Scratch
Geaux Rocket Ride, leaving only
in the viable tier. This race went from uninteresting to nearly unplayable compared with other fare today.
Scratch helps the
One in Vermillion, who wants the lead. The
National Treasure is faster and way better, but doesn't need the lead.
Unplayable
and
may follow them on the pace, or maybe try to send.
I'll latch on to the theory that others need this race much more than
Practical Move, who has already secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby. He may even have a minor pace disadvantage.
The
will run in there somewhere, maybe save some ground.
Not a huge pace for
Skinner to run into, but also not much traffic, and he needs the race as much as
. He closed against the bias in the San Felipe, and should be wheeling into prime form for Shirreffs third off the layoff.
I like the
to keep with the pace and fire at will for the finish. He's arguably got a class edge over the field in four races, two of them G1 affairs, including a solid third in the BC Juvie. He disappointed in the Sham last out, but he's had some rest. Distance is a legitimate question, so I'm not backing up the truck here.
Hard to imagine
out of the exacta, but that's the only way this race gets interesting. No value in a
+
+
trifecta box. Give me
to win and maybe a
+
exacta box.