JC / Railbird

Paulick Derby Index

Thursday Notes

Since Odysseus is now #3 on my Kentucky Derby top 10, it was with some relief that I read trainer Tom Albertrani plans to give the Tampa Bay Derby winner, not a seven-week layoff, but another prep before the Kentucky Derby:

We’re probably going to work him either Thursday or Friday, see how he is, and then make a choice between the Blue Grass or Arkansas Derby.

With Rule dropping to #7, largely due to his apparent inability to rate and subsequent third-place finish in the Florida Derby last Saturday, Eskendereya moves to #1. We’ll find out in the April 3 Wood Memorial, which drew 61 nominations (PDF), if the position is deserved.

PDI top 10 for 3/23/10: 1) Eskendereya 2) Lookin at Lucky 3) Odysseus 4) Dublin 5) Sidney’s Candy 6) Caracortado 7) Rule 8) Awesome Act 9) Discreetly Mine 10) Fast Alex Noble’s Promise

The Louisiana Derby is the most significant of three Derby preps scheduled this weekend. Thirteen are entered, including Risen Star winner Discreetly Mine. Not among the starters, intriguing allowance winner Fast Alex: The colt suffered a shin injury and “might be sidelined for a couple months.” (For more about this weekend’s races, sign up for the HRF Derby Prep Alert emails.)

In non-Derby news: David Milch’s “Luck” starts filming at Santa Anita on March 29. “Mr. Mann expressed a strong desire to shoot much of this pilot while we were running live.” The pilot is expected to air on HBO in early 2011.

Posted in Racing on March 25, 2010 / Tagged Derby Prospects, Kentucky Derby, Luck, Odysseus, Paulick Derby Index, Santa Anita

(Possible) Derby Contenders

The Paulick Derby Index returns, and I’m pleased to be taking part once again. Is it a little early to start ranking possible Kentucky Derby contenders? For sure; the 2008 Derby winner, Big Brown, hadn’t even recorded his first workout of the year (for those interested, a spreadsheet of Kentucky Derby winners’ preps, including works, from 1998-2009) and eventual champions Curlin and Summer Bird were still maidens at this time. But, a few up-and-comers have made an impression. (Hello, late-running Ron the Greek!) Consider my first top 10 a watch list; I want to see more from all on it.

Posted in Racing on February 2, 2010 / Tagged Derby Prospects, Kentucky Derby, Paulick Derby Index, Ron the Greek

Listmaking

My Kentucky Derby top 10 this week (as included in the Paulick Derby Index):

1. Old Fashioned
2. Desert Party
3. Friesan Fire
4. Capt. Candyman Can
5. Pioneerof the Nile
6. Imperial Council
7. Flying Pegasus
8. Dunkirk
9. Regal Ransom
10. Papa Clem

Also watching: Rachel Alexandra, Stardom Bound, Hello Broadway, The Pamplemousse, Break Water Edison.

Posted in Racing on February 24, 2009 / Tagged Kentucky Derby, Paulick Derby Index