Derby week starts out with Quality Road out

Well Derby Week starts with a bang with one of the favorites, Quality Road, now out due to a new quarter crack. Link His jockey, John Velazquez will now ride Mr. Hot Stuff.

Friesan Fire had a fast workout today, which was at 5 furlongs. While I'm a bit concerned that about the layoff, I'm not as concerned as I should be. The reason being is his trainer, Larry Jones had a colt workout the fastest pre-Derby workout in 2007. What did the colt do, almost win the Derby. Of course I'm talking about Hard Spun. Many thought that he left his race on the track, but that didn't happen. Friesan Fire is Jones' best and last chance to finally win the Derby, as he has decided to retire from public training after the Breeder's Cup.

Chocolate Candy had the second fastest workout today (behind Friesan Fire) at same distance. I love the jockey switch to Mike Smith, and they could probley suprise people and maybe even steal it.

Rachel Alexandra had the bullet for 4 furlongs, she is so ready for her showdown with Justwhistledixie. Oaks PP's get drawn tomarrow, and hopefully those two go 1-2.

The final brakets matchups will come out tomarrow, in a special two post day.

Edit (4:52 pm) Too lazy to make a new post, but I would like to share this video from Bloodhorse.com, they are doing a special on the previous Derby winners from 95 to last year. The three exceptions are Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Charismatic as they stand in Japan (Charm and Charismatic) and PA (Fish, RQ's nickname) respectivly. The rest are standing/living in Kentucky (Funny Cide lives at KHP since he is a gelding).

In matter of fact here is Funny's vid:

Quality Road out? Weekend preview

It may very well happen as he open a new quarter crack, link. If this happens, I think Take the Points will be in, my guess is Johnny V will then jump to him. Which means Flat Out will be the odd man out.

One race to preview this weekend and no it's niether of the Preakness preps.

Delaware Park - April 25th, 2009 - Race 9
Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial S. - Grade:
Estimated Local Post Time: 4:51 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward
Purse: $75,000
Distance: Six Furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name
1 Malibu Kid (MD) 4 Colt 118 Clinton L. Potts
2 Suave Jazz (FL) 6 Gelding 118 Jeremy Rose
3 Go Go Shoot (FL) 4 Gelding 118 Abel Castallano Jr.
4 Acting Zippy (FL) 4 Gelding 118 David Cohen
5 Rollers (NY) 4 Colt 118 A. R. Napravnik
6 Lord Snowdon (KY) 6 Gelding 118 Jeremy Rose
7 Secretintelligence (PA) 6 Gelding 118 Justin Shepherd
8 Whistle Pig (PA) 5 Gelding 118 Josiah Francis Hampshire, Jr.
9 Cayman Condo (MD) 6 Gelding 118 Rosemary B. Homeister, Jr.
10 West Coast Flier (FL) 5 Gelding 122 Pablo Morales

Opening day at Delaware Park! Go Go Shoot won a stakes race here last year, and has new owners and trainer this time around. Rollers finished second in the Mr. Prospector down at Gulfstream earlier this year and Secretintelligence did well this winter at Oaklawn. Look out for Malibu Kid, Clinton Potts is returning to Delaware after a few years in Cali, look for him, Jeremy Rose, Rosie Napravnik and Joe Rocco Jr. to battle it out for top jockey now that Ramon Domingez has moved to New York full time. If Jeremy wins the title, it will be sweet redemption for him as he was handed a six month suspention last year and missed basically the rest of the meet.

Top three:
Rollers
Go Go Shoot
Secretintelligence

We are eight days away from the Derby!