Full field in the Grade 2 Bluegrass Sprint

There is no question that the World of racing is looking at Kentucky for this year’s installment of the Bluegrass Derby, the premiere race for the three year old crop. A total of nine graded stakes are part of the great card put up by the racing secretary, and in this article, we will preview the Grade II Bluegrass Sprint, to be run at a seven furlong distance over the fast main course. It is a full field ready to enter the gate, and let’s take a look at all participants:

1. Mill Royale – 4 year old colt by Royal Academy – Very consistent sprinter who likes to come from the middle of the pack with a late surge from the three eights pole on. In this race he is getting some additional ground in comparison with his last races. Trainer shadowclaw tells us the horse will run at his own style, hoping the added half furlong will be enough to get him in time in this race. That last race was a superb effort in the Grade III Nasty n Bold Handicap, and he will be felt when all counts, right at the wire.
2. Walksthroughwalls – 4 year old colt out by Forty Niner – Seven wins in ten lifetime starts tell the story for this superb sprinter, being his most important one so far his victory in the Grade II Kentucky Breeders Bowl Sprint, a race in which he went flying early, drew away by more than six lengths and had enough to hold the late push of the closers in the race. His trainer oaklawn66, conscious enough to know that his horse can not win if he is not on the lead from the gitgo, is sending him to the front right from the start and hopes to do an encore of the Kentucky Breeders Bowl.
3. Logan’s Ransom – 5 year old horse by Forty Niner – About two months ago, this horse could have been the favorite in this type of field. However, his last two races have been disappointing. Trainer prufrockja changed somewhat his training routine, hoping to get back into his winning ways of a while ago. He should be part of the first flight, so he gets compromised by the hot pace expected in the race.
4. Depravity – 4 year old colt by Red Bullet – This horse has turned out to be a mile specialist, doing all his best work at that distance, including a close second in the Grade II Orangeton Handicap. In his last race, he ran the six furlongs, distance pretty short for his style. That race should have served him well for finalize his preparation for this event, as told by his trainer funster. His works during the mornings have been great, and he is my pick to win in this race.
5. Whoknowsme (JPN) – 3 year old colt by Forty Niner – Very lightly raced sophomore taking on the older horses here. He is a Grade III winner at this distance, winning the Swale Stakes about two months ago in Florida. He can sit right in the garden spot behind the early pace, and come with a swift move from the quarter pole on. His trainer amyg understands he is taking a big step up in the kind of competition he is facing, but he is confident about his horse’s chances and we will not count him out completely.
6. Wonderboy Eamon (IRE) – 4 year old colt by Desert King – He has not tasted victory lately, but he always makes good account of himself, placing in the top five consistently. He has been showing some improvement lately, and that is what makes trainer stalfrank to give him a chance here. He is doing great in the morning hours, should be helped by the quantity of speed in the race and is a horse to consider when doing your betting combinations.
7. Roaringnative – 4 year old colt by Roar – Another horse who should be part of the second flight of horses in this race. We will throw out his last race, a dull effort in the Garde III Ferris Bueller Stakes, as the distance was too short for his style. Now he gets an additional furlong, and trainer crandy, due to his tough race schedule, is giving him only maintenance gallops during the mornings. He needs to improve on those last two efforts, but clearly he has shown the ability to win here.
8. Festive Fifty – 4 year old colt by Saddler’s Wells – Ten wins in twenty two starts is the extraordinary lifetime record of this colt, which would have preferred a little bit ore ground to work with. This is why trainer stormcat55 is trying to get some more speed out of him, breezing him at the two and three eights distance. He likes to come from way of the pace, and if he finds the spaces when uncoiling his run, he is a force to be reckoned here and one of the top contenders in the field.
9. Fame and Fortune – 6 year old horse by Danehill – A grizzled old veteran, he is another one who should contribute for an honest, hot pace. But don’t be fooled! He can also rate very well right behind the leaders. But as trainer lenny11 says, this horse main forte is his great consistency, with three wins and eight Top 5 finishes in his last eight races. Look for him to sit two lengths behind and make his run from there. Should be a part of any exotics played here.
10. Jimmy James (BRZ) – 5 year old colt by Siphon (BRZ) – Winner of the Grade III Toboggan Handicap tow races back in New Jersey. His next effort right after that win was a dull tenth place finish in another graded event, but showed good improvement in his last race, missing by just two lengths in the Ferris Bueller. Asking his trainer blitzers about the quick two week turn around, he said the horse is kicking at his stall day and night, so he could not keep him in the barn anymore. So he is running him, and we should expect a much improved effort, in a distance in which he had excelled before. Very dangerous horse.
11. Early Peak (IRE) – 3 year old colt by In Excess (IRE) – This is a graded winner at two, and at three he still shows ability good for winning two consecutive listed stakes. However, his SFs tell us he will need to step it up big time in order to have a chance in this race. His trainer stupor8 acknowledges his horse is up against it, but having a runner in Derby Day is a thrill we can not measure by a morning line.
12. Streak Free – 4 year old colt by Easyfromthegitgo – This lightly raced colt started his career by going five for his first eight. However, the way to the finish line has been lost for him, although in his behalf, he has competed only aginst stakes caliber horses. In his last race he put up his best effort of the year, a second place finish, one length behind the winner of the Grade III Burrito Grande Breeders Bowl. Trainer doomngloom thinks his horse is peaking at the right time and he is confident about a second consecutive lifetime best for his colt, and if he performs like it, his chances are nice.
13. Fin Awesome – 4 year old colt by Awesome Again – This is a colt coming from running in cheap allowance company. Before that win, he was not successful in listed stakes company, and now scales to the graded ranks, looking to pull off an upset at 16-1. Needless to say that in my opinion, this horse needs to improve big time to have a chance to at least the minor awards. Trainer upsanddowns tells us the horse is in top form, and if he is good enough, he will be on the board on Saturday. Sorry, I just don’t believe it!
14. Bubble Toes – 5 year old horse by Aptitude – This is another horse that needs for things to set up nicely for him to have a chance in here. He is very consistent; no question about it, but the competition he has been facing is a tad below the horses entered in this event, and anyway, he has been losing against them. Trainer inhalers hopes for his horse to turn out his best race in quite sometime, but for my money, I will have to pass on him.

My Picks: Depravity, Festive Fifty, Jimmy James (BRZ)

Having a horse running this weekend in Kentucky is like a dream come true. My dream for the Bluegrass Derby was shattered four weeks ago, as my Derby qualifier El Industrial was injured in his final prep. This is why I encourage the owners to enjoy this moment, and to replay it in your mind for as long as you are part of the Big Sim Family. Cheers to the winners!