JC / Railbird

Kentucky Derby

Big Beyer for Big Brown

– Big Brown’s Florida Derby final time of 1:48.16 earns a 106 Beyer speed figure, the best we’ve seen of any two-turn prep race this season.
– There’s nothing unusual about two offspring of one sire winning on the same day, but how often does that happen to a broodmare? Both Chelokee and Salute the Sarge, half-brothers out of Dixie Ghost, won on Saturday in their first races off lengthy layoffs. At Gulfstream, making his first start since winning the G3 Northern Dancer at Churchill in June 2007, Chelokee surged through a spot on the rail in the stretch to take race five, a one-mile optional claimer. Across the country, Salute the Sarge, making his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, showed a nice kick rallying in the stretch to win the San Miguel Stakes at Santa Anita. Dixie Ghost is by sprinter Silver Ghost, out of the Dixieland Band mare Mississippi Dixie, and winner of the G3 Just a Game Handicap. Of her four foals to race, all are winners, three of graded stakes. Up close the family is solid, with plenty of blacktype, but what’s interesting is that Dixie Ghost’s second dam, Nashima, is 4×5 to Mumtaz Mahal, one of the most influential 20th century broodmares. That’s a fine family to descend from, especially for potential sires.

Posted in Racing on March 30, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / 5 comments

Hot Brown in the Derby

Big Brown wows winning the Florida Derby, secures Kentucky Derby post with $600,000 in earnings. The hype machine is surely gearing up, and while I can see the temptation to hop on the fast colt’s bandwagon, I’ll let others make that trip. His fractions were fast — :22.76, :23.07, :24.25, :25.10, and :12.98 — but not exactly heart-fluttering, and he’ll enter the Derby off three starts if his bad feet hold up. In the past 10 years, five others have done the same, and only one even finished in the money — Curlin, who proved earlier in the day how very special he is winning the Dubai World Cup. Still, visually impressive and interesting to think about as a speed rival to War Pass …

Posted in Racing on March 29, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Hot Brown in the Derby

Full Gate in Arkansas

With 110 nominations to the April 12 Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn is guaranteed a full field for the closing leg of its Kentucky Derby prep series. At least 15 horses are being seriously considered for the race, but only 14 can start.

Posted in Racing on March 28, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby / Comments Off on Full Gate in Arkansas