otb_lifer
Footballguy
Prep season ends this afternoon, big 100 points up for grabs at Oaklawn, minor spoils at Keeneland - which is damn quizzical ... a prep this late getting a point divvy akin to the early tests - and it's not like this is at Fonner Park - ferchrissakes, Keeneland is some hallowed ground. meh.
anyways ...
Arkansas Derby PPs
all about Magnum Moon and Solomini? oh, there's Quip, who had his TB Derby win flattered very much last weekend with Vino Rosso bagging the Wood, and Flamey hanging tough in the Blue Grass. but, are they gonna go 24.2/49.2 today like that TB outing? highly doubt it.
the Rebel
was MM's coming out party ... not as heralded as Justy, but similar situations here (unraced as a 2 yr. old, superstar trainer) - and we saw similar at last years Stars and Bars with Malagacy
- MM is working very well, has his third route start form today, and should be even money come post time. we could be in for a monster effort from this one.
Solomini came into the Rebel from a three month layoff ... had a busy 2 yr. old campaign, holding his own in four starts among the likes of Bolty, Good Magic, McKinzie - he is close to the top of that second tier, which is headed by Good Magic/Bolty atm - will be either him or MM taking that leap this afternoon, and possibly passing those two. has worked well, and needs this one to give confidence that the two yr. old form is able to be run back to. if ya wanna toss the Reb, i wouldn't fault you ... expecting much better from him this time around.
Quip rated off some loafing pace in the TB Derby, and had all he could handle from first time route tryer World of Trouble, who was coming in having decimated a 7f field in the Pascal, and was jumped on by the public like stink on #### - Flamey had a (now) patented facacta stretch run, and definitely had Quip's measure as they crossed. i'm not sold on this one at all, and think he may fade out the money today ... coupla new shooters and Combatant may pass this cat up as we hit the stretch.
one of those new shooters is Asmussen's Tenfold, who has scored two route wins over this track ... gets the services of Espinoza today, as Santana jumps back on Combatant. taking a huge step up in class, but starting to get the "wiseguy" buzzz ...
Combatant is an Asmussen grinder, has clunked up into the money in four straight Stakes starts, well seasoned with this kinda class ... allergic to the wire, though - easy toss from the top, must use underneath - he will be pickin' them up, as usual.
Asmussen has a third horse up in here - Dream Baby Dream - who closed impressively in the Sunland Derby. will be his ninth career start, which is quite prolific for modern era TC nominated colts ... has a great shot to be picking up the stragglers with Combatant, he's definitely another underneath must use.
Magnum Moon and Solomini are the easy class here, and we should see a more contested version of their Reb match, with Solomini showing up in better form today ... underneath will be the real contest.
Lexington PPs
Desormeaux bros. special - My Boy Jack is wheeled here three weeks removed from a bizarre bolt in the Louisiana Derby
he needs some points to secure his Churchill gate, and this is much softer than the Arky - right?
outside post should be of little consequence, as he will be laying off the early pace ... expect him late, and with authority. tenth career start, no surprises from this one, he is what he is, and the possible rain makes him even more potent here - lest Kent aims for the grandstand again
Greyvitos was a hot name early on the trail, winning a couple stakes in late '17 ... a fire at his training barn and bone chip surgery took him outta commission for four months ... last time out was the Remington Springboard, where he drew off comfortably enough ... very dangerous colt today, really love his chances here - connections have said they are eyeing the Preakness, though a win today would put him on a precarious KD bubble, pending dropouts.
Pony Up is in here for Pletcher, making his third career dirt start ... gonna need a hot pace to close in to, and will have company with MBJ - closed in 12 and change last time out in the Jeff Ruby - winner Blended Citizen bombed in last week's Blue Grass, but this is a much softer spot.
Honor Up hasn't been out in four months, most noted for chasing a debuting Audible back in November, finishing second by roughly two lengths to one of the heavy hitters ... lotta rust here.
Zanesville also comes in from the Ruby, and will also need to be coming late.
Telekenesis/Gracida/Battle At Sea should set the early fractions ... maybe BAS hangs on for a piece.
Seven Trumpets just drilled a bullet 4f, but left an awful lot on the Aqueduct track in battling Firenze Fire in a brutal Jerome strtech run - will benefit from the slop if we get it.
anyways ...
Arkansas Derby PPs
all about Magnum Moon and Solomini? oh, there's Quip, who had his TB Derby win flattered very much last weekend with Vino Rosso bagging the Wood, and Flamey hanging tough in the Blue Grass. but, are they gonna go 24.2/49.2 today like that TB outing? highly doubt it.
the Rebel
was MM's coming out party ... not as heralded as Justy, but similar situations here (unraced as a 2 yr. old, superstar trainer) - and we saw similar at last years Stars and Bars with Malagacy
- MM is working very well, has his third route start form today, and should be even money come post time. we could be in for a monster effort from this one.Solomini came into the Rebel from a three month layoff ... had a busy 2 yr. old campaign, holding his own in four starts among the likes of Bolty, Good Magic, McKinzie - he is close to the top of that second tier, which is headed by Good Magic/Bolty atm - will be either him or MM taking that leap this afternoon, and possibly passing those two. has worked well, and needs this one to give confidence that the two yr. old form is able to be run back to. if ya wanna toss the Reb, i wouldn't fault you ... expecting much better from him this time around.
Quip rated off some loafing pace in the TB Derby, and had all he could handle from first time route tryer World of Trouble, who was coming in having decimated a 7f field in the Pascal, and was jumped on by the public like stink on #### - Flamey had a (now) patented facacta stretch run, and definitely had Quip's measure as they crossed. i'm not sold on this one at all, and think he may fade out the money today ... coupla new shooters and Combatant may pass this cat up as we hit the stretch.
one of those new shooters is Asmussen's Tenfold, who has scored two route wins over this track ... gets the services of Espinoza today, as Santana jumps back on Combatant. taking a huge step up in class, but starting to get the "wiseguy" buzzz ...
Combatant is an Asmussen grinder, has clunked up into the money in four straight Stakes starts, well seasoned with this kinda class ... allergic to the wire, though - easy toss from the top, must use underneath - he will be pickin' them up, as usual.
Asmussen has a third horse up in here - Dream Baby Dream - who closed impressively in the Sunland Derby. will be his ninth career start, which is quite prolific for modern era TC nominated colts ... has a great shot to be picking up the stragglers with Combatant, he's definitely another underneath must use.
Magnum Moon and Solomini are the easy class here, and we should see a more contested version of their Reb match, with Solomini showing up in better form today ... underneath will be the real contest.
Lexington PPs
Desormeaux bros. special - My Boy Jack is wheeled here three weeks removed from a bizarre bolt in the Louisiana Derby
he needs some points to secure his Churchill gate, and this is much softer than the Arky - right?outside post should be of little consequence, as he will be laying off the early pace ... expect him late, and with authority. tenth career start, no surprises from this one, he is what he is, and the possible rain makes him even more potent here - lest Kent aims for the grandstand again
Greyvitos was a hot name early on the trail, winning a couple stakes in late '17 ... a fire at his training barn and bone chip surgery took him outta commission for four months ... last time out was the Remington Springboard, where he drew off comfortably enough ... very dangerous colt today, really love his chances here - connections have said they are eyeing the Preakness, though a win today would put him on a precarious KD bubble, pending dropouts.
Pony Up is in here for Pletcher, making his third career dirt start ... gonna need a hot pace to close in to, and will have company with MBJ - closed in 12 and change last time out in the Jeff Ruby - winner Blended Citizen bombed in last week's Blue Grass, but this is a much softer spot.
Honor Up hasn't been out in four months, most noted for chasing a debuting Audible back in November, finishing second by roughly two lengths to one of the heavy hitters ... lotta rust here.
Zanesville also comes in from the Ruby, and will also need to be coming late.
Telekenesis/Gracida/Battle At Sea should set the early fractions ... maybe BAS hangs on for a piece.
Seven Trumpets just drilled a bullet 4f, but left an awful lot on the Aqueduct track in battling Firenze Fire in a brutal Jerome strtech run - will benefit from the slop if we get it.
Quip 37.13 / 12.33 Solomini 36.81 / 12.20 Combatant 36.30 / 12.16
). My Boy Jack ran a big race, just like the LA Derby. Hard to see him getting around 19 horses in the KD, particularly after two all-out drives in these preps.
