I saw an interview with Joe Bravo on TV last week. The interviewer asked Joe what his favorite types of races are. Jersey Joe, who has been interviewed  by this site, said that he relishes racing on the turf. Just as our friend Joe likes riding those races, I  enjoy handicapping them. The Virginia Derby is the perfect chance to do so. The Grade 2 event for three-year-olds is contested over the classic distance of 10 furlongs.

Paddy O’ Prado, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, and winner of the Colonial Turf Cup, is the 7/5 morning line favorite. The son of El Prado is one of my favorite horses this year. Trainer Dale Romans is having an excellent year in 2010, and jockey Kent Desormeaux is as good as he has ever been. If Paddy O’ Prado loses it probably wont be for lack of training or jockey skill. I’ll go in another direction despite the obvious talent of this horse.

I like Krypton to take this race. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee was last seen narrowly taking the Grade 3 Prince Hill Stakes at Belmont Park over a VERY good colt named Nordic Truce with new jockey Rajiv Maragh in the irons. Krypton has great pedigree being a son of the enormous Rock Hard Ten. His runners have taken to the turf very well.

Krypton has the right running style to win this race. He will sit off one or two horses and make a big move entering the stretch. The Florida bred runner worked a very sharp 1:00 2/5 B at the Saratoga training track on Sunday. I love his 7/2 price and I think he could even go off higher than that. All systems are go.

Other horses to consider are Stately Victor, and Interactif. Stately Victor won the Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes earlier this year with a powerful closing kick. This will the first time he has been on the weeds since that victory. He broke his maiden over the turf at Saratoga last summer. Interactif won the Grade 3 With Anticipation and Grade 3 Bourbon before finishing a close third in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf last year. His connections unsuccessfully attempted the Belmont Stakes last out. He should improve while returning to the grass.

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