Full field for Winchester Park Derby

Thirteen three-year old colts and one filly, including millionaire Rhibus, are set to challenge Oklahoma’s Winchester Park Derby. The GII race is run at 9 furlongs over the dirt track and carries a $250k purse. Jockey G Wendorff, scheduled to ride cofavorite So Slew Me on Saturday, won the race in 2005 aboard Crafty Victory for trainer Ssj4veta. The stakes record of 1:47.2 was set by High Otto (trained by Venezolano) in 2004.

Silks	Post	Name	Trainer	Odds
(no silks)	1	Crafty Cyclone	ydracing	6-1
	Craft Prospector colt is one nice racehorse. he has yet to win at the graded level, but he has placed three times, and does have 4 wins (plus 7 placings) from 20 starts for just over #328k in earnings. His last race in the 8f Midnight Oil Stakes represented a huge improvement SP-wise, although the 106 effort was only good enough for second. If he can stick with that new level of ability, I really like this colt for at least a third if not better.
	2	Victimless Crime	peepsclaim	10-1
	Vindication colt did nicely in his graded-debut last start, leading most of the way in the 9.5furlong GII Clerk of Scales before fading to finish fourth. The cut back in distance he gets here ought to help. Look for him to rocket out of the gate. Definitely one to watch as he matures. VC has a recent tendency to run a huge race SP- and finish-wise every other race or so. Lucky for his trainer he’s due for another big one.
(no silks)	3	Mezmerize	quiggy3	12-1
	The last win for this Hanging Road colt was 3 back in the 9.5furlong Broad Brother Challenge, where he posted a 102SP. The last two starts, in the GIII Colorado Sophomore Classic and GII Mountainous Derby, weren’t so hot, although Mezmerize did do much better in terms of losing distance in the West Virginia race. I actually like this colt more in the 9.5-10 furlong range (all three of his wins have come at 9.5).
(no silks)	4	Geography	nyra	16-1
	Mining colt did very well in his move from allowance company to graded in his last start, losing by just a couple of lengths in the GII Colorado Sophomore Classic to post a lifetime high 99 SP. He’s quite a professional on the track despite just eight races under his girth, and looks to be steadily improving. Despite the long odds, this colt can’t be left out of any tri ticket. Will likely settle in 3-4 lengths of the lead after a solid but slowish start.
(no silks)	5	Lil’ Red	proffactor	6-1
	The only 1000-CPU horse in the field by virtue of a pair of 100+ SPs in his last 2 starts, this Pine Bluff is justifiably a cofavorite. 9 starts, 6 wins, and his worst finish was a fourth in his stakes debut a 2. Really really nice horse who’s maturing at just the right time. he tried 9f for the first time last start in the Salted Tie Bonanza against older horses, and stunned the bettors with a 3+ length win and 104SP. His recent wins have come after falling toward the back of the pack early and putting on a gutsy stretch run.
	6	Rhibus	gradetwo	19-1
	After a tough spring campaign on the Derby Trail (which included a win in the GI Florida Derby but disappointing finishes in the Triple Crown), this Kingmambo colt was given a couple of turf tries in allowance company. Unfortunately, he never did find a race on a firm track, so the Super Syndicate must have given up on that plan. The move back to dirt maybe just what Rhibus needs. Hard to say what he’ll do, especially as he’s coming off just 2 weeks rest. He’s ridden by W Cahill, the track’s top jockey.
	7	In Perfect Stride	dixiedotco	14-1
	In Perfect Stride seems to have found his stride as he moves up the ranks. His last race saw him earn a third in the Shiny Gem Stakes with a lifetime high 99 SP, and the loss was by less than a length. Given his pedigree (he’s by Pleasantly Perfect out of a GII-winning Seeking the Gold mare ) I’m almost surprised this colt hasn’t been tried at 10 yet. Still, he’s doing quite well at 9-9.5, and if that 99 is indicative of a new level of speed, wouldn’t be surprised if he’s there at the wire.
	8	Forestforthetrees	ohjoanie	10-1
	This Forestry colt has been mostly sprinting or miling this year, but his win at 10 in a (T) allowance last start must have convinced his trainer that longer than a mile wouldn’t be a bad idea. He hasn’t been so hit in stakes company this year with just a second to his credit, but he did win a stake last year at 7.5, so the level isn’t too farfetched. Still, the higher speeds figures have come sprinting, and I really can’t see Forest sticking around at the end in this race.
(no silks)	9	The Ironist	theoc2	7-1
	The second-place finisher in the GIII Mountainous Derby was this Smarty Jones colt, who stuck it out right off the lead the whole way but didn’t quite have enough in him to get the win. He’s pretty speedy, and is one of the speed-types in the field (although he has demonstrated he doesn’t have to be on the lead, he does better generally when he is). If he doesn’t get the lead, odds are he won’t win, but even so he could still grab a piece of the action.
(no silks)	10	Indy Ana Jones(ARG)	tbonefarms	11-1
	Shipping in from Germany off a narrow (nose) loss in a 10 furlong listed stake, this Gentleman(ARG) colt should be fresh off a nice two-month rest. He has yet to win a stake, but is stakes-placed times four. Another speedy type, will either go for the lead or stay within a length or so of it. This is his first start at the graded level.
	11	Pass The Candy	dublinlad	22-1
	Like several others in the field, this candy Ride(ARG) colt last started in the GIII Colorado Sophomore Classic. Pass The Candy finished third there with a 96 SP, but was more than 5 lengths behind the winner. Given the colt’s tendency to be closing hard but just missing at 9f, it’s a bit surprising that his trainer hasn’t yet run him 9.5 or 10 furlongs. Much better than his odds suggest (a poor turf allowance depressed his recent SPs).
	12	So Slew Me	babyfarms	6-1
	The Belong To Me colt has been racing entirely (and inconsistently) in graded company all year, but hasn’t seen the winner’s circle since April when he took the GI California Derby with an impressive almost-4 length win. It looks like he’s a better runner with 4 or weeks weeks between races, but he had just 3 weeks off before this start. Still, he’s a fast colt with a great tendency to be in the mix at the end. A stalker-type will follow the speedballs and try to slip past in the stretch.
	13	Road To Isengard	glendowr	11-1
	The Lemon Drop Kid colt started his career on grass with a nice debut maiden win at 6, lost a 7 furlong turf allowance, and was immediately switched to dirt with success. In just his fourth start he picked up a win in a 7.5 furlong stake and hasn’t left stakes company since. This year he has three stakes win and a dismal performance in his only graded start. Still coming off a swift (95SP) win in the 9.5 furlong Dear Heart Bonanza must have made his owner more confident in trying a graded start again. This year all of his wins have come when he’s first out of the gate, although as a 2yo he did equally well stalking.
	14	Dumb Donut	mook	10-1
	The lone filly in the field, this daughter of Slip Anchor out of a graded-placed Machiavellian mare deserves her spot in the starting gate. She has 4 stakes wins (and 3 stakes places) in 18 starts, and recently ran fourth against the boys in the GII Shiny Gem Stakes. She’s another speedy runner, and so far has not been able to win unless she’s in front the whole way ’round.