Big Race Preview

Race: 2818.0414 The Billy and Jimmy Stakes – Grade I – $350,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Dirt

Gate Keeper looks like a solid morning line favorite. This son of Danehill has been explosive this year and in his last five with some great speed figures. He finally kicked down the door last time out winning the grade III Pablo Cruz after several close finishes. He has a stalking style that puts him in contention every time he is on the track and this is a favorite distance for the Gate Keeper as well.

Wonderboy DJ turns back on two weeks rest after a so so run at the Sand Castle Festival. Wonderboy DJ runs kind of up and down and that might be because of how he has been run. He runs off layoffs regularly but has run on two weeks rest before with success. He is so lightly raced at times the run back could be good for him. Kacymygirl is the kind of runner everyone wants, good on both surfaces. She will be taking on the boys but her speed figures are in line with the top dogs. She won a grade II over this surface last time out so watch out for this lady.

There are three up and comers in this race well worth watching. Give Wells a Turn has won four in a row his last was a huge 112 speed figure. Civil Defense has won two in a row including his last posting a 108 speed figure. Great King Rat is lightly raced with just ten career races but he is on a two race win streak in allowance company with good speed figures.

Race: 2818.0116 California Derby – Grade I – $750,000
Track: California
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Alastor leads the way in the California Derby. He has the best speed figure by far coming into this race and the best of any three year old in this division to this point. If he runs anything close to his last race there is not a runner in this field capable of keeping up. On the other hand running a big speed figure like that sometimes means regression in this race and that could open the door.

Toxicsuperfreakout has won three races in a row winning in wire to wire fashion. He is the likely speed in this race and if left along he poses a real danger of going wire to wire. Specially Devilish won the Florida Oaks last time out in spectacular fashion. This filly is running speed figures on par with the top boys right now but she takes a chance here running against the boys of not earning points enough to run in the Bluegrass Oaks.

Half a World Away won the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile but has really yet to improve off that performance. His last two races have not been all that great and if he does not turn things around he could be looking at going into the Bluegrass Derby off three straight bad performances. Ace King Suited ran a very good race at this distance in listed company last time around. He gets a class check against these but a repeat puts him in good position.

Race: 2818.6216 The Green Monkey Derby – Grade I – $500,000
Track: France
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

The Green Monkey is a very wide open race. We have co favorites in Lockitineddie and Clan of the Cat. Lockitineddie is looking for another front running score like he had in the grade III Giant Slayer Classic. He went to the front last time out in the Florida Derby and nearly lasted earning a second place finish. He likes to fly on the front end so he will be the runner to catch.

Clan of the Cat is a horse on the outside looking in. A third place finish at the Equinics set him up for a potential run at the Bluegrass but he really needs a first or second place finish here to earn enough points to qualify. Compared to many in this field Clan of the Cat will have his work cut out for him. Roman Conquest steps up from two second place listed stakes wins. His speed figures are solid but the fact he was not winning at a lesser level is a bit concerning.

When the twenty fifth ranked filly is about the fifth favorite against colts in a grade I it goes a long way to telling how weak the field appears. Baldo Hollandia just missed at the Louisiana Oaks and repeat of that race probably puts her right in the thick of things here. Unamazingness closed with a rush going from turf to dirt last time out over this track in the grade II Felipe Alou. He still has a question or two to answer about running well over a fast surface but with a good run here could make the Bluegrass Derby.

San Pellegrino just missed at the Equinics and next time out regressed as most of the Equinics runners have done. San Pellegrino will be in the Bluegrass Derby he is just looking for that good prep to move him forward in four weeks. An interesting runner here is Hail Cesario. He was one of the top two year old turf runners but since closing out his two year old year with a grade I win he has struggled. So he moves to the dirt and he is bred to go on this surface as well as the turf so if he likes the going look out.

Race: 2818.4616 The Easy Goer Memorial – Grade II – $250,000
Track: N. Florida
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

Dark Princes is our favorite here in Northern Florida. He is a deep closer and ran a great race at the Equinics just missing the win. He returned to the track in Dubai and ran a solid fourth. Dark Princes has to have the win here to make the Bluegrass field, anything less and he will not qualify for the classic. Stone Boy has sprinted in his last couple of starts but has done well in routes. His speed figures seem in line with these runners but even a win here probably leaves him short of the number of points needed to qualify for the Bluegrass.

Wylde Cat has run two pretty good races in a row. He came up short on both occasions but those races may have him set up for a big performance here. He is cutting back in distance after a second place finish in the Corkscrew. He really needs the win here to secure a spot in the Bluegrass because a second place finish might not be good enough to get in.

Kisaran exploded to win the Fountain of Ute two races back and then finished a close up fifth in the Felipe Alou. He like many others needs the win here to qualify for the big dance. He should be near the front, not sure how he will react to the fast surface. Test Big Mac (AUS) comes into this race off a big listed stakes win. He is a stalker and a pouncer so watch for this newcomer to make some noise this week.  

Race: 2818.0416 Wooden Indian – Grade II – $750,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Florida Derby winner Rhibus, and number one ranked colt, has chosen the Wooden Indian as his prep before the Bluegrass. He has not scared anyone off and for a grade II the field has come up tough. Rhibus is a stalker so he will not let the pace get away from him. He has been consistent this spring and I would expect nothing less than another solid performance here.

K’s Rumor Has It will look to lead this field gate to wire. His three year old debut was not all that great so he stepped back to a listed stakes last time out and ran a great one. He will be tough on the lead. Peacenik won at the Equinics and is the fifth ranked three year old. The Equinics winners have been struggling recently so Peacenik will be fighting that trend. He was fourth in the Florida Derby and really needs a retrenching race prior to the Bluegrass.