Super Saturday Preview (Part 2)

Here we go with Part 2 of the Three Part Series! Tonight's preview is all about Indiana, plus a bonus race as Zenyatta and Pepper's Pride's consectutive winning streaks could be challenged in a few weeks if Rapid Redux wins tomorrow night.


11th Race - Hoosier Park - Saturday, October 1st, 2011
STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $200,000. Indiana Oaks (Grade 2). (PLUS UP TO 1% ITDF) FOR THREE YEAR OLD FILLIES. By subscription of $100 each which shall accompany the nomination $200 to pass the entry box and $200 additional to start, with $200,000 added. After payment of 1% to all owners of horses finishing sixth through last the purse will be divided, 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weight: 121 lbs. Non-winners of $60,000 once or $30,000 twice at a mile or over in 2011, allowed 2 lbs; of $30,000 at a mile or over in 2011, 4 lbs; of three races other than maiden or claiming, 6 lbs. This stake will be limited to twelve starters. If more than twelve horses pass the entry box, preference will be given to (1) Grade/Group 1 winners; (2) Grade/Group 2 winners and Grade/Group 1 place finishers; (3) Grade/Group 3 winners and Grade/Group 2 place finishers; (4) Highest Lifetime Earnings. The entry fee will be refunded if a horse fails to draw into the race. (05:19 PM) (6)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Daisy Devine 3 F L 121 Graham James McKeever Andrew
2 Nasty Rumor 3 F L 119 Goncalves Leandro R. Wolfson Martin D.
3 Juanita 3 F L 115 Leparoux Julien R. Maker Michael J.
4 Perfectly Candid 3 F L 115 Mojica Orlando Gorham Robert M.
5 Withgreatpleasure 3 F L 115 Mojica, Jr. Rafael Nunn David
6 A Z Warrior 3 F L 115 Pedroza Martin A. Baffert Bob

A Z Warrior hasn't run much this year, Daisy Devine is trying to get back into the winners circle for the first time since the Spring. I'll be honest, if niether of these fillies win, then I don't know what to think. I would love to see Daisy get the win with A Z in second and Nasty Rumor just because of her name in third.

12th Race - Hoosier Park - Saturday, October 1st, 2011
STAKES. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $500,000. Indiana Derby (Grade 2). (PLUS UP TO 1% ITDF) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. By subscription of $100 each which shall accompany the nomination, $400 to pass the entry box and an additional $500 to start, with $500,000 added. After payment of 1% to all owners of horses finishing sixth through last the remainder of the purse will be divided, 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weights: Three Year Olds, 124 lbs. Non-winners of $60,000 once or $30,000 twice at a mile or over in 2011, allowed 3 lbs; of $30,000 at a mile or over in 2011, 5 lbs; of three races other than maiden or claiming, 7 lbs. Maiden, claiming, starter and state bred races will not be considered when estimating allowances. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. This race will be limited to twelve starters. Should more than twelve horses pass the entry box preference will be given to (1) Grade/Group 1 winners; (2) Grade/Group 2 winners and Grade/Group 1 place finishers; (3) Grade/Group 3 winners and Grade/Group 2 place finishers; (4) Highest Lifetime Earnings. (06:15 PM) (8)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Decisive Moment 3 C L 124 Centeno Daniel Arias Juan D.
2 Little Drama 3 G L 119 Sanchez Jeffrey Fawkes David
3 Populist Politics 3 C L 117 Melancon Gerard Amoss Thomas M.
4A Friends Place 3 C L 117 Pedroza Martin A. Romans Dale L.
5 Windswept 3 C L 117 Lanerie Corey J. Margolis Steve
6 Caleb's Posse 3 C L 124 Albarado Robby Von Hemel Donnie K.
7A Shackleford 3 C L 124 Castanon Jesus Lopez Romans Dale L.
8 Wilburn 3 C L 124 Leparoux Julien R. Asmussen Steven M.

A pretty good field this year, my guess is the fact that Lucky won this race last year adds some sparkle to it. Shackleford is trying to bounce back from a poor effort in the Travers, Caleb's Posse just beat Uncle Mo in the King's Bishop and is using this as a prep for the BC Dirt Mile. Wilburn won the Smarty Jones at Parx, Little Drama's trainer will be saddling big brother at Belmont, so if he wins... well he won't be there. Decisive Moment was overmatched in the Derby, but has done well in his past couple of races. I'm going with Shackleford here. The distance should be more to his liking and he needs to rebound if he wants to stay in the hunt for 3yo Champion Male. Caleb's Posse for second and Wilburn for third.

8th Race - Mountaineer Park - Friday, September 30th, 2011
STARTER ALLOWANCE. 1 Mile Dirt. Purse $14,900. FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $5,000 OR LESS IN 2010-2011. Three Year Olds, 121 lbs.; Older, 123 lbs. Non-winners of a race at a mile or over since August 30 Allowed 3 lbs. (Claiming races for $10,000 or less not considered in estimating allowances) (Preference to Highest Earnings in 2010-2011). (09:55 PM) (8)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Foreman 4 G LA 120 Tolentino Pablo Conto Kevin
2 Jack O' Lantern 5 R LA 120 Eads Jason R. Fletcher Jeff
3 Love Tour 7 G L 120 Loveberry Jareth Frock Charles L.
4 Kona Kid 5 G LA 123 Hernandez Luciano Garcia Genaro
5 Silverdaddyofmine 3 G L 118 Pereira Oswald M. Brown, Jr. Paul H.
6 Bird Island 5 G LA 120 Rivera Luis Raul Ruberto, Jr. Louis V.
7 Rapid Redux 5 G LA 123 Parker Deshawn L. Wells David J.
8 Cherokee Warpaint 4 G L 120 Ccamaque Marco A. Morales Nabu

Rapid Redux is trying for his 18th win in a row, should he win tomorrow and then his next race he will be tied with Zenyatta and Pepper's Pride. Keep an eye on Jack O' Lantern though, he's a G3 winner and has won his last two. Cherokee Warpaint for third.

So that's it for today, tomorrow Santa Anita and Belmont! Plus a preview of the Arc.

Rachel to the Shore, The Bird in the Mountains

neI hope everyone enjoys the great racing that will be taking place this weekend. There are three G1's (Haskell, Diana and Go For Wand), plus two pretty major G2's (West Virginia Derby and Jim Dandy). The Haskell and WV Derby will have the return of the Bird Brothers (Mine That Bird and his fellow Birdstone foal Summer Bird). Forever Together will be in the Diana, and Cocoa Beach will try to rebound from her horrible season debut in the Go For Wand. Warrior's Reward will try to become the first male Medaglia d'Oro to win a stakes race in the Jim Dandy. Plus on the West Coast, it's the return of Dubai World Cup champ Well Armed and it will be the battle of the sexes as Allicansay is Wow makes her first try against the males. I'm missing something aren't I. Oh yeah a certin filly makes her second go-around with the boys.

Of the three 3yo's races this weekend, the Haskell has the most depth. You have Rachel Alexandra, Summer Bird, Munnings and Papa Clem leading the charge. Atomic Rain will make his Goldolphin debut, but he is recovering from an hoof injury, so he may end up not going. While on paper, this won't be a walk in the park for Rachel, I still think she will win it. Monmouth is a speed favoring track, and she likes the lead. She will either sit right off or be pressed by Munnings, whose stamina will come into question (However his dam's half sister was second in the Delaware Handicap). It may actually be too short for Summer Bird who may relish the 10 furlong distance more. There are a couple of longshots who are actually replacements for their highley regarded stablemates who either went elsewhere (Big Drama) or are out for the year (Musket Man).

The day before, Rachel's jockey and trainer will be facing off against each other. Steve Asmussen will send out Kensei (for Jess Jackson, Rachel's owner), where as Calvin Borel will be riding Warrior's Reward in the Jim Dandy. Saratoga Sinner, who made a brief apperience on the TC trail this year will make his comeback. Chartiable Man and Miner's Escape will also be in the race.

Up in the mountains of good old West Virgina, history will be made. Mine That Bird will be the first Derby winner to ever run at Mountianeer and in the WV Derby. Other then Big Drama, this is the weakest of the three major 3yo's races. If an honest pace is set, Mike Smith should have no problem guiding Mine back to the winner's circle. (BTW lets just hope we don't see a repeat of what happend to him on Thorn Song in the Eddie Read last week)

So my picks for the weekend are:
Jim Dandy: Warrior's Reward, Kensei
West Virginia Derby: Mine That Bird
Diana: Forever Together, My Princess Jess
Go For Wand: Weathered, Cocoa Beach
San Diego: Well Armed
Haskell: Rachel Alexandra, Papa Clem, Summer Bird

I hope everyone enjoys the weekend races. I personally will be out of town starting Sat. Hopefully I'll have a post either Sunday or Monday night. Until then, enjoy your weekend!