February 8, 2012

Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for schoolyard dreams

Challengers lining up to face Pletcher and Borel’s Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment


For the third time in four years Calvin Borel rocketed his mount to the front of the pack in the Kentucky Derby. In 2007 it was aboard juvenile champion Street Sense. He did it on super long shot Mine That Bird in 2009. This time it was on Super Saver. The Cajun jockey held three fingers to the sky after the race to signify these three horses.

Soon after he boldly stated that the son of Maria’s Mon would win the Triple Crown. Trainer Todd Pletcher said that Super Saver’s next race would come in the Preakness (shocking, right?). Calvin may believe he has the 12th Triple Crown winner of all time, but several challengers will line up to oppose him.

The first one that leaps out to me is Grade 2 Louisiana Derby runner up A Little Warm. He was very impressive stretching out in distance for the first time in that race. He appeared to be a sprinter, but he proved his doubters wrong by digging in and holding on for second after he came under attack early in the stretch run. If he can improve on that effort he would be dangerous in the Preakness. If Bob Baffert doesn’t send Conveyance his chances will be increased. Conveyance would likely burn him to a crisp on the lead.

I also like Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis winner Caracortado. The gelded son of Cat Dreams has had excuses in his last to races. In the Grade 2 San Felipe he had no fractions to chase and Sidney’s Candy easily pulled the wire job. In the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby he had to check sharply after the Gomez-Espinoza incident where Lookin at Lucky was slammed into the rail. If he goes to the Preakness and the fractions are sharp you can bet your ass he will come flying late. The only thing working against him is that Pimlico Racecourse favors speed.

The Kentucky Derby favorite, Lookin at Lucky, would have a heck of a chance if Bob Baffert decides to send him. He has encountered plenty of trouble in his three-year-old campaign, but has handled it well. He rallied to win the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes after clipping heels. In the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby he was unable to overcome being slammed into the rail, but still finished third. He put in a nice rally in the Derby but couldn’t overcome his rail post position. If Garrett Gomez can navigate a clean trip he will be loaded for bear turning for home and could mow them all down.

Others considering the race are Kentucky Derby third place finisher Paddy O’Prado. He is the definition of the “now” horse. He continues to improve with every start. Nick Zito and Bob LaPenta are toying with idea of starting Kentucky Derby runner up Ice Box in the Preakness, but will probably save him for the Belmont Stakes. Ice Box was easily the best colt in the Derby, but didn’t win because of an awful trip. Their other horse, Jackson Bend, is likely to go.

Other Kentucky Derby also rans’ considering the Preakness are Dublin, Make Music For Me, and Conveyance. New shooters include the Grade 3 Derby Trial first three finishers Hurricane Ike, Aikenite, and Pleasant Prince. Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby runner up Schoolyard Dreams and Grade 3 Illinois Derby fourth place finisher Turf Melody wrap up the list of potential challengers. Super Saver will undoubtedly be in with a huge shot, but these horses won’t make it easy on him.

Who is your early pick for the Preakness? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

Filed Under: Horse Racing News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kentucky Derby Top 10 List

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Kentucky Derby is rapidly approaching. Several of the top prep races have already been contested and several of the horses that will be in that gate on the First Saturday in May have already had their final preparatory race. Plenty of others have not so there is still much to be decided. Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders.

#1 Lookin at Lucky- The defending juvenile champion has done very little wrong in his career. If not for a poor trip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile he would be undefeated. He is a son of Smart Strike so his pedigree is top notch. Trainer Bob Baffert has taken the roses three times (Real Quiet, Silver Charm, War Emblem), which means this colt couldn’t be in better hands. I love the fact that his highest Beyer Speed Figure was recorded on dirt when he won the Rebel Stakes after a trip from hell. Look for a huge effort in the Santa Anita Derby if that is his next race.

#2 Odysseus- Have you seen this son of Malibu Moon’s last two races? If not then I suggest you head over to YouTube and check him out. He crushed an allowance field by 15 lengths two back at Tampa Bay Downs. After that win he returned in the Tampa Bay Derby. He appeared finished at the top of the stretch, but came on again to register a narrow victory. He is visually impressive and “looks the part” so to speak. He is expected to race in the Bluegrass Stakes. Be on the watch for him.

#3 Sidney’s Candy- I love the way this horse won easily in his last two races. He took the San Vicente easily. He returned for another easy score in the San Felipe. The latter was his first try around two turns. Some question his ability to stay, but I don’t think he will have a problem being a son of Candy Ride. It’s hard to say how good he is at this point, but he will get the acid test next out in the Santa Anita Derby.

#4 Awesome Act- I love the way he skipped over the track in his Gotham win. That was his first race of the year. The son of Awesome Again seems to be getting good at the right time for his European connections. He ended his two-year-old campaign with a fourth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Look for him in the Wood Memorial.

#5 Eskendereya- This colt is atop many Kentucky Derby lists, but I have to see him reproduce his Fountain of Youth effort before I get on board. I view him as a Bellamy Road type of colt in the sense that while Bellamy Road was an incredible runner, he didn’t show up on Kentucky Derby day. I can see that happening with this one. If he impresses in the Wood Memorial I’ll hop on the bandwagon, but until then I prefer the top 4 over him.

#6 Interactif- He is a stakes winner on the turf for trainer Todd Pletcher. His first start over the synthetic resulted in a second place finish behind Sidney’s Candy in the San Felipe. He was moving well late despite the fact that he had no fractions to chase. He will return in the Bluegrass Stakes.

#7 Schoolyard Dreams- I loved his big move in the Tampa Bay Derby. He was narrowly defeated by Odysseus in that race. He is handled by Derek Ryan who trained 2009 Illinois Derby winner Musket Man. His next start will come in the Wood Memorial.

#8 Jackson Bend- He is in perfect hands with Nick Zito. He ran into a horse that wasn’t going to lose last out when he was second to Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth. It will be interesting to see how Calvin Borel handles him in the Wood.

#9 Caracortado- How can you knock a gelding that has lost just once? Throw in the fact that he lost due to a slow pace and he looks even better. I love the way he rolled up on the pacesetters in his Robert B. Lewis win. He will need a strong performance in the Santa Anita Derby to stay on track for the First Saturday in May.

#10 Noble’s Promise- The son of Cuvee was last seen finishing a close second to Lookin at Lucky in the Rebel Stakes. He could make some noise in his next start which in all likelihood will be the first time he hasn’t competed against “Lucky” since his triumph in the Futurity at Keeneland.

Follow the 2010 Kentucky Derby contenders and the upcoming prep races next week on Stakes Tracker on Horse Racing Nation:
  • 2010 Santa Anita Derby
  • 2010 Wood Memorial
  • 2010 Illinois Derby

This list will change drastically after the Wood Memorial, Bluegrass Stakes, and Illinois Derby are conducted this weekend. I firmly believe that the winner of the Kentucky Derby will come from one of those two races, or the Santa Anita Derby. I’m putting very little stock in the Lanes End, Florida Derby, Sunland Derby, and Louisiana Derby. I believe the winners of those races are a cut below those on this list. The most important question still remains; who do YOU like?!

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Delta Jackpot winner Rule squares off against Uptowncharlybrown in the Sam F. Davis Stakes

February 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs has been an excellent race in the past few years. Last years winner was General Quarters. He went on to take the Grade 1 Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland. In 2007 Any Given Saturday won the race and later that year took the Haskell Invitational. In 2006 Bluegrass Cat won the race before running second to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby. The $225,000 purse would go very far in helping a prospective Kentucky Derby horse get the earnings he needs to make the race. Let’s take a look at the field!

Todd Pletcher has a hot Kentucky Derby prospect in Delta Jackpot winner Rule. The son of Roman Ruler broke the track record for one mile  in a minor stakes at Delta Downs prior to that win. He has speed to spare and should make the lead. I have to wonder if he is cranked up for this race. He doesn’t have to win so the connections may or may not be giving it everything in this spot.  John Velasquez will retain the mount and seek to improve this colts win streak to four races. It won’t be easy.

Uptowncharlybrown took the Pasco Stakes by 6 lengths last out under Daniel Centeno after breaking his maiden by 9 lengths. Both of those win came at Tampa Bay Downs. He is a closer and will be rolling late in this race. The connections will need him to perform well if he is going to stay on track for the First Saturday in May. A win here would go a long way towards getting him the earnings he needs to be in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

Derek Ryan will send out Schoolyard Dreams after he won an optional claimer last out. He has elected to add blinkers. The son of Stephen Got Even sports a bullet four furlong breeze and has been working very well for the past few weeks. He beat a nice colt in Tempted To Tapit two races back. Cornelio Velasquez will pick up the mount since Daniel Centeno opted to stay with Uptowncharlybrown. This colt doesn’t seem too fast on paper, but I’ve got a good feeling about him.

Middle Of The Nite will attempt to shake things up here for trainer Thomas Albertrani. His last trip to the track resulted in a close third place finish behind the highly thought of Eskendereya at Gulfstream Park. The son of Offlee Wild will be racing for West Point Thoroughbreds. It is likely that he will confront Rule for the lead.

Who do you like in the Sam F. Davis Stakes?

Filed Under: Horse Handicapping Tagged With: , , , ,