The Wood and Santa Anita Derby
As mentioned in the previous post, we're a month away from the KYD and the biggest prep races on many of the paths to the Triple Crown will be culminating this weekend. In addition to the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, we will have the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct:
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...param3=1313650
In the Wood we have a great field buzz horses. Weyburn, the latest horse on the buzz wagon will be tuning up. The Gotham winner will take on Risk Taking, the winner of the Withers, and Brooklyn Strong, the winner of the Remsen (back in November). Other competitive horses includes: Prevelance, an undefeated contender, coming out of conditions; Candy Man Rocket, who failed in the the Tampa Bay Derby after looking so good in the Sam F Davis; and Crowded Trade who was nosed out by Weyburn in the Gotham. All of these horses have pluses/minuses and will benefit from the race. You'll get favorable odds at whomever you pick. Brooklyn Strong has been working well, so I'll give him a chance.
The Santa Anita Derby, without Life Is Good, looks like Medina Spirit's race if he wants it. Dream Shake and Rock Your World are good and lightly raced.
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...param3=1341944
Beautiful Gift and Moraz go at it again in the Santa Anita Oaks:
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...param3=1006458
Search Results (yes, that's her name) looks good in the Gazelle (3YOF companion of the Wood):
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...param3=1182285
Other notable races:
At Aqueduct:
What used to be a shorter distance, but earlier in the sequence of derby prep races, The Bay Shore for 3YOs, has a visitor from the south.
Drain The Clock will take his front running speed to the Ozone Park Oval for the 7f race and will be odds-on:
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...¶m3=525460
Also, the Carter Handicap looks like a really nice race for sprinters:
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...¶m3=788190
Mischevious Alex moves back up north, to the site of his early big wins, to take on Chateau who won the Tom Fool Handicap.
Also in the field is Mind Control who only lost his last race to Sleepy Eyes Todd (last seen in $12M Dubai World Cup) and Firenze Fire (BC Sprint winner).
Shoplifted has shown a strong kick. It is a compact field of 5.
Could be a competitive field