Art Collector, carrying high weight of (only) 122, won an easy victory in the Ellis Park Derby yesterday. He led all the way, but was pressured, and ran a decent 1:48 for the 1 1/8 mile race. Attachment Rate was 2nd and Necker Island 3rd.
This sets up the Kentucky Derby with a quartet of horses. At the forefront are Tiz The Law (372), Authentic (200), Art Collector (150), Honor A.P. (140) - KYD points in parenthesis.
Preferred post positions will be for Authentic and Art Collector toward the inside so they don't have to work to use their speed, and Tiz The Law/Honor A.P. to be in the Middle of the pack toward the outside so they can avoid traffic problems. The top tier of horses has been fairly strong and unless there is a threat of rain, I don't see why an owner would put significantly lesser horses into this race, just to throw money away. There are other Stakes races being run in the fall with better chances for their horses. But Tiz The Law is unlikely to be odds-on the favorite; there will be real competition, at least on paper. Arguments can be made for other horses.
The last of the KYD points prep races will be run this Saturday at Monmouth Park, in the Pegasus Stakes. Originally, this race was run in the fall at the Meadowlands Thoroughbred meet. This race should not be confused with the more lucrative Pegasus World Cup that is run for millions of dollars at Gulfstream Park early in the year (and is a newcomer on the racing calendar - run for older horses). No word on what (exciting) dark horses will be entered. I don't know of any unknown Baffert $1M maiden 2-headed monsters that will appear in this one that they will be talking about, but you never know. Since it is worth only 20 points to the winner, you're not getting in the derby unless you already have points, and get some help. There are already 26 horses that have at least 20 points! #20 on the points list is Sole Volente, with 30 points. Anneau d'Or is #19 on the list, with 32 points, but he just finished 9th to Art Collector yesterday by 18 lengths, and hasn't won a race this year. Is he going to enter? Probably. Hopespringseternal.
Larry
DevilHorse