The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 is barreling down to the wire with three
big prep races this week beginning with the Wood Memorial from
Aqueduct.
It would not be a Derby prep without a Todd Pletcher contender and he has morning line favorite Battalion Runner for the Wood Memorial. The lightly raced $700k purchase owns early pressing versatility and will try to hold off Irish War Cry, Cloud Computing, and Mo Town.
The Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland features the undefeated McCraken in a race without much pace. If the favorite stubs his toe, look for Tapwrit (Pletcher), J Boys Echo, and Practical Joke to pounce, and look out if Wild Shot sneaks away early!
Finally, the SA Derby is a wide open 13-horse cavalry charge with Iliad
the tepid morning line favorite. The chalk might not want to go nine
furlongs and if that is the case look for a real scramble in the
stretch.
You can find mySA Derby Video Play on my Free Picks page at The Runaway Horse.
Last week, Always Dreaming upended
Gunnevera and company in the Florida Derby to become the latest in a
long line of Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders for trainer Todd Pletcher.
He looked good winning and has captured his last three route races by a
combined 20 lengths! State of Honor held on for 2nd in the Florida Derby and flattered the Tampa Bay Downs stakes form of McCraken and Tapwrit.
Gunnevera drew poorly and did not get the
right setup but I was hoping he would finish a little better. He ended
up an okay 3rd and should get more pace help on the first Saturday in
May.
Florida Derby front runner Three Rules
slowly faded and lost a 3-horse battle for 3rd (ended up 5th). His
stamina was always in question and now we have the definitive answer. He
does not have enough qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby and will
probably show up in shorter stakes races late this year.
Girvin beat Pletcher trainee Patch
in the LA Derby but the winning BSF was only 91. The aforementioned duo
are both lightly raced and have plenty of upside but are not fast
enough to win a race like the Kentucky Derby.
Local Hero stalked, pounced, and weakened
to finish 3rd in the LA Derby. He has 30 Derby qualifying points but
does not have the stamina to go a mile and a quarter. Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-8-17) #1 - ALWAYS DREAMING #2 - Gunnevera #3 - McCraken #4 - Practical Joke #5 - Battalion Runner #6 - Tapwrit #7 - Irish War Cry #8 - Gormley #9 - Classic Empire #10 - Iliad #11 - Girvin
The 2017 Santa Anita Derby is a wide open prep race for Kentucky Derby 2017. Iliad is the tepid morning line favorite but there are many other contenders in the 13-horse field.
Gunnevera was the road toKentucky Derby 2017 star of last week with a powerful late running victory in the
Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, March 4.
Three Rules carved out solid fractions in the FOY and was chased by Holy Bull winner Irish War Cry, Takaful, and Made You Look, and the latter trio retreated to the back of the pack.
Meanwhile, Gunnevera and Javier Castellano were enjoying the scenery
from 10th and last before unleashing a strong late run to cross the line
5+ lengths in front.
Practical Joke rallied from 7th and fought
hard to edge a very game Three Rules for the place. It was another six
lengths back to Talk Logistics in 4th.
The Gotham was supposed to be a walk in the park for El Areeb
but his rider Trevor McCarthy made an early decision to go the front
and there was no turning back. He was hounded throughout by True Timber,
and eventual winner J Boys Echo took full advantage of the lively fractions and rolled home by 3.5 lengths (102 BSF).
Stalker Cloud Computing was clearly second
best in the Gotham and El Areeb held the show in a disappointing
performance that can be partly attributed to riding tactics.
Before anyone gets too excited about the Gotham, check out the 0-for-40
Kentucky Derby record for Gotham participants since 1980.
Two big Derby preps on tap this week beginning with the much anticipated return of Mastery
in the San Felipe. He has been my top ranked Derby contender for many
months and looks ready to roll off the bench for Bob Baffert.
2-time graded route winner Gormley and impressive G2 San Vicente hero Iliad figure to make Mastery work hard for the money.
The Tampa Bay Derby is a wide open affair and trainer Todd Pletcher has a pair of contenders including Sam F. Davis runner-up Tapwrit.
Wet weather is the new normal at Santa Anita Park and some rain made for
an off track on Saturday. On Sunday, we were treated to a nice
performance by Iliad in the G2 San Vicente and a Kentucky Derby 2017 two turn prep race is next for the exciting sophomore prospect.
Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: Feb 9
Fast
main track and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on dirt. The
winning turf course running styles were a downhill stalker, a stalker at
one mile, and a last-to-first closer at ten furlongs (Rail at 20 feet).
Richard Baltas saddled two turf winners.
Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: Feb 10
Fast
main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt
(5.5f, 6.5f, 6f, 8f). The winning turf course running styles were an
inside presser down the hill and a stalker at one mile (rail at 30
feet).
Mastery finishes the year as my top ranked
Kentucky Derby 2017 contender. He has been on top of the heap since Nov
18 and capped off a perfect 3-for-3 juvenile campaign with a 7-1/4
length romp in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course
on Dec 10.
Classic Empire sits atop
many Derby lists and rightfully so. The BC Juvenile hero will likely be
named 2-year-old champ and is spending the winter in Florida.
This
is my tenth and final Derby update this year and there are no changes
to the Top 11 this week. I did add impressive maiden winner Iliadto the “next nine.” He got a 92 BSF in a 6f special weight win at Los Alamitos Race Course on Dec 18 for trainer Bob Baffert.
