So Slew Me, Rivera headline Minnesota Derby

A power packed field of seventeen three year old colts line up in the gates for the Minnesota Derby this week, the headlining race of the annual Minnesota Festival!

Top ten ranked So Slew Me returns home to Minnesota after a strong graded stakes campaign, but he will face several high quality challengers lead by Rivera and Jonesing.

1. The Curse Lives – Dundey brings his fast Boston Harbor colt back to Minny for the big day. This colt loves the lead and will try to stretch his speed to the mile distance of the derby.

2. Preachintothechoir – Another that has found his best success sprinting, Preachin does have seven career wins, but appears to be a bit inconsistent. P Green gets the call for trainer desperado

3. Distorted Physics – This colt from chuckrock’s gnba stable is Minnesota favorite, having watched his career develop. Like the above mentioned colts, he is mainly a sprinter, but demonstrated the ability to stay a mile in his last start. A top contender if the mile suits him.

4. Generous Elder – Supertoy7 gives this Grand Slam his first start in almost a year and his first career start on dirt. Supertoy has enjoyed a high level of success in the sim and has a potential longshot contender here.

5. Caught n the Storm – This attractive colt also represents the Dundey empire and has four career wins. Like some of the other colts in the race, consistency is not his strong suit, but his best run is enough to get a piece here.

6. Forty Carat Gold – Citation’s Forty Carat Gold is likely to appreciate being back in three year old company, as he ran a strong 103 two starts back in against similar. The well bred colt will try to get Citation to the winners circle.

7. Mt. Legend – Randy, one of the stables of the Minnesota residency, brings this young Mt. Livermore colt into the race. Still a maiden, Mt. Legend will do his best to represent Randy well on one of the biggest days of the year.

8. Mascotte Vici – Everyone’s favorite Kiwi, Rharfo, brings this former claimer into the race. Approaching $200,000 in earnings, this colt is used to hitting the board, and will be trying to get the job done for Rharfo.

9. So Slew Me – Bigrick brings him the pride of the Minnesota three year old colt ranks – So Slew Me back to Minnesota. The brown Belong To Me Colt competed in the Bluegrass Derby, after a win in the California Derby prep. He recently proved he was back with a vengeance with his 111 speed figure in his last start. Definitely the class of the field – but will he get it done?

10. Woodyna – Randy brings his second entry, the graded stakes placed Woodyna in with jockey K Bowen. He has been a bit off form since his graded stakes placed performance, but is one of the few in the race to compete at that level, which should certainly come in handy here.

11. Teddy’s Gulch – Minnesota head honcho Theo brings this son of Gulch into the race. He would need an improvement in speed figures to compete with the top ones, but showing up is part of the joy of the day.

12. Rivera – Jkj, annually one of the top performers in Minnesota, brings in the wicked fast colt Rivera in. He has recently been sprinting and posting big speed figures, but he has had success at the mile distance as well. His odds appear a little low, but he may get on the board.

13. Silver Christmas – Silverny99 brings the enigmatic Silver Christmas to the Derby. A dominant winner in his first three starts; he followed that with a strong 3^rd in the Derby Trial, but has leveled off since then. His late running style usually garners him an on the board finish, but hopefully for Silverny99 it is a winning finish.

14. Red Tiger – The second entry from Theo’s stable, the Tiger was a recent claim, and if Theo can pull this one off, he will live in Minnesota lore.

15. Phantom Punch – Richgins colt is a winner of half of his career starts, though usually at longer distances. He drops back to a mile here, but even if this is not the best distance for him, his class may garner him a placing. Regardless, Rich has a top contender for the graded stakes at the staying distance next year.

16. Credit Granted – Minnesota newcomer Brentuk brings the turf standout Credit Granted in at a deceiving 20/1. He has displayed ability on the main track and is bred for it. If he gets over the main track with the same vigor as the turf course, he could be a contender here.

17. Jonesing – Rounding out the field is chuckrock’s second entry. The son of dual classic winning Smarty Jones has found his best success at 7.5f, so the 8f distance should be right up his alley. His most recent performance is cause for a bit of concern, but knowing chuckrock, he will have him primed for battle today.

A great field of great owners line up to contest the biggest race of the day at one of the best residencies in the sim. So Slew Me is the class of the field, but multiple contenders will try to out duel him for the coveted title of Minnesota Derby Champion!