It's NYRA game to lose again!

Less than a week from now, the New York Racing Association begins it premier season of racing on the big stage with the opening of Belmont Park. Not to take away from Aqueduct and their winter inner-track meet, but Belmont Park and Saratoga are the meat and potatoes of NYRA's money making year. Great weather, turf wagering and top notch horses rule the roost from May until October. With the beginning of top notch racing in New York, comes good closure for the association. A bright future that has finally been made clear by the State of New York, giving full reign to NYRA and it's racing product.

One of the items in this year's late state budget was the turnover of thoroughbred racing back to NYRA without any major conditions, thus putting it back into private hands. It's been many year's since instability has been the norm for the entity that runs thoroughbred racing in the Empire State. The agreement by state lawmakers and the governor will allow NYRA to have a 17 member board to oversee operations. Eight will be chosen by the current executive board in place, two by the governor's office, two from both the senate and assembly, plus current NYRA Chief-Officer; Chris Kay. The final two members are from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemens Association and New York Breeders Inc. Finally the long, embattled time for the association should come to an end and stability to racing in New York.

For the first time in over a decade, the New York Racing Association can see a clear path to the future. It's no longer haunted by certain state mandates in their operation procedures. Many strides have been made since 2002 with improvements in racing safety and operations that in the past were riddled with scandal. Being more transparent with their day to day operations and a new business model has propelled them from a questionable organization to a top notch business company. Changes in the way thoroughbred racing was presented and an emphasis on improving the product to the public were key factors on returning racing to NYRA. Saratoga played a big part in the changes with a more fan favored approach. The creation of the wagering portal; NYRA Bets also expanded the racing product across the country. In a state where it's tough to get things done, NYRA succeeded and was granted full control of thoroughbred racing again. With the future bright and sound, maybe NYRA could lure the Breeder's Cup World Championships back to New York. It's been over 15 years and it's time to have the greatest two days of racing back in the Big Apple!

The 2017 Kentucky Derby prep trail came to an end last Saturday just where it left off last Fall in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile. Classic Empire proved best in the Arkansas Derby and likely favoritism the First Saturday in May. After a prep trail of disappointments and favorites getting beat early on, Classic Empire changed all that with a sharp victory after an eventful three year old season. He will try to maintain those sharp, classy three year old runners that have dominated the derby the past few years. He'll try to be the fifth straight morning line favorite to attempt to repeat as Kentucky Derby winner. Some still may have doubts but on paper, Classic Empire is the most accomplished horse and is peaking at the right time in my opinion!

Will the real, CLASSIC EMPIRE step forward?

We've reached the final major prep on this year's Kentucky Derby trail and not a moment too soon! It's been a year where logical favorites have gone to the wayside. Last weekend, Irish War Cry redeemed his bad effort in the Fountain of Youth Stakes with a sharp going away effort after stalking in the Wood Memorial. Meanwhile, the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland was upset with the maiden; Irap winning over the best Derby prep field so far this season. Then on the west coast, in the wide open Santa Anita Derby had an old favorite also redeem himself with victory as Gormley bounced back from his non-effort in the San Felipe a few weeks back. One prep race left, one last chance for a runner to gain those important points to make the Derby field and one chance for the two year old champion of last year to redeem himself.

When the dust settled last Fall, Classic Empire won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile and the championship in January. He has had one start this year, a lack luster third as the 1-2 favorite in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. But then the bottom fell out on this talented son of Pioneer of the Nile. After that race, it was revealed he had a foot abscess, forcing him to miss his next start. Then there were issues with him during his workouts and refusing to go to the track. It was determined he had back issues that could have been the blame for his actions. He left Gulfstream Park, relocated to a farm in Ocala and he has rebounded with improved works. Shipping to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, he has shown his two year old form and it's all systems go for today.

But, he'll need a top effort because he is on the borderline of making the Derby field. Currently he has 32 points which is currently 21st on the list. If he cannot have a top four finish, he may be on the outside looking in the First Saturday in May. It's likely he'll make the field even with a sub par effort, but his trainer Mark Casse said without a solid top three finish, he'll skip the race. But with the uncertainty along the Kentucky Derby prep trail so far this year, there is bound to be one horse to get it right and win when he is suppose to. I feel that Classic Empire, the morning line favorite for the Arkansas Derby will do that today. And all bets are off for a longshot winning in three weeks, since Classic Empire is the BEST horse left in the very deep and confusing crop of three year old Derby hopefuls.

Like I said, I've been a big fan of Classic Empire since his victory last Fall and his effort today hinges on me possibly cashing some Kentucky Derby future wagers on him on May 6th. One Liner I thought was his main competition in the Arkansas Derby, but Todd Pletcher has pulled from the Kentucky Derby trail because of poor workout efforts and he's not racing today. So, Classic Empire looks the horse to beat in this field of twelve runners. My play for the runner-up spot is a price and the runner up in the Sunland Derby; Conquest Mo Money. He held second with a big move and has already run the mile and a eighth distance of today's race. After these two; horses like Malagacy, Untrapped and Petrov figure to get a piece and also be Kentucky starting runners with good efforts today. The play for the Arkansas Derby is : Classic Empire (#2) with Conquest Mo Money (#11) and Malagacy (#12) - Untrapped (#9) - Petrov (#4) in the third and fourth spots.

SUPER SPRING SATURDAY STAKES ~ Aqueduct - Keeneland - Santa Anita

We've reached the "meat and potatoes" of the prep races on the Kentucky Derby trail today with three crucial events in New York, Kentucky and California. Nearly a dozen runners from the top 25 contenders will try to gain points and get a spot in the starting gate the First Saturday in May. Last weekend, Todd Pletcher added his sixth runner to the mix with Always Dreaming winning the Florida Derby and at the Fairgrounds; Girvin won the Louisiana Derby and became the only two time prep winner this year. The Wood Memorial, Bluegrass Stakes and Santa Anita Derby, all a mile and eighth will determine the next three major players.

The Wood Memorial (AQU 10th ~ 5:52 post) is first up with eight runners entered. The last Wood Memorial winner to repeat in the Derby was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. In fact, the last in the money runner from this race to get the roses was Funny Cide in 2003. A prep race with little effect on the Derby in recent years has three main players; Cloud Computing (2nd in the Gotham) Irish War Cry (Fountain of Youth winner) and Battalion Runner, a highly regard Todd Pletcher trainee. The later, needs points to gain entry to the Derby with at least a top three finish. Battalion Runner is facing stakes competition for the first time, but some regard him as Pletcher's best of six runners. Cloud Computing is lightly raced with only his third career start but has the Apollo curse as being unraced as a two year old. I'm leaning toward a winner over the track here last Fall going this distance. Mo Town (#2) was no factor as the favorite in the Risen Star Stakes coming off his two year old campaign layoff. Winner of the Remsen Stakes here last Fall, his 6-1 morning line odds look real appealing. Battalion Runner (#3) is my second choice and gets a real class test here (I have him in the final Derby future pool at 26-1). The numbers for the Wood : 2-3-7-8.

The Bluegrass Stakes (KEE 10th ~ 6:17 post) has come up the strongest of the prep races this year, even though there are only seven runners entered. Four of the seven entered could be the favorite post time at Churchill in a few weeks. The longest gap exists for winners of this race, winning again in the Kentucky Derby. The last was Strike the Gold in 1991, 26 years ago. I've been a huge fan of Practical Joke (#7) ever since his maiden victory at Saratoga last summer. His trainer Chad Brown could have stayed in Florida and raced last weekend or shipped to New York today. But he chose this spot for the son of Into Mischief, he is my top choice. For second, Tapwrit (#4) has come into his own off his last two races at Tampa Bay. Once again, he could have waited until the Derby to race again because he currently has enough points to get in (54 pts) but is entered today. My selections here are; 7-4-2-3.

The Santa Anita Derby (SA 8th ~ 6:30 post) has had the most consistent winners once again winning five weeks later in the derby (California Chrome & I'll Have Another) most recently. But this year's edition with 13 entered in the most wide open and full field in many years. Bob Baffert would have had the favorite in Mastery if he didn't get hurt. While he has two runners entered today, once again I'll lean toward the runners with the most experience during the derby prep races this year. Even though his post is a killer, Royal Mo (#13) is my top selection. Back class and speed, if he can negotiate the outside and get position, he could be a steal at his 10-1 morning line odds with Gary Stevens aboard. My runner-up pick is Iliad (#9) second best behind Mastery in the San Felipe first time going two turns. My play in this wide open event is : 13-9-6-5.

Gulf coast swing ~ week #1 of the final prep races for Kentucky Derby trail '17

We've come down to the final three weeks of prep races for this year's Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown trail. It's a "Traffic Light" series in my opinion, three weeks with seven races where horses will continue to the First Saturday in May "green" , remain in a holding pattern along the Triple Crown "yellow" or leave the trail all together "red". It starts today with the "Gulf coast swing" where we have the Louisiana Derby at the Fairgrounds and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream. Both are mile and an eight prep races and mark the first two entries that will get the green light for May 6th.

First up is the Louisiana Derby (FG 11th) grade II event with a field of nine entered. Risen Star winner - Girvin (#8) tries to make it two in a row after a solid win at 8-1. Risen Star also-rans; Local Hero (#3) and Guest Suite (#6) return with new shooter contenders - Patch (#1), Senior Investment (#4) and Monaco (#5). Todd Pletcher has had a strong hand this year on the Triple Crown trail and today his two recent maiden winners get the call here for me, Patch and Monaco. Both are lightly raced and figure here versus this group. The three horses from the Risen Star Stakes you can't dismiss here and figure to be the ones to beat; Girvin, Local Hero and Guest Suite. I'll use those three below the Pletcher duo. The numbers for the Louisiana Derby (FG 11th) : 5/1 - 8/3/6.

The Florida Derby (GP 14th) has the number one rated three year old from my list; Gunnevera (#11) who gets the far outside post. Winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes in nice style, he'll have to overcome his draw. His running style helps things and is the definite horse to beat here. State of Honor (#1) just held second after leading the Tampa Bay Derby in his last start at 9-1. He gets blinkers OFF and draws the favorable inside with his speed. These two are my top selections. Underneath, the other two speeds - Always Dreaming (#4) trained by Todd Pletcher and Three Rules (#10) figure, along with new shooter Impressive Edge (#8) who stretches out after a impressive victory at seven furlongs. Another Pletcher runner; Battalion Runner (#8) who is a contender here but will scratch and contest either the Wood Memorial next week at Aqueduct or more likely the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in two weeks. The numbers for the Florida Derby (GP 14th) : 11/1 - 8/10/4.

Last week; Thunder Snow, a Godolphin runner stamped himself a place in the starting gate the First Saturday in May with a hard fought victory in the UAE Derby. His 100 points with the win, moves him to the top of the point standings. On the other hand; at Turfway Park in the Spiral Stakes; 24-1 longshot - Fast and Accurate got a quick 50 points with a win, but is NOT a Triple Crown nominated runner. The Sunland Derby last Sunday gave Steve Asmussen another runner in Hence at 10-1. This weekend is also the final weekend of the 2017 Kentucky Derby future wagering pool. Five of the 23 runners are in action this weekend (Always Dreaming, Girvin, Guest Suite, Gunnevera and State of Honor). El Areeb who won two Aqueduct Inner-track prep races this past winter, injured himself in a workout at Laurel and is off the Triple Crown trail. He is also listed on the final future pool list and his wagers should be refunded.