Opening Day @ Keeneland/Wood Memorial(G1)/Santa Anita Derby(G1)

This past weekend in New Orleans, I had the pleasure of experiencing history and watching the University of Kentucky Wildcats bring their 8th National Championship back to Lexington. In between games, on Sunday I hopped on I-10 and made the short trip over to the Fair Grounds Race Course to witness a different type of history. Hero of Order at 99/1 + odds decided to play spoiler on April Fools of all days, to take down the $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby. It was a surreal weekend to say the least and was well worth the trip. 

Back in Lexington, still riding high from the Cats first title in 14 years, what better to keep that high going than opening day of Keeneland. That's right it's Easter Weekend and the most prestigious track in the country opens tomorrow for racing. If you have never been to Keeneland, then you have no idea the aura this track has. It is one of those things in life that you just have to experience for yourself. Keeneland has many graded stakes races lined up, but the most anticipated race this Spring meet has to be the Blue Grass Stakes(G1). Hansen is making his next race on the synthetic surface and this will mark the first time since 1997 and Street Sense that the two-year-old champ ran in this race.

We are now less than one month away from that first Saturday in May and the three-year-olds are preparing for their final prep race before the Kentucky Derby. This weekend is locked and loaded with prep races all over the country. 

Out on the West Coast at Santa Anita Park is the 1 1/8 mile, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby. Creative Cause looks to continue his West Coast dominance in his last prep before making the trip to Louisville. This is a big race for I'll have Another, who is coming off a win in the Robert B. Lewis(G2). Currently sitting on the outside looking in on the 2012 Graded Earnings List, he needs to hit the board to guarantee a spot in the Derby. 

The East Coast's big prep race is the 1 1/8 mile, $1,000,000 Wood Memorial(G1) held at Aqueduct. Surprisingly, not one of the horses in this field of eight is currently in the top 20 in graded earnings. Although, Alpha, My Adonis and Gemologist are just outside, a finish in the money certainly would help their chances.

Also running is the 1 1/8 mile, $500,000 Illinois Derby(G3). This race is wide open as another horse looks to make the needed earnings. 

Santa Anita Derby(G1)

4/7 Santa Anita Park @  2:30 PST

Creative Cause 6-5

Considered the best out on the West Coast and could be one of the top three-year-olds in 2012. Just has to go out and prove it at 1 1/8 mile. 

Liaison 8-1

Cashball Futurity winner looks to regain last years form. Although he has yet to hit the board as a three-year-old, the distance may be what he needs. 

Midnight Transfer 10-1

Finished a competitive third to Creative Cause here at Santa Anita in the San Felipe(G2) last month. Looks like he might have more in the tank to go the distance.

I'll Have Another 5-2

Won the Robert B. Lewis(G2) on this track back in February.

EX/TRI BX: 1,2,8,4

Wood Memorial(G1)

4/7 Aqueduct @ 5:15 EST

Gemologist 8-5 

Undefeated in 4 life time starts. 

Alpha 5-2

2 for 2 as a three-year-old, not to mention both races were at Aqueduct. 

Street Life 4-1

Coming off back to back allowance wins over this track. 

My Adonis 8-1

Finished second to Hansen over this track in the Gotham(G3) last month. 

EX/TRI BX: 6,1,5,3

*Secret Circle padded his graded earnings by taking the Rebel Stakes(G2). Najjaar and Sabercat did not finish in the money. 

Keeneland

Summer has come and gone. The leaves are turning and starting to fall. There is a cool breeze in the air across the Bluegrass. The month of October has arrived and tomorrow, Keeneland opens for their fall meet in its 75th anniversary year. 


Keeneland is considered Lexington's pastime, just as much as baseball is America's pastime. Founded in 1935 and open for racing since 1936, this race track holds a rich history and is only open two months out of the year, which makes it one of the most prestigious tracks in the country. As stated on Keeneland's website and many would agree, this is "a place that now ranks among venues such as Augusta Golf Course, Wrigley Field and Madison Square Garden as one of the finest sporting locales in the world."


Keeneland is in itself its own island. The atmosphere and landscape that are enough to satisfy. Keeneland is a place where you can go to get away. A place where you can go to relax. A place where you can go to party. A place where you can go that brings back memories and will bring you new ones. A place where you can spend time with family and friends. A place where you can see magnificent animals. A place where you can see thoroughbred racing at its best. A place where you can dream of cashing in and leaving with more than what you came in with. A place, win or lose, where you walk away with a sense of enjoyment. Words cannot do this place justice as you have to experience it for yourself. Horse racing fan or not, you will certainly not walk away disappointed. 


The aura of this race track is only one of the reasons that make this place so special. Opening weekend of the fall meet brings a handful of Breeders Cup prep races as well. The new class of top two-year-olds are ready to showcase what they have as they are preparing for next year's Triple Crown. Saturday brings the Breeders' Futurity which is another "win and you're" in for the (G1) Breeders Cup Juvenile, as these young horses vie to be crowned two-year-old champ. The field is full as fourteen horses will load the gate this Saturday in the Breeders' Futurity and two alternates are in place barring any late scratches. 


Check out HRN for the current Top 250 Two-Year-Old Males: 2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders


Breeders' Futurity Exotics:


5) Majestic City 7-2
Only horse in field that has posted triple speed figures(not once, but twice).  


 7) Shared Property 4-1
Took down the large (G3) Arlington Washington Futurity field on poly by coming on down the stretch. 


11) Take Charge Indy 5-1
Barely beaten out in the (G3) Arlington Washington Futurity. Pedigree suggests distance not an issue.


4) Motor City 15-1
Came from well back in the (G3) Arlington Washington Futurity to finish in the money. 


12) Optimizer 8-1
Only has raced on the turf so will be interesting to see how he moves over to the poly. Can never count out a D. Wayne Lukas horse.


*This field is loaded with talented two-year-olds, so anything can happen. Tough to peg as this is the first time for many of these horses going 1 1/16 mile. 

Post "Super Saturday"

                                                           

 Stay Thirsty                                                                                   Uncle Mo: Kelso


"Super Saturday" set everyone up for a very enticing Breeders Cup next month. Flat Out took the 1 1/4 mile Jockey Club Gold Cup by holding off Drosselmeyer. Game On Dude was able to hold off a late charging eight-year-old, Awesome Gem in the Goodwood. Uncle Mo proved he is back by beating the older horses easily in the Kelso. Havre De Grace, the promising and dangerous filly blew out the rest of the field in the Beldame. Creative Cause beat favored Drill in the Norfolk, most likely setting up a so-called rubber match  in the Breeders Cup Juvenile.

While the Breeders Cup Classic field will begin to form over the next few weeks, it certainly doesn't look promising for this years three-year-old class. Going up against their elders for the first time, Stay Thirsty and Coil both finished third in their races this weekend. They were able to finish in the money but were not a challenge for win or place. Now heading to the Breeders Cup, there will only be more talented horses to contend with. While Stay Thirsty still would have to be considered the favorite for three-year-old champion, he certainly does not have a lock on the award. With the resurgent Uncle Mo, if he chooses to run in the Classic were to somehow upset the expected loaded field, he would be back in the picture for top three-year-old. Don't forget about To Honor and Serve either, who came back from injury to take the Pennsylvania Derby a couple of weeks ago.

As these next few weeks begin to unfold, there certainly will be anticipation leading up to the many showdowns that are going to be watched at Churchill Downs the first weekend in November. In the meantime, check out Keeneland in Lexington, Ky as they open their fall meet this coming weekend.

*Hit the exacta and trifectas dead on in both the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Goodwood this past weekend.

Enjoy The Ride

English major? Nope. Expert Gambler? Not even close. Expert Handicapper? Well, not yet. Just a kid in his 20's who loves to watch the ponies run while trying to come up with a method to the madness (yes, I still consider myself a kid even though that big 30 is not too far around the corner). Growing up in the horse capital of the world I have always enjoyed those warm spring days in April and those crisp cool fall days in October at one of the most prestigious tracks in the country they call Keeneland. Whether it was skipping class back in high school or working my class schedule out in college so I didn't have late afternoon classes or those dreaded Friday classes, you could always find me out at the track come April and October to catch a glimpse of the ponies first hand.

Some say you could not have been born here and not like the sport of horse racing. Maybe it just runs in my blood since I have been told that the track was my grandfathers second home. My uncle has owned horses in the past and I remember going to Churchill Downs and Keeneland to watch them run. That first Saturday in May huddled around a TV to watch the most exciting two minutes in sports every year since I can remember. My dad teaching me how to read a racing program. Whatever it was, these past 2-3 years I have really gotten passionate about the sport (especially the 3 yr. olds). There you have it, that's a little taste about me. Now to what this blog is going to be about....

Source: isavesmart.com

If you are looking for those can't miss horses in maiden, maiden special weight, claiming and starter races then this blog is not for you. I will go ahead and tell you to save your time and look elsewhere. The past few years I have started studying those unpredictable 2-year-olds as they turn 3 and make their way along the Derby trail to try and compete with the best of the best on Derby day. I have not done too bad following these young horses as of late. I decided that I am going to document and share my picks with those who are interested as these amazing animals try and chase after that once forgotten Triple Crown, through the summer, leading up to the Breeders Cup Classic hoping to be named 3 yr. old champion.

I have learned that nothing is guaranteed in life, just like there are definitely no locks in sports. This all pertains to horse racing and this blog as well. I am not going to guarantee anything on here but I do hope to win you and myself some money along the way. So, saddle up and enjoy the ride.......

*Come back next week and I'll have my picks for the Preakness.