Fifty ESR Derby Points on the Line in the $100,000 ESR Rising Star Derby Prep Stakes

A field of ten Three-Year Old Colts enter the Big Apple starting gate for the $100,000 ESR Rising Star Derby Prep Stakes.  The race will be run at Nine Furlongs over the Dirt Course.  The feature is the ninth in a series of Road to the ESR Derby prep races with the horses top twenty points gaining entrance to the 20,000 Credits Added ESR Big Apple Derby.

SARCASMO – the 3yo Honor Code colt is making his 2022 debut for the ivanyamil stables…the KY Bred showed vast improvement in his final two starts of his 2yo campaign when his connections were able to add an extra half furlong in those starts…out of a stakes winning Quality Road mare, who had multiple wins at today’s distance, and a half to GENTILICIO, who also has multiple wins at nine panels, including a second place finish in the G3 Northern Derby at 9f, you have to believe todays nine furlongs is imbedded in his DNA and could be ready to fire a career best effort…dangerous

SPARTAN’S CREED – the scratch-bred 3yo Curlin colt was the easiest kind of winner in the last start of his 2yo season when he opened up on the field by ten lengths while finishing under wraps…the francua trained KY Bred is another that improved greatly with the added distance will be easy to find during the running of this ESR feature…one to catch

ALTAR BOY LUKA – the ace trained 3yo colt by Catholic Boy is fresh off a second-place finish in the ESR Four Miler Derby Prep Stakes and has been nothing short of sensational since switching from the Turf Course to the Dirt…expect this acolyte to settle somewhere in the middle of the pack and make a bold move once those Sanctus Bells start ringing…Dominus Vobiscum

RING HOLLOW – the 3yo Audible colt impressed favorably in his three-year old debut with a bold move past the leaders in his MSW victory, a race that took place at today’s distance of 9f…the trotter1 trainee is hoping for a similar trip in his first start against winners…could surprise

TRIPLE LEMONS – the lbailey trained 3yo colt by Lemon Drop Kid has been knocking on the door of a Maiden victory and it looked like he was home free in his last start before getting caught late by ESR adversary BIG VIG, the latter finishing 5^th in the ESR Withersome Derby Prep Stakes in his next start…exiting a key race, you can expect a solid effort from this KY Bred as he looks to take away his share of the 50 Derby points that are up for grabs…happy with part

RUN FROM THE GHOST – the kingab trained son of Gun Runner is making his 3yo debut after closing out his 2yo campaign just missing victories in his final two appearances as a 2yo…the KY Bred is out of a stakes placed Ghostzapper mare, NO DOUBT I’M FAST, who pushed the limits at 9f, and is a half to the graded placed TELAMANUS, who was more suited to a mile, may need his very best to negotiate the nine panels of today’s feature, but don’t underestimate the connections…chance off best

SUPREME JUSTICE – the casino connections have high expectations of this 3yo son of Justify, out of a Graded placed Bernardini mare, DARLING OF DARLEY, and while the jury is still out, connections haven’t cashed in on a mare that’s produced runners from American Pharoah, Justify, and an unraced 2yo by Constitution… while the KY Bred’s maiden victory has eluded him, connections are hopeful that the added distance will be the key to greater things for both this colt and promising young broodmare…chance at a price

BACHATERO – the 3yo nycowboy trainee out of Congrats is facing a tough task on Saturday making his racing debut in the ESR feature…in a nothing to lose and everything to gain appearance, connections hoping on a Doug Flutie miracle…you gotta be in it to win it

INCLEMENT WEATHER – the littlebit trained 3yo son of War Front is another that enters this field still a maiden, but a useful 3^rd place finish, while making up ground in the stretch, at 9f in his last start makes him eligible for improvement here on Saturday…Dam did her best running under a mile, but the KY Bred has demonstrated a liking for longer distances, and while faced with a tough task here on Saturday, a piece of those 50 points remain a possibility…needs top effort

MAKIN JOY – the jetman trained 3yo son of Kitten’s Joy has been first or second in six of his seven career starts…the KY Bred gelding is out of a stakes placed mare who did her best racing in sprints however this versatile runner is always up for a top effort and his last start, a second-place finish at 9f in an Allowance event in KY, displayed the tendencies of his sire handling the longer distance…should pressure the pace…must not falter

HANDICAPPING THE FIELD

SPARTAN’S CREED and MAKIN JOY are the front runners which could mean disaster for one or both, of these entries. SPARTAN’S CREED is the pure speed and is more likely to maintain his speed throughout.

SARCASMO likes to keep close to the pace, but if he goes too fast early it may hinder him in the final stages. He is sitting on a big effort, and if he can settle comfortably behind the leaders, just might come away with the fifty points.

ALTAR BOY LUKA sits the best trip in this field and should be there at the finish to contend for top honors.

RING HOLLOW got a patient ride in his last start and is the only horse in this field to win at this distance…there is something to be said for that.

RUN FROM THE GHOST also sits a perfect trip in this field, and while his absolute best effort can get him home, I’m not sure about him getting the distance

SUPREME JUSTICE, INCLEMENT WEATHER, TRIPLE LEMONS, and BACHATERO are all still maidens, and as a rule I do not bet maidens against winners; that is not to say that none of these maidens can win this race, after all this is not an elite field.

THE PICKS

ALTAR BOY LUKA – only horse in the field with more than one win

SPARTAN’S CREED – like they say…speed kills

RING HOLLOW – call me a homer