Big Race Preview 3182

Three year olds take center stage once again with three more Derby Lock races for the Bluegrass and we have a very nice G1 sprint. There should be some very interesting racing as runners vie for position. The long distance sprint in New York features five runners really close together on the morning line. Lets get to the races.

Race: 3182.0116 California Derby — Derby Lock Prep – Grade I – $750,000
Track: California
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

It is raining in California so this track is sloppy. I do not know if that drove away top runners, or if there are just too many derby preps but only one of these fourteen runners is a graded stakes winner. The field top to bottom is solid but none of the top runners elected run here so the doors are wide open.

Our favorites both appear to be off track horses and hope to ride the off track to the Bluegrass. Both of these favorites look very vulnerable turning around on two weeks rest.  Peppet posted a very impressive speed figure last time out earning a 106 on surface rated good in a listed stakes. He was doing two things a handicapper loves tosee, he was going from turf to dirt and cutting back in distance. That speed figure was ten points better than his only other dirt run and fifteen points higher than his best turf races. He still has a lot to prove and winning this would be a step in that direction.

The other co favorite is Drunken Pirate. He has been running in longer distance stakes races all winter and spring. He is a listed stakes winner and last time out finished third to Peppet on the off track earning a 101 speed figure. His last race was ten points higher than any of his previous races. He is a deep closer so look for him at the back of the pack early.

Spitfire Mk I is the only graded stakes winner in the field winning a G2 late in the year as a two year old. His three year old debut after a little time off was ok but last time out he ran well just missing a G3 at this distance. He is a stalker and has a class advantage over this field.

Jurassic Bone has made steady progress this spring winning a listed stakes by more than three lengths and last time out was a solid third in a G2. In his last race he came from well off the pace and I suspect that is what he will do here. He has run well over the turf as well so I would imagine the track conditions here will not bother him at all. 

Race: 3182.0715 Chicago Derby — Derby Lock Prep – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Illinois
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

We have a fast track in Illinois with a solid group of runners led by Gramid. Back in January Gramid exploded winning a G3 earning a big 105 speed figure. He took extra time between races and did not return to the track until the first weekend of March in the Fountain of Ute. He appeared to need a race coming up short in the stretch although he still finished third. Now this modest pedigreed runner looks to take that final step forward to the Bluegrass. He is a deep closer as many of our three year old favorites are so look for his big run in the stretch.

Not to jinx this runner but All Flags Gold is looking mighty impressive this early in his career. He has an awesome pedigree, and is a perfect four for four at this stage of his career. He has done everything asked of him to this point. He won a listed stakes at this distance last time out with a 98 speed figure. He still has room to improve and the distance is not a problem for him. He is a stalker or mid pack type runner that likely will have the lead or be very near the lead at the top of the stretch.

King of All Media is on a very good streak winning three of his last four races including the G2 Can’t Wait for Next Week. He is one of the more experienced runners with thirteen starts already. He is a deep closer in a good groove so watch for him late in the race.

Northern Bullet is not a graded stakes winner but he is fresh off a very nice listed stakes win. He earned a 100 speed figure running near the lead by more than two lengths. As a two year old he finished second in a G3 race. Unlike several of the other favorites he has a running style that will put him near the lead. That could be to his advantage.

Race: 3182.0416 Wooden Indian — Derby Lock Prep – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Henianlauch leads this group of three year olds looking to make the Bluegrass field. Unlike the favorites in the other prep races this week Henianlauch is a front runner. He was a G2 winner as a two year old and in two starts this year he has finished third and second. Last time out he nearly wired the G2 Fountain of Ute earning a 104 speed figure. There are other speed horses in this race so he could have some company on the lead. He appears capable of handling that and should be a factor at the end of this race.

Belisario was impressive last time out in a listed stakes. He earned a 100 speed figure pressing the early pace and taking the lead into the stretch. Distance though could be an issue for Belisario who has not run this far yet. His only try longer than a mile was on an off track so throw that one out. He appears to have the stamina in the pedigree to get the distance but he still needs to prove he can go this far.

Global Affair has never finished off the board in eight career starts. His worst finish came on an off surface. He has steadily improved this spring last time out finished second in the G3 Gary Asher Memorial. He is a mid pack type runner that can stalk or sit further off the early pace. He has been closing well all spring but will need to improve that speed figure here to get the win.

King of Mud is another runner that likes to be near the lead. His last two races have been very solid. Last time out was his first time in a graded stakes. He took the lead at the top of the stretch and ran out of gas a bit finishing fourth. Prior to that he won a listed stakes stalking a taking the lead winning by two lengths. He is well bred and has room to improve off his last two races. If he can improve that will put him in the thick of things here.  

Race: 3182.0414 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

The long sprint has attracted a full field of runners with three co favorites. Jumping Sal is on quite a roll. He has won four races in a row and has a couple of 113 speed figures in the process. He last two wins were both graded and at this distance. He is a stalker but if the pace is fast he can come from mid pack. He is one of the top sprinters thus far this year.

Dixie Glow likes this longer sprint distance. He has two of his last three just missing last time out. He ran a huge 114 speed figure on an off surface three races back. He consistently gives a good effort closing from toward the back of the pack most of the time. He has not done well at the graded level since last May so he is looking to turn that trend around.

Seeking to Rule has won two in a row. One on an off surface and one on a fast surface. He is a mid pack to back of the pack stalker closer type runner. He has drawn outside the favorites in this race so his trip may be a little wide but he should not encounter any traffic problems.

Logans Ransom is a speed horse in a field that does not have a lot of speed. His last couple of races at the graded level he has not held on to his lead in the stretch. He has several stalkers and closers here to hold off but if he can sneak away on the lead he could be a bear to try and take down in the stretch.