A L 116 L 20-1
5 5 Schoolyard Dreams Rose J Ryan Derek S 116 L 3-1
6 6 Super Saver Dominguez R A Pletcher Todd A 122 L 2-1
7 7 Odysseus Maragh R Albertrani Thomas 116 L 7-2

The 2-3 finishers of the Sam F. Davis come here to face a new field of horses. Uptowncharlybrown adds blinkers, but I still expect him to come from the back of the pack. I have my doubts about Schoolyard Dreams (it has nothing to do with what happend earlier this week either with Big Truck), and Odysseus seems to be the wise guy horse right now. Then there is Super Saver, finally making his three year old debut. Tampa is known to be more a closers friendly track, however stablemate Rule won gate to wire on this track in the Davis. He also gets a jockey change, because his jockey Calvin Borel is down in New Orleans riding what I would say is a nice horse. This could be a key race, dispite everyone saying that Oaklawn is the way to go. Since 2004, Limehouse, Sun King, Street Sense, Big Truck and Musket Man have either run, won or finished in the top three of 2 of the 3 Triple Crown events. If the winner of this race does well (finishes in the top three perferbly), on the first Saturday in May, we could see a grade increase next year. We'll see!

9th (4:27)
Florida Oaks (G3)
1 1/16 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $175,000
Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Tesoro de Amor Leyva J C Kaplan William A 116 L 15-1
2 2 C C's Pal Rose J Ryan Derek S 116 L 15-1
3 3 Cuff Me Desormeaux K J Dutrow Anthony W 116 L 7-2
4 4 Imaginary Saint Dominguez R A Pletcher Todd A 116 L 5-1
5 5 She Be Wild Lezcano J Catalano Wayne M 122 L 2-1
6 6 Diva Delite Homeister R B Jr Vivian David A 120 L 4-1
7 7 Mallory Square Morales P Gatis Christos 116 Blk-On L 12-1
8 8 Miss Afleet Alex Centeno D E Marshall Kenneth W 116 Blk-On L 10-1
9 9 Awesome Vow Stephen A O'Connell Kathleen 116 L 20-1
10 10 Yournotthebossofme Gonzalez L A Stewart Chad J 116 L 15-1

This is a make or break race for She Be Wild, a win and she still is on course for the Oaks, a loss then we know she's a okay horse on dirt, but a better horse on a synthetic surface. Keep an eye on Yournotthebossofme, she broke her maiden last time out against a filly named Joyce's Angel who was a first time starter. This is a bit of a quick turn around (2 weeks), so hopefully that doesn't hurt her in the long run.

At Oaklawn:

8th (4:42)
Honeybee S. (G3)
1 1/16 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $125,000
Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 No Such Word Thompson T J 117 L
2 Decelerator Nakatani C S 122 L
3 Bell's Shoes Court J K 115 L
4 Tiz Miz Sue Castellano A Jr 115 Blk-On L
5 Beautician Albarado R J 115 Blk-Off L
6 Tap Tap Tapping Lenclud F 115 L
7 Laura Babe Quinonez L S 117 L
8 Bella Diamante Hamilton Q 115 L
9 Dixie Hearth Berry M C 117 L

1-2-3 from the Martha Washington comeback and try again. Personally, the longer she goes, the better I think Bell's Shoes will be. And now that she has a stakes race under her belt, I doubt she goes off at the odds she did in the MW. Keep an eye on No Such Word, she's a stablemate to last year's winner Just Jenda. Beautician gets her blinkers taken off, this is a big race for Decelerator as if she wins this, it would put her in the spotlight.

10th (5:47)
Rebel S. (G2)
1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $300,000
Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 Cardiff Giant Santiago Reyes C 115 L
2 Lookin At Lucky Gomez G K 119 Blk-On L
3 Royal Express Compton P 117 L
4 Uh Oh Bango Corbett G W 117 L
5 Pleasant Storm Court J K 117 L
6 Noble's Promise Albarado R J 119 L
7 Dublin Nakatani C S 117 L

By far the strongest prep this year, you have the G1 winners Lookin at Lucky, Noble's Promise and Dublin, Uh Oh Bango who gave Rule a scare in the Delta Jackpot, Pleasant Storm who almost ran down Dryfly in the Smarty Jones, Royal Express who will be the early speed and Cardiff Giant who is a fast improving horse. The downside to this race is that Lucky, Noble and Bango will only have 2 races going into the Derby, Dublin showed that he's back in the Southwest. Pleasant is my dark horse for on the trail and I really don't know alot about the other two horses. This is going to be a barn burner of a race.

Finally at Santa Anita:

9th (4:38)
San Felipe S. (G2)
1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000
Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 Stephen's Got Hope Baze T C 115 L
2 Interactif Bejarano R 117 L
3 Erbeia Solis A 115 L
4 American Lion Leparoux J R 117 Blk-On L
5 Sidney's Candy Talamo J 117 L
6 Dave in Dixie Rosario J 115 L
7 Caracortado Atkinson P 119 L

On paper, Stephen's Got Hope and Erbeia really shouldn't be in this race. Interactif is making his first start on a synthectic surface, American Lion tries to rebound, Sidney's Candy, Caracortado will be there in the end. However, I'm going with Dave in Dixie. I feel like he could be the best horse out of California this year, I could Caracortado be better then I think? Possibly. Interactif could be a male verison of Ventura in the long run, but I understand why he's in this race. This will be an interesting one indeed.

So that's it for 3yo talk this week, tomorrow the 2 big races of the weekend which involve Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta!

Weekend Preview

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.