You know what they say; the road (you know where) is paved with best intentions. Well, the road to the Kentucky Derby can be "hell" for both owners and trainers, but the trail to get there for the horse can be a simple one, if you race those prep and win, your in! Last year, the path to the first Saturday in May changed somewhat for a horse having a spot in the starting gate among the other twenty runners. In past years, a runner had to earn graded stakes money to guarantee a spot in the starting gate. The bigger the prep race victory, the more guaranteed that your horse would be among the twenty racing.
Last year, the Derby committee changed the criteria for the three year olds to gain entrance to the Kentucky Derby. A point system was established for the intended Derby hopefuls with prep race victories, starting as two year olds (10 points), 50 points in Derby preps up to the Florida Derby and 100 points in the final major preps. This was done to put more emphasis on horses winning the prep races, than horses that won early on the trail and skipped prep races or had sub par efforts in them. Last year, the system worked great with all the prep winning horses making it to the gate for the Derby. This year is been a little different so far.
Lightly raced three year olds like; Hoppertunity. Chitu and recent Florida Derby winner; Constitution all got 100 points in recent victories and earned a spot in the starting gate. For established horses with two year old form like; Cairo Prince and Candy Boy, the story is a little different. Top rated Cairo Prince finished a rather dull fourth coming off a layoff and stands 16th on the list of 20 who will make the starting field. With only 24 points, he's going to need some help to get a place in the gate. Today, Candy Boy races in the Santa Anita Derby and he has only 10 points putting him 28th on the list. An effort like Cairo Prince's from last weekend for him, and he'll be looking on the outside in!
We have two major prep races today in New York and California. With no solid standout last weekend in both the Florida Derby and Louisiana Derby, maybe the Wood Memorial or Santa Anita Derby will give us a early Derby favorite.
At Aqueduct, 11 runners go forward in the mile and eighth - Wood Memorial with the third rematch between Samraat and Uncle Sigh. So far, Samraat has bested Uncle Sigh both times in the grade III - Withers & Gotham Stakes. Today, we are on the main track where those two previous races were on the inner-track. New shooter shippers like; Kristo from California and Florida sensation; Social Inclusion could be the main danger to the home track runners. I'm looking for a pace melt down here with the closers taking advantage. My selections for the Wood are : Kid Cruz (#1) - only winner at this distance and has won over the track. Harpoon (#4) - had a wide late rally in the Gotham and gets Johnny V. in the irons. Samraat (#8) - has had two gutsy victories here, but the added distance could be his undoing today. Aqueduct (11th) 1-4-8-11.
The Santa Anita Derby is a little more clear cut. Eight runners are entered with two maidens, turf allowance and recent maiden winner. That leaves four runners with trips over the Santa Anita strip in graded stakes competition. My top pick here goes to recent Oaklawn Park - Rebel Stakes winner; Hopperunity (#3). This is fifth start of the year, broke his maiden here and was gutsy in his last victory, closing from the outside. California Chrome (#5) - rides a three race winning streak into this race, while making his tenth career start. Candy Boy (#6) - hasn't raced since early February and needs a 1-2-3 finish today to make the Derby field of 20 runners. Santa Anita (8th) 3-5-6-7
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