Talk Derby To Us: Week 7

February 25, 2010

Hello Everyone,

The biggest weekend thus far on the Triple Crown Trail was last week with its five graded stakes races. The Grade II Fountain of Youth boasted a stellar field, but it turned out to be no contest. Eskendereya put on the best performance this year as he won by 8 1/2 lengths. Jackson Bend held on for the place, and the favorite, Buddy’s Saint, had a nightmare trip and finished ninth. Trainer Todd Pletcher said that it looked like he would go next in the Florida Derby. In the Grade II Risen Star Stakes, Discreetly Mine went wire-to-wire after setting soft fractions in an uncontested lead. Discreetly Mine is a half brother to the blisteringly fast Grade I winner Discreet Cat. Runner-up Tempted to Tapit couldn’t get by the winner, who had too much left in the tank in the end. The much heralded allowance winner Drosselmeyer and the LeComte winner Ron the Greek finished fourth and sixth respectively. D’Funnybone dominated the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream. He used minimal effort in winning by a length. Trainer Richard Dutrow said the Grade I Florida Derby on March 20 would be next for his D’wildcat colt. Conveyance put on a show in the rescheduled Grade III Southwest Stakes. The Bob Baffert trainee was never headed winning by 3/4 of a length. Grade I winner Dublin put in a very nice run at the end, but he couldn’t catch the grey son of Indian Charlie. In the Grade III El Camino Real Derby, Connemara strengthened his credentials on the Derby trail after a 1 1/4 length score. The victory was the third for trainer Todd Pletcher in Derby preps for the weekend also winning with Eskendereya and Discreetly Mine. In my selections, I had three out of the five races. I missed the Fountain of Youth after the terrible trip by Buddy’s Saint and almost had the Risen Star, but Tempted to Tapit finished second.

This week is relatively quiet on the Derby trail with only one graded stakes race, the Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. The only other races are regional preps. The field for the Sham has a lot of unproven horses. I am going to go out on a limb and pick maiden winner Nextdoorneighbor to surprise a lot of people. Grade I winner Backtalk is making his first start of the year in Friday’s Sportsman’s Paradise Stakes at Delta Downs against a challenging field that includes the speedy stakes winner Royal Express.

On the Oaks trail, Jody Slew pulled the upset in the Grade III Silverbulletday Stakes at the Fair Grounds over Grade I winner Devil May Care last week. This week brings about the Grade II Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Davona Dale has a very deep field with big-time stakes winners Bickersons, Amen Hallelujah, the dazzling Sassy Image and notable maiden winner Christine Daae. This could be a big statement win for our number one filly Sassy Image in the biggest race of the weekend.

As always thank you for reading my list!

Sincerely,
Seth Kochera

Top Ten Derby Horses
By: Seth Kochera

February 24, 2010 (Week 8)
1. Eskendereya
He made a huge statement running a monstrous race that is the best performance this year.

2. Conveyance
The handsome son of Indian Charlie now has won graded stakes on two different surfaces.

3. Super Saver
Still on target for the March 6 Gotham Stakes, which could include the speedy Tiz Chrome.

4. D’Funnybone
His triumph his sophomore debut had plenty of style, and he didn’t even work very hard.

5. Rule
Todd Plecther said that this colt will probably run next in a Grade I that has yet to be named.

6. Discreetly Mine
Got away with some very soft fractions on an uncontested lead, still he ran a great race.

7. Buddy’s Saint
He had every excuse in the world after being put into the rail in a dreadfully rough trip.

8. Tempted to Tapit
He ran a great race but just couldn’t get by Discreetly Mine, who got away with a slow pace.

9. Lookin At Lucky
Baffert is preparing the Champ for his first start of the year, which is about two weeks away.

10. Connemara
Big win for the lightly raced son of Giant’s Causeway, but he still has a lot he needs to prove.

Keep an eye on: Caracortado, Jackson Bend

Dropped from list: Drosselmeyer, Ron the Greek

Upcoming Races
2/26/10 – Sportsman’s Paradise Stakes (1 mile, Delta Downs) $75,000
2/27/10 – Sham Stakes (G3) (1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita Park) $150,000
2/27/10 – Borderland Derby (1 1/16 miles, Sunland Park) $100,000
2/27/10 – John Battaglia Memorial Stakes (1 1/16 miles, Turfway Park) $100,000

Last Week’s Races
2/20/10 – Risen Star Stakes (G2) (1 1/16 miles, Fair Grounds) Winner: Discreetly Mine
2/20/10 – Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) (1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park) Winner: Eskendereya
2/20/10 – Hutcheson Stakes (G2) (7 furlongs, Gulfstream Park) Winner: D’Funnybone
2/20/10 – Southwest Stakes (G3) (1 mile, Oaklawn Park) Winner: Conveyance
2/20/10 – El Camino Real Derby (G3) (1 1/8 miles, Golden Gate Fields) Winner: Connemara

Oaks Top Five
By: Seth Kochera

February 24, 2010 (Week 8)
1. Sassy Image
She faces a tough field in a loaded Davona Dale, but nothing this fine filly can’t handle.

2. Blind Luck
The premier west coast filly is slated to run next in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks on March 6.

3. Hot Dixie Chick
No word on her as to where she will run again, but her workouts show it will be fairly soon.

4. She Be Wild
It will be very interesting to see how the Champ will respond to her loss last time out.

5. Decelerator
Appears to be coming into her own, all she needs is that signature win against the big girls.

Keep an eye on: Awesome Maria, Christine Daae

Dropped from list: None

Upcoming Races
2/26/10 – Green Oaks (1 mile, Delta Downs) $75,000
2/27/10 – Davona Dale Stakes (G2) (1 mile, Gulfstream Park) $150,000
Last Week’s Races
2/20/10 – Silverbulletday (G3) (1 1/16 miles, Fair Grounds) Winner: Jody Slew