Lemon Drop Husker
11-21-2015, 09:59 AM
One of a number of Kentucky Derby preps highlights the calendar event of every year for my favorite Louisiana track.
10 Kentucky Derby hopefuls will look to go to the gate at 1 1/16ths mile in a race that may be more open than the form suggests.
:1: Forevamo: Uncle Mo breds are starting to make some noise. This colt is getting better each time out and now owns a victory over this very track at a mile distance. Leading jockey at the track returns to the irons and Albert Stall is no slouch in the barn. With all the positives one can point to, I just can't see this one winning against others that are entered in here. I am grudgingly tossing out of all exotics as well.
:2: Memories of Winter: 2 for 2, but it is hard to say what or who he has actually beat. Major upgrade in class with this one, but I do like the Hard Spun breeding. If he is to be a factor, he'll need to be involved on the front end. Just not sure this one is ready for an 8 1/2 panel battle on or near the lead with these just yet.
:3: Sunny Ridge: Already has experience against some of the best of his peers and has shown that he can be competitive. I can forgive him losing the lead in the stretch of the G1 Champagne in the slop at Belmont. Servis and Ortiz aren't here for craps and giggles, and this one is a major contender in here. This one could also sit a very nice trip if he doesn't get involved in a front end battle.
:4: Whitmore: Ron Moquett is an under appreciated trainer, and this colt may well be under appreciated at the windows to boot. Sure, we can look at the greenness of this one's maiden score, but he still won by 7 1/4 lengths. Fully expecting this one to be on or very near the lead at the 2nd call, and I'm sure the connections will take their chances from there. Dangerous 8/1 ML entry that could improve greatly in his 2nd career race.
:5: Harlan Punch: Came up just short in a long rally to catch the :1: last out. Tom Amoss gets this one back and is adding blinkers. I'm generally not a fan of horses from Harlan's Holiday, but this one is intriguing. Especially at a 10/1 ML. He'll need a wicked pace up front, and he just may well get it. I'll be very interested in how this one plays on the tote board.
:6: Texas Jambalaya: After 6 races we have a pretty good idea of what this one is about right now. And right now he simply isn't good enough to beat most of his peers that are entered in here. At best, he can clunk up on the bottom of Tris and Supers if we have a pace meltdown.
:7: Found Money: Gotta love the name, and the connections of Super Mario and Doug O'Neill have to be respected as they ship in from the Left Coast. This one has struggled to finish races, but much like the :3:, they aren't shipping here for fun. The strategy has to be to get this one out early and see how far he can go. Not sure he can win, but he will be a factor in who does win this race.
:8: Cowboy Classic: Just finished 3rd in a $29K 7F maiden race that finished in a blistering time of 1:30.3 :sleeping:. If this one finishes within 20 lengths of the winner I'll be surprised.
:9: Exaggerator: The class of the race is coming in off of a solid 4th in the BC Juvenile. The 2/1 ML is fairly generous, and I see him going off at around 6/5 or so. Without a doubt this is the one to beat, and it looks like he'll get a very nice set up to run his race. With that said, I see him as a very vulnerable favorite.
:10: Iron Dome: Very aggressive placing for this one coming in off of a $25K maiden score at Thistle Downs. Hard to find anything to like about this one, and the 20/1 ML is hopeful at best.
WP: :4::5:
EX: :4::5: Box
EX: :4::5:/:3::4::5::7:
Tri: :4::5:/:3::4::5::7:/:3::4::5::6::7::9:
Tri: :9:/:4::5:/:3::4::5::6::7:
10 Kentucky Derby hopefuls will look to go to the gate at 1 1/16ths mile in a race that may be more open than the form suggests.
:1: Forevamo: Uncle Mo breds are starting to make some noise. This colt is getting better each time out and now owns a victory over this very track at a mile distance. Leading jockey at the track returns to the irons and Albert Stall is no slouch in the barn. With all the positives one can point to, I just can't see this one winning against others that are entered in here. I am grudgingly tossing out of all exotics as well.
:2: Memories of Winter: 2 for 2, but it is hard to say what or who he has actually beat. Major upgrade in class with this one, but I do like the Hard Spun breeding. If he is to be a factor, he'll need to be involved on the front end. Just not sure this one is ready for an 8 1/2 panel battle on or near the lead with these just yet.
:3: Sunny Ridge: Already has experience against some of the best of his peers and has shown that he can be competitive. I can forgive him losing the lead in the stretch of the G1 Champagne in the slop at Belmont. Servis and Ortiz aren't here for craps and giggles, and this one is a major contender in here. This one could also sit a very nice trip if he doesn't get involved in a front end battle.
:4: Whitmore: Ron Moquett is an under appreciated trainer, and this colt may well be under appreciated at the windows to boot. Sure, we can look at the greenness of this one's maiden score, but he still won by 7 1/4 lengths. Fully expecting this one to be on or very near the lead at the 2nd call, and I'm sure the connections will take their chances from there. Dangerous 8/1 ML entry that could improve greatly in his 2nd career race.
:5: Harlan Punch: Came up just short in a long rally to catch the :1: last out. Tom Amoss gets this one back and is adding blinkers. I'm generally not a fan of horses from Harlan's Holiday, but this one is intriguing. Especially at a 10/1 ML. He'll need a wicked pace up front, and he just may well get it. I'll be very interested in how this one plays on the tote board.
:6: Texas Jambalaya: After 6 races we have a pretty good idea of what this one is about right now. And right now he simply isn't good enough to beat most of his peers that are entered in here. At best, he can clunk up on the bottom of Tris and Supers if we have a pace meltdown.
:7: Found Money: Gotta love the name, and the connections of Super Mario and Doug O'Neill have to be respected as they ship in from the Left Coast. This one has struggled to finish races, but much like the :3:, they aren't shipping here for fun. The strategy has to be to get this one out early and see how far he can go. Not sure he can win, but he will be a factor in who does win this race.
:8: Cowboy Classic: Just finished 3rd in a $29K 7F maiden race that finished in a blistering time of 1:30.3 :sleeping:. If this one finishes within 20 lengths of the winner I'll be surprised.
:9: Exaggerator: The class of the race is coming in off of a solid 4th in the BC Juvenile. The 2/1 ML is fairly generous, and I see him going off at around 6/5 or so. Without a doubt this is the one to beat, and it looks like he'll get a very nice set up to run his race. With that said, I see him as a very vulnerable favorite.
:10: Iron Dome: Very aggressive placing for this one coming in off of a $25K maiden score at Thistle Downs. Hard to find anything to like about this one, and the 20/1 ML is hopeful at best.
WP: :4::5:
EX: :4::5: Box
EX: :4::5:/:3::4::5::7:
Tri: :4::5:/:3::4::5::7:/:3::4::5::6::7::9:
Tri: :9:/:4::5:/:3::4::5::6::7: