Last weekend, three more horses stamped their ticket to Louisville for this year's Kentucky Derby . The Todd Pletcher runner; Gemologist remained undefeated with a measured victory over Alpha in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Off this victory, he'll most likely vie for favorism with Union Rags. Meanwhile on the west coast, I'll Have Another backed up his previous longshot victory with also a measure win over Creative Cause in the Santa Anita Derby . Finally, Done Talking won at a price in the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park . These horses join; Take Charge Indy ( Florida Derby ) , Daddy Nose Best (Sunland Derby) , Mark Valeski (2nd Louisiana Derby ) and Daddy Long Legs & Wrote (UAE Derby ) in the starting gate for the first Saturday in May. Today we have two more major preps with three weeks to go, featuring last year's Juvenile champion; Hansen and two very talented Bob Baffert runners.
The traditional prep race at Keeneland is the Blue Grass Stakes at a mile and an eighth on the polytrack surface. In recent years, this race hasn't been a big determining factor for the Run for the Roses. Being contested on a synthetic surface, most horses winning this race haven't been a factor returning to dirt at Churchill Downs . But this year, the race has brought a champion runner to Keeneland and a major contender for this year's Derby . Hansen, the gray phenomenon who recently won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, is entered along with twelve others that include; longshot Louisiana Derby winner Hero of Order and the highly regarded turf / polytrack runner; Dullahan. Last week, I liked an improving horse entered in the Santa Anita Derby which scratched out of that spot for today's race. He's 30-1 on the morning line today and returns to polytrack for the first time since career debut. Holy Candy (#9) was my second selection in last week's Santa Anita Derby , he figured today was an easier spot and comes into the race with a good, consistent record. Another good, consistent runner is Prospective (#3) who has been one/two in his races this winter at Tampa Bay Downs . He's two for two on the polytrack surface at Woodbine last year and a grade III stake winner going a route distance. At 10-1 morning line odds, my runner-up pick with top selection make a "box-car" exotic pick! The 6-5 morning line favorite; Hansen (#4) is a must use in ALL gimmicks, but is a play against value wise with him trying the mile and a eighth distance the first time. Heavy Breathing (#1) and Midnight Crooner (#8) add in also in triples and superfectas.
The Arkansas Derby is the final prep race at Oaklawn Park on closing day. This year, this Derby prep route hasn't been very strong compared to recent years. But, trainer Bob Baffert has two very talented runners that are head and shoulders above the nine other runners. Secret Circle (#5) has won both Derby prep races here (Southwest & Rebel Stakes) and looks to stretch out his winning streak going a sixteenth of a mile more. Bodemeister (#11) ships in from Santa Anita off a sharp second versus Creative Cause last time out. He needs graded stakes earnings for the Derby , but draws the worst of post positions for today's race. Since these two "stick out" over the field, they'll be my top two picks. Underneath the Baffert duo, I'll be using; Isn't He Clever (#6) recent runner-up in the Sunland Derby and closers, Najjaar (#3) and Optimizer (#7).
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