The day that all equine fans wait for has finally arrived…\u00a0 Derby Day!<\/P>
Of course, there ARE other races on Derby Day…\u00a0 The ones that go on all day while the infield crowd, nearly completely oblivious, parties the day away.\u00a0 By Derby post time, they’re usually so well-lubricated that they’ll be barely able to watch as the 3yo champions race for the Roses… Yeah, THOSE races…<\/P>
The Bluegrass Sprint is one of those, the 11th, to be exact.\u00a0 The infield mosh-pit, er, crowd, might not pay much attention, but fourteen trainers, fourteen owners, and (hopefully) fourteen jockeys will be locked-in on the race…\u00a0 This looks like a good one, as two 3yo’s that took their shots (and missed by not all that much) at making the Derby field will try their handing
sprinting seven panels against some pretty well-established older sprint stars.\u00a0 Let’s have a look at the field:<\/P>
SECAUCUS SEVEN<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 O A Haack 24%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 baggio<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10\/1<\/P> This 5yo has seen much action lately; this is the fourth consecutive time he’s raced off just three weeks’ rest.\u00a0 A winner of just over $200k, he has, for the most part, been running fairly well against listed-stakes company.\u00a0 This is a stern test for the brown Saratoga Six offspring.<\/P> DE FU<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 B F Abman 25%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 minnesota<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 54\/1<\/P> Here’s one of the 3yo’s that dropped off the Derby Trail.\u00a0 He has a solid win vs. other sophomores in the Gr. 1 Ring Of\u00a0 Fire Special.\u00a0 While that field contained no less than seven other graded-stakes winners, this move to face older is quite a step upward, at least according to the CPU oddsmakers.\u00a0 If you’re willing to draw a line through that dismal Florida Derby performance and think he’s capable of repeating that graded-win run, this one might well be worth a look, even more so if you decide to forget he’s a 3yo facing older in early May.<\/P> HIGH HEART<\/STRONG> \u00a0\u00a0 F Gossett 28%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 losthecode<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7\/1<\/P> This 4yo son of Septieme Ciel, running under the charcoal-grey-and-red colors of the successful Topicount conglomerate, finished 2nd in the Kentucky BB Sprint on this surface last time out.\u00a0 The tough brown colt should be in contention today, also.\u00a0 Good chance to at least get a piece of the prize.<\/P> SULPHUR SPRINGS<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D Sherman 8%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 gipper5<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13\/1<\/P> In his first stakes effort since early 2005, this guy closed rapidly down the lane at 13\/1 in the 6f Nasty & Bold Handicap (Gr. 3) and earned a strong figure in the process.\u00a0 Can he repeat that effort four weeks later against this stronger field?\u00a0 Maybe, but an improvement from even THAT effort might be needed to contend here.\u00a0 He drew a rather weak 8% rider from the Derby-bolstered jock colony, also.<\/P> K’S STORM MAKER<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D Givins 28%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 wreckagees<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11\/1<\/P> This 4yo colt was closing extremely quickly last time out, missing by just two lengths in the Kentucky BB Sprint to finish 3rd.\u00a0 This effort, at 16\/1, was the lightly-raced 4yo son of Empire Maker’s only graded-stakes try.\u00a0 I know what you’re thinking…\u00a0 Was this a fluke, or is this colt the real deal?\u00a0 Do ya feel lucky?<\/P> HUNTER CREEK<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 V Gardner 26%\u00a0rocket25<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\/1<\/P> This guy gets the “toughest race schedule” award for today, with 4 of his last 5 in graded company.\u00a0 He hasn’t won any of those, but he’s been very close ROCKIAVELLIAN<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0McClendon 26%\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 fatattack2<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11\/1<\/P> This colt was recently purchased at auction for a whopping $5.6 million by the extremely successful Lonestar Racing syndicate, and has raced twice since.\u00a0 The first time, he won a minor stakes so impressively that Lonestar decided to roll the dice.\u00a0 Unfortunately, things came apart in his most-stern test to date, the Billy and Jimmy Stakes, and he faded badly to 13th.\u00a0 Can he spring back?\u00a0 He probably deserves at least a look here… Here’s the one horse that Rockiavellian beat last time out…\u00a0 He’s had some VERY impressive runs in minor stakes, but has been thumped badly in both of his graded tries.\u00a0 Looks like tough sledding here.\u00a0 Could he be “more evil than the evil empire”?<\/P> CORPORATE FINANCE<\/STRONG>\u00a0N Lawton 25%\u00a0grandview<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 42\/1<\/P> Here’s the other 3yo…\u00a0 He’s been quite impressive against his age group, especially when sprinting.\u00a0 Tough call again…\u00a0 Can he make the jump to older company and pull an upset?\u00a0 Hard to ignore at THOSE odds!\u00a0 He hasn’t faced quite the strength of competition that De Fu has, but he’s run faster, for the most part…<\/P> RED NATIVE WOODMAN<\/STRONG>\u00a0I Hoge\u00a0\u00a0 9%\u00a0dowelly2<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17\/1<\/P> This guy keeps falling short against allowance foes while his races are very close together…\u00a0 Might be a good one with a bit more trainer patience…\u00a0 Has been a pace victim in both recent stakes tries; more of the same?\u00a0 Didn’t get the best break in jockey selection, either.<\/P> MR TOMS RIVER NJ<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0P Haynes 25%\u00a0honeyj\u00a0<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7\/1<\/P> This regally-bred colt has been patiently handled, and this has paid off nicely thus far.\u00a0 He’s got a recent graded win and was right there in his last (The Kentucky BB Sprint) at this track, and will likely benefit from a very positive jockey change today.\u00a0 Things set up well for a “stalking trip”, making this one the hoss-to-beat, even though several in here have faster recent speed ratings.\u00a0 Beware, however…\u00a0 This guy has raced four times since Feb. 2… Will he bounce?<\/P> FERNANDO STORM<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0A Rolling 32%\u00a0muninn240<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\/1<\/P> 5yo speedball will get a battle if he wants the lead today…\u00a0 Jock has a ridiculous 32% win percentage, however.\u00a0 If anyone can keep this guy from frying himself on the front end, it’s the guy aboard.\u00a0 Colt has rested a bit since his fadeout run while facing the toughest sprinters around in the Sand Castle Golden Sprint on Mar. 22, a race in which he only had 3 weeks away beforehand, not his usual training pattern.<\/P> This representative of the Ohio Racing residency (Hey…\u00a0\u00a0 Gotta prop up the rez I belong to!) had a very nice string of impressive performances end with an off-day in the Kentucky BB Sprint, his Graded-race debut.\u00a0 He’s back for another swing at Graded types, and has a reasonable shot to rebound vs. these.\u00a0 He WAS gaining at the end last time…\u00a0 The connections of this 4yo colt hope that this race will be the springboard to a long graded-sprint career for The Boom.<\/P> SOBRON<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H McCoy 22%\u00a0palmisland<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8\/1<\/P> Here’s another up-and-comer hoping for a nice stakes-running career…\u00a0 He ran his career-best speed fig last out in just missing at Arkansas, and his connections figure that an extra furlong will be to the 4yo colt’s liking.<\/P> My picks…\u00a0 12-13-11.\u00a0 But take a good look at those 3yo’s for later this year…<\/P> Just for the heck of it…\u00a0 Sim Derby, 7-12-19 and the Derby we’ll all be watching on TV…<\/P> Colonel John – Pyro – Big Brown<\/P> Good luck to all!\u00a0<\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two 3yo’s Test Older Sprinters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":246,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/246"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5913"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5913\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
in all except his most recent, getting drubbed by a solid California field.\u00a0\u00a0Hard to figure what strategy his connections will use…\u00a0 He’s run well from the front, and run well from well back.<\/P>
\u00a0
SATAN’S STEED<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0J White 29%\u00a0worldwide<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9\/1<\/P>
THE BOOM<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0J Caves 19%\u00a0ausracing<\/EM>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8\/1<\/P>