Thursday, March 7, 2013

2013 KENTUCKY DERBY contenders (3/7)



1) Flashback - perfect in his two career starts, steps it up vs. a modest field this Saturday in the San Felipe at Santa Anita
2) Super Ninety Nine - loved the slop in the Southwest Stakes, this Baffert runner makes next start in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn (3/16)
3) Vyjack - made a believer out of me with a new dimension from off the pace winning the Gotham Stakes, the Wood Memorial is up next (4/6)
4) Orb - loved his running style victory in the FOTY Stakes over a Gulfstream speed favoring strip, stays in down south for the Florida Derby (3/30)
5) Itsmyluckyday - won the Holy Bull Stakes early on the Triple Crown trail,consistent as they come, he tries to prove himself in the Florida Derby next start.
6) Revolutionary - came from the clouds with wild trip in the Withers Stakes on the Aqueduct Inner-track, trips like that are tough in the Derby, heads to the Fairgrounds next for the Louisiana Derby.
7) Verrazano - won two starts by over 24 lengths, gets the "acid" test in the Tampa Bay Derby this Saturday, may be the real deal!
8) Shanghai Bobby - 2nd best in seasonal debut in the Holy Bull Stakes, gets only ONE more start before the Derby (Fla.Derby), question his ability to get the mile & a quarter.
9) Normandy Invasion - broke slowly in the Risen Star Stakes in first start of the year, ships back to NY for the Wood Memorial for next start.
10) Overanalyze - came up a dud in the Gotham Stakes as the favorite, may go in either the Wood or Arkansas Derby next time out.

11) Goldencents - winner of the Sham Stakes three months ago, faces Flashback in the San Felipe, must move forward.
12) Den's Legacy - 2nd best behind Flashback in last, ships to Oaklawn Park for start in the Rebel Stakes, makes 11th career start.
13) Shakin It Up - sharp win in the San Vicente going seven panels, Baffert takes him to the Sunland Derby for his stretching out next start.
14) Falling Sky - went wire to wire in the Sam F. Davis Stakes in last start, tries to carry his speed to victory in the Tampa Bay Derby going the same distance.
15) Ive Struck A Nerve - was 135-1 coming from the clouds to win the Risen Star Stakes in last start, a "bomber" won a 3yr.old stake there last year too!
16) Code West - just missed to above horse in interesting trip, another consistent runner.
17) Palace Malice - right behind top two with 3rd place finish, looks like a Pletcher 2nd stringer.
18) Oxbow - weakened late to three horses above after having the lead, don't know what to make of the 2013 edition of the Risen Star Stakes.
19) Dynamic Sky - chased Falling Sky in last start, faces him again & Verrazano in the Tampa Bay Derby .
20) Delhomme - unseen since setting the pace in the Remsen Stakes tiring to 3rd, makes seasonal debut in the Rebel Stakes.
21) Uncaptured - won the Kentucky Juvenile Cup last Fall at Churchill Downs, unseen since then & looks like that was a negative race.