San Felipe(G2)/Tampa Bay Derby(G2)/Swale(G3)

                                             

As we near closer to the Derby, many of these talented three-year-olds are still looking for enough graded stakes earnings to claim a spot in the Derby. This weekend will give many of these horses an opportunity as there are three graded stakes races on the Derby Trail Schedule.

The 7 Furlongs, $150,000 Swale Stakes(G3) is held at Gulfstream this Saturday. While this is considered a race on the Derby Trail, not too many Derby horses will come from a 7 furlong race this late in the season. Look for Ever So Lucky, Motor City and Quick Wit to battle it out in the Swale. 

The 1 1/16 mile, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby(G2) is held at Tampa Bay Downs this Saturday. Battle Hardened returns to the track he won the Sam F. Davis Stakes(G3) just last month. Prospective is the only horse in the field currently in the top 20 in graded stakes earnings. 

The 1 1/16 mile, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes(G2) at Santa Anita is loaded with talent. Creative Cause heads this talented field of 10 and looks to show everyone that he is the top horse out on the West Coast. Empire Way is a strong contender who is coming off a second place finish on this track last month in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes(G2). They will have to take on the promising colts out of Baffert's stable, Liaison and Bodemeister.

Tampa Bay Derby(G2)

3/10 Tampa Bay Downs @ 5:28 EST

Spring Hill Farm 5-2

Pletcher horse stepping up in class after going undefeated in two allowance races. Posted good speed ratings in both races.

Battle Hardened 9-2

Won Sam F. Davis Stakes at Santa Anita last month. 

Take Charge Indy 3-1 SCRATCHED

Finished second to El Paudrino in three-year-old debut back in January.

EX/TRI BX: 7,9

San Felipe Stakes(G2)
3/10 Santa Anita @ 4:38 PST

Creative Cause 5-2
Looks to build on his 7 furlong prep race, finishing third. Still posted strong speed rating and his race is at a distance.

Empire Way 6-1
Has continued to improve off each start. Pedigree says he can go the distance. Collected some graded cash in last months Robert B. Lewis, but is still on the outside looking in.

Liaison 6-1
Looks to redeem himself after throwing his rider in last race. Already has the earnings, but looks to show he belongs.

Bodemeister 3-1

Tons of talent as shown in his previous maiden win. Step up in class is making his first graded stakes start. Needs to collect some graded stakes earnings in this one.

EX/TRI BX 2,6,7,10


*Hansen took down the Gotham and is back on track. 

Gotham(G3)

The 1 1/16 mile, $400,000 Gotham Stakes goes off later today at Aqueduct. Hansen is back to redeem himself after a disappointing  second place finish in the Holy Bull back in January. With a field of 13, Hansen is the overwhelming favorite and must bounce back with a strong performance. While the two-year-old champ leads all other three-year-olds with graded stakes earnings, he needs to get back on track today with only one more prep race looming before the Derby.

Gotham(G3)
3/3 Aqueduct @ 5:02 EST

Hansen 6-5
Heavy favorite looks to bounce back after disappointing three-year-old debut. Only graded stakes winner in race, in a class above the competition.

Rest of the field is wide open as any of these horses could hit the board.

*El Padrino won the Risen Star with Z Dager coming in third. Both should look towards the Louisiana Derby next month. 


*Union Rags had an impressive three-year-old debut in the Fountain of Youth. Discreet Dancer fell off to finish third. Sadly, Algorithms had a popped splint, was scratched from the race and is off the Derby Trail. 

Risen Star(G2)/Fountain of Youth(G2)

                                                                         Fair Grounds                                                                                     

The 2012 Derby Trail makes its way through Louisiana and Florida this weekend. The first stop is the $300,000 Risen Star(G2) this Saturday at Fair Grounds. There is a field of 11 in this race and while none are currently in the top 20 in graded stakes earnings, that will change with a win in the Risen Star. All eyes will be on El Padrino, who is coming off an impressive win in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park over fellow Derby contender, Take Charge Indy. His competition looks to be the top three finishers(Mr. Bowling, Z Dager and Shared Property) in last months Lecomte(G3).

                                                                             Gulf Stream

The next stop is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth(G2) at Gulfstream Park this Sunday. This is the race where Union Rags makes his three-year-old debut. He will be going up against a field of 8 and will be squaring off with the up and coming Algorithms. Algorithms already spoiled Hansen's three-year-old debut last month in the Holy Bull(G3) and looks to play spoiler again.

Both stakes races are going 1 1/16 mile and are preps for the Louisiana Derby and Florida Derby coming up in five weeks. Many of these horses are looking to add to their graded stakes earnings, while others are looking for a shot to burst on to the Derby scene and into the top 20. It is going to be an exciting weekend as the Risen Star and Fountain of Youth will start to separate the contenders from the pretenders on the 2012 Kentucky Derby Trail.

Risen Star(G2)
2/25 Fair Grounds @ 5:55 EST

8) El Padrino 2-1
One of Pletcher's many Derby horses who is considered one of his top 2. Already has a third place finish in last year's Remsen(G2) and an impressive allowance win in his three-year-old debut. He will be the horse to beat on Saturday.

10) Shared Property 6-1
This horse came out of the gate strong as a two-year-old but had a disappointing showing in the Breeders' Futurity(G1) at Keeneland last year. Finished third in his three-year-old debut in the Lecomte(G3).

4) Z Dager 5-1
Finished Second in the Lecomte(G3).

Fountain of Youth(G2)
2/26 Gulfstream Park @ 5:13 EST

7) Union Rags 2-1
Making his three-year-old debut. Only loss came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to the two-year-old champion Hansen. Will be the horse to beat on Sunday.

2) Algorithms 8-5
Currently considered Pletcher's top horse. Already has taken down Hansen and looks to give Union Rags a run for his money. First time around two-turns is the only question mark heading into the race.

5) Discreet Dancer 3-1
Another one of Pletcher's up and coming three-year-olds. Stepping up in class and running in his first graded stakes race. A lot of promise but will have to prove himself against top competition.

*Picks failed in the Robert B. Lewis(G3) as Rousing Sermon was the only horse to finish in the money(show). Liasion did not have a good trip and threw his rider coming down the stretch. 

Derby Trail Heating Up

                                                                             

Last week Hansen had a disappointing three-year-old debut in the Holy Bull, even if he did hold on to finish second. He will have a chance to redeem himself most likely in the Fountain of Youth Stakes later this month at Gulfstream Park. Everyone will be waiting to see how he comes back from his stumble at the start and the sloppy track. Algorithms is the horse that upset Hansen and looked very good doing so. He was already on the radar but has now shot up the charts as one of the top three-year-olds to watch after winning his first graded stakes race.

The first weekend in February brings us 3 races on the derby trail. Tampa Bay Downs is host to the G3 Frank F. Davis Stakes where another three-year-old looks to emerge on the derby scene. Aqueduct will host the G3 Withers Stakes, where Alpha is the heavy favorite at 1-1 in the ML odds. On the west coast, Santa Anita will have the 1 1/16 mile, G2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. This is the highlight race of the weekend as Liaison and Rousing Sermon meet up again to duke it out after finishing 1-2 in the G1 Cash Ball Futurity back in December.

Robert B. Lewis (G2)
2/4 Santa Anita @ 6:05 EST

6) Rousing Sermon 5-2
Closing strong down the stretch last race, just ran out of distance to catch Liaison.

2) Liaison 9-5
One to beat after victory in the Cash Ball Futurity.

4) Sky Kingdom 6-1
Another Baffert horse looks to improve off a 4th place finish in the Cash Ball.

1) Isn't He Clever 6-1
Has hit the board in all 4 of his races but has yet to run past 7f. Son of Smarty Jones sure to be a crowd favorite if he can prove he belongs.

*Hit the Exacta in the Holy Bull with Algorithms and Hansen.