JC / Railbird

Kentucky Derby

Updated Derby 8

1. Pyro: Overshadowed by Florida Derby winner, but still the early Derby favorite. Worked six furlongs in 1:14.60 at Keeneland on Monday. I’m starting to get excited about Pyro — he’s the one Kentucky Derby prospect who has missed no training time and has done everything right so far.
2. Big Truck: Could start in either the Blue Grass or the Holy Bull, or could train up to the Derby, which would be a knock.
3. Big Brown: A little green, a little foot trouble. Can’t deny the major talent displayed in the Florida Derby, though.
4. Denis of Cork: Ducks War Pass, ships to Hawthorne for the Illinois Derby in attempt to remain undefeated.
5. Cool Coal Man: Even if War Pass wins the Wood, still like this one for Nick Zito in the Derby.
6. Visionaire: Heads to Blue Grass, meeting with Pyro.
7. King’s Silver Sun: Starts next in a loaded Ark Derby.
8. Tomcito: Good show, Peruvian mystery horse.

Posted in Racing on April 1, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / 1 comment

Big Dreams for Big Brown

“I’m hoping really to be the next Secretariat,” minority owner Allan Farber said. “That’s not looking to be too much, is it?” (Palm Beach Post)

Posted in Racing on March 31, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Big Dreams for Big Brown

Colonel Works, Georgie Out

– Colonel John, prepping for the Santa Anita Derby, worked six furlongs in 1:10.80 on Monday over the main track. With San Felipe Stakes winner Georgie Boy off the Derby trail with a pulled muscle and earnings-poor Bob Black Jack going to the Blue Grass Stakes, the Santa Anita Derby is shaping up as a rematch between Colonel John and El Gato Malo, the one-two finishers in the Sham Stakes.
– Elysium Fields will ship to trainer Barclay Tagg’s Keeneland barn this week, but it’s unlikely he’ll continue on to the Derby following his eleventh-place finish in the Florida Derby. “I can’t imagine we could go into the Derby off a race like that,” said assistant trainer Robin Smullen, who explained away the colt’s poor performance as a case of overheating (Courier-Journal). Tagg still has two potential Derby contenders in Tale of Ekati, expected to start in the Wood this Saturday, and Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck, now being considered for the Blue Grass or the Holy Bull. In his first start of the year, Tale of Ekati disappointed finishing sixth in the Louisiana Derby and will have to show a remarkable turnaround in the Wood to justify a Derby post. Of course, the same could be said of War Pass, the likely favorite for the Wood.

Posted in Racing on March 31, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Colonel Works, Georgie Out