Florida Derby
in case anyone forgot,
Audible in the Holy Bull
what's most impressive is the size and glide of this cat - man, he's a friggin' load out there, and big boy can flat out
motor. he flicked
Free Drop Billy off like a gnat, and demolished that field of Derby hopefuls. most audacious run prep yet - a deserving favorite today. does lose Javi, as he's in Dubai, hopefully booting home my huge
Reride wager in the UAE Derby - so it's back to Johnny V, who rode him in his first two career starts. coming from the 8 hole, so i think they rate off the early class speed well to the inside ... would expect a huge move at the 1/2, and that
could be all she wrote if he's right. extra distance today, but had plenty to spare last outing.
Promises Fulfilled in the F.o.Y. as far as "coming outta nowhere" and dazzling, this ranks at the top. sucks getting those outside posts at Gulfstream, due to the quick first turn, but this colt zoomed out the 10 hole and never looked back. will draw a much more favorable #4 post today, expect him to be on the engine.
also worth looking at
Strike Power and
Storm Runner in that race ...
Storm Runner makes a move, gets checked, which opened the door for
SP to exert the outside pressure - dunno how much wind was taken outta
SR on the check, but he definitely wilted fast. he will once again be bustin' out the 5 hole this afternoon, a real wildcard - don't like to see the cue put in the rack last race when things got tight, but he is capable of disrupting the field here ...
Strike Power breaks from the 1 post - he will be the early controlling speed, no question - they rated him a tad in the F.o.Y., but i think he's sent balls out for this one. may be
PF's day to rate.
so we can definitely expect an honest, quick early pace ... and a horse i'm keen on today will benefit greatly -
Catholic Boy.
drew midpack, so can sit off the early speed, keeping well within striking distance ... also worth noting that Irad Ortiz jumps off
PF to take the mount on
CB for today. now, last time out, he floated outside most of the way, then ceded in a stretch battle with
Flameaway in the
Sam Davis ... matter of fact, looked like
Vino Rosso would've easily passed him with another furlong to go ... not the most inspiring ...
but i like the work he just drilled (48.4 at 4f) in prep ... draws Ortiz, who is on fire down there, and i think the hotter pace today plays very well into his strengths - will only be his third start on dirt, there's room for improvement and moving forward, think he gets it right in this one - second off the Remsen layoff, so he has won at this distance ... if the favorite takes a step back, this is who i'm counting on.
Hofburg is as much a wildcard as
Storm Runner - aced his route debut here earlier this month, and is taking a huge step up in class ... but a pace collapse could see him challenging late, a very intriguing cat with Junior Ortiz in the irons, drilled a better prep work than
Catholic Boy ... we've discussed
Mississippi up in here for a couple months, and he finally makes his stakes debut - Casse doesn't run 'em unless they're primed - blinkers go on today, and we saw how much that helped
Noble Indy (who barely nosed
Mississppi back in January).
of course, this is all gibberish if
Audible just turns on the jets and make a travishmockery of this mutha ... but i'm gonna take a stand here with the #6.
UAE Derby Post from earlier this week.
oh, and, while we're here -
GRONK SMASH BURRADON!! GRONK MAKE KENTUCKY DERBY!!