Kentucky Derby Prep races:

Those with derby points:

At Aqueduct, the Withers:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, Saturday February 5, 2022, Aqueduct – Race 8, PPs ]
There will be a big rain/ice even the day before. So maybe Constitutionlawyer (an apparent mudder) will have a shot. (Julius the Grape) Grantham moves up in class, but probably doesn’t have a shot. Smarten Up closed strongly in the Jerome on Courvoisier who is also in the field. Early Voting won his debut and steps up in company here. Wide open race. Looks like a lot of early speed, so I’ll give Smarten Up a good shot.

At Gulfstream Park, the Holy Bull Stakes:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, Saturday February 5, 2022, Gulfstream Park – Race 11, PPs ]
Cajun’s Magic has the highest rating but it was in September, but Simplification has the strongest looking win over the track in the Mucho Macho Man. Mo Donegal is down from NY for Pletcher and won the Remsen. Tiz The Bomb finished 2nd in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile.. Turf, but last time on dirt, broke his maiden by 14 at odds-on. If Simplification (by Not This Time) runs back to his last race, he wins.

The Robert Lewis is on Sunday, and I’ll update as soon as I identify the PPs.

On the distaff side, the Forward Gal will be run at Gulfstream Park:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, Saturday February 5, 2022, Gulfstream Park – Race 8, PPs ]
Radio Days looks like she will be a favorite here.

Another 3YO race that will potentially have KYD implications (but offers no KYD points to the winner) is the Swale at Gulfstream Park:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, Saturday February 5, 2022, Gulfstream Park – Race 5, PPs ]
As I mention each year, Swale was a wonderful horse, who won the KYD and the Belmont Stakes, and died soon after the Belmont. He may well have established a second prong of the Seattle Slew line after A.P. Indy. What a loss. In this race, at the sprint distance of 7furlongs, My Prankster, Dean Delivers, and In Dreams are the stand outs. I’d have to go with In Dreams and Irad Ortiz onboard.

Other races on Saturday of interest are:

The Santa Monica at Santa Anita for 4YOF:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...99/summary.htm
[ URL above, Saturday February 5, 2022, Santa Anita Park – Race 6, PPs ]
It is Ce Ce against Kalypso. The winner is Ce Ce.

Also at Santa Anita is the San Pasqual for 4YOs:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...99/summary.htm
[ URL above, Saturday February 5, 2022, Santa Anita Park – Race 8, PPs ]
This will bring together Express Train, Eight Rings, and the return of Spielberg to the races.
Express Train has the class to win. Spielberg has been out since last year's Florida Derby (obviously with an injury); he'll have to prove himself. Eight Rings is just not quite Express Train, but these early year races can surprise you.

Here is an interesting 3YOC maiden race at Gulfstream Park (#6):
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, Saturday February 5, 2022, Gulfstream Park – Race 6, PPs ]
Sir For Sure and Grand David are the more experienced returners, but the firsters are more interesting.
Pletcher has a pair. My Romeo Lima is a $610k yearling, making his debut with Irad Ortiz, with some ho hum bullet works (few horses and times were modest).
Pletcher's other firster Ankara caught my eye; he's a homebred whose dam is out of A.P. Indy. Workouts are also hohum, but the pedigree is top drawer.

BTW, Dr. Fishman, who supplied the drugs for that big doping scandal that ensnared all of those trainers (Maximum Security, etc..) was found guilty yesterday.

Larry
DevilHorse