Posted on 04/25/2008 5:23:25 AM PDT by gate2wire
The first morning at Churchill Downs brought sunny skies and warm temperatures, as the Kentucky Derby horses began their final stretch to racing’s biggest day. From here on, there is no room for error. We’ll give a brief rundown of the day’s activities and continue with the plusses and minuses of each contender.
The majority of activity took place after the renovation break, with the only worker being the Nick Zito-trained Cool Coal Man, who worked a half-mile in company in :47 2/5.
The two horses who really filled the eye from a physical standpoint were Colonel John and Adriano, both of whom stood for several minutes before galloping, giving observers a close study. Both are big, good-looking colts with who cover a tremendous amount of ground. Colonel John is laid back and barely moved a muscle as he stood for a while at the entrance to the chute.
Another powerhouse of a horse is Z Fortune, who went out in trainer Steve Asmussen’s first set at 6 a.m., followed by Pyro in the second set. The Louisiana Derby (gr. II) winner is a muscular colt, with big shoulders and hindquarters.
(Excerpt) Read more at tcm.bloodhorse.com ...
I was just thinking about downloading the Form and playing from my kitchen table. Derby fever doesn't really set it until about 6 o'clock this evening!
ML/NJ
Haven’t started handicapping, yet. Will be heading to Pimlico around noon.
How was your Keeneland trip?
Bet on Cowboy Cal in the Bluegrass, and that was pretty typical of my betting fortunes. (The worst though was having a 64-1 maiden take a half length lead into the stretch, draw away to lead by two; and then die in the last 100 yards. He finished third, and I bet win-place. BTW, I don't usually bet on 64-1s. In fact, that may have been the biggest longshot I ever bet on.)
The weather was just awful: low temperatures, high wind; and always either rain or the threat of rain. No opportunities for my traditional cigar on the back porch at 11AM this trip!
Still, Keeneland is just such a beautiful place to be. I'll be back in October.
ML/NJ
“Bet on Cowboy Cal in the Bluegrass.”
Shoot. We should’ve talked...I keyed Monba over 6 horses, including Kentucky Bear. Didn’t use Cowboy Cal. Still a little pissed at myself.
ML/NJ
ML/NJ
I had a small futures bet (3rd pool) on Blackberry Road at about 50-1; then I turned around and couldn’t find his name anywhere. Any one know what happened?
I am completely out of the loop with this year’s Derby,due to hand surgery and therapy,and am only familiar with a few of the horses.
Here’s a question directed to ANYONE who has PPs for the entire field? Has ANY horse WON a G. 1 Stakes? Has any horse, if not won, come in a closeup 2nd or 3rd with a high Beyer number, to a winner or closeup 2nd who is NOT in the Derby upcoming? An answer to that question may hold the key to who wins the Derby, though it may well turn out to be the post time favorites.
I've fallen in love with this guy. I've never seen a more honest horse than he is, and for 4500 BUCKS! Just sorry that they are west coasters, as I'd love to see him do the PA, WV, OH Derby, etc. where I could catch him in person. Fell in love with Delightful Kiss last year and hope he'll be back.
BTT
“Dogwood’s other classics candidate, Blackberry Road, who was unplaced in the grade II, $1-million Arkansas Derby April 12, did not show his usual stretch punch, Campbell said.
‘It could be that he is weary and discouraged from several frustrating efforts of late,” Campbell said. “He is back at Churchill Downs, and will run next in an allowance race before we make any ambitious plans for his future.’”
From Bloodhorse:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=44592
Haven’t seen the Beyers for the latest round of preps but no one except Big Brown has put up the kind of figs one would expect from Derby contenders. Pyro ran a 100 as a 2 yr. old but hasn’t matched that this year, I don’t believe.
You can watch a couple of the preps here:
Off the top of my head, Tale of Ekati(Wood), Colonel John(SA Derby), Big Brown(Fla Derby) and Monba(Blue Grass) are all G I winners...
Liked your horse in the SA Derby. He paid $7 something to place so I made a little.
I don’t like what Jones is doing with those fillies, entering in both races to see what kind of posts he might get.
OK, just saw some Beyers...Big Brown has run back to back 106s, perfect if he had a 2 yr. old foundation.
Bob Black Jack ran a 109, but it was sprinting and SA was ridiculously fast that day.
Gayego has run 102 and 103 this year, but I think they were both on synthetic.
Z Fortune and Recapturetheglory- 102.
Eight Belles- 100.
I had Bob Black Jack across the board in the SA too. Friend of mine knows Colonel John's connections, Win Star people, and she and I were watching the race together. Couldn't believe Colonel John caught him. I thought sure Bob was going to win it. If C J likes the track at Churchill, he might be the one to beat. She says they are really high on him and sure he'll run fine on dirt.
Yep, there it was, couldn’t think of his name but I had money on MONBA in the Blue Grass, and as I remember, he was 8-1 ......I kept touting him before post time at OTB in Nanuet NY, because he was I think the ONLY horse who’d come extremely close to winning a G. 1 ///// And I have found that the advice from James Quinn in THE HANDICAPPER’S CONDITION BOOK from 25 years ago, is ALWAYS true: “Grade 1 races are ONLY won by Grade 1 horses”. How
true that has proved to be.
Thanks for all that info~~ just watched two races of Monba’s , find out he is IN the KD, and WILL bet him to win and put him prominently in several superfectas. I hope he goes off at something close to 8-1 again, but I doubt it. He is a MONSTER/
Monba, Monba, Monba....
there’s the winner.
Hope he’s a good price.
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