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Showing posts with label Practical Joke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Practical Joke. Show all posts
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Wood Memorial, Blue Grass, SA Derby Recap
The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 featured three big prep races on April 8 and Irish War Cry bounced back with a sharp victory in the Wood Memorial from Aqueduct.
Irish War Cry was content to track post time favorite Battalion Runner and was always moving sweetly under Rajiv Maragh. He pulled clear in the stretch and earned a 101 BSF.
It was a two-horse race throughout and Battalion Runner was clearly second best over Cloud Computing.
In a stunning Blue Grass Stakes outcome, longshot Irap earned his maiden win over Practical Joke and McCraken. The winning BSF was 93 and the top three finishes will all move on to the Kentucky Derby.
Gotham winner J Boys Echo and Tampa Bay Derby hero Tapwrit turned in disappointing efforts in the Blue Grass but both have enough Derby qualifying points in their connections opt to run on the first Saturday in May.
The SA Derby (88 BSF with slow final 3/8ths) was a mad 5-horse scramble in the stretch and Gormley got up late over Battle of Midway, Royal Mo, Reach the World, and Iliad. The latter pair do not have the necessary Derby points and Royal Mo is on the bubble.
The final Derby prep is the Arkansas Derby on April 15 and it figures to have major implications on the final points standings. I will be back next week with a video preview of Oaklawn Park’s showcase event.
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-9-17)
#1 - ALWAYS DREAMING
#2 - Gunnevera
#3 - McCraken
#4 - Irish War Cry
#5 - Battalion Runner
#6 - Girvin
#7 - Practical Joke
#8 - Gormley
#9 - Classic Empire
#10 - One Liner
#11 - Irap
You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.
* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards
Irish War Cry was content to track post time favorite Battalion Runner and was always moving sweetly under Rajiv Maragh. He pulled clear in the stretch and earned a 101 BSF.
It was a two-horse race throughout and Battalion Runner was clearly second best over Cloud Computing.
In a stunning Blue Grass Stakes outcome, longshot Irap earned his maiden win over Practical Joke and McCraken. The winning BSF was 93 and the top three finishes will all move on to the Kentucky Derby.
Gotham winner J Boys Echo and Tampa Bay Derby hero Tapwrit turned in disappointing efforts in the Blue Grass but both have enough Derby qualifying points in their connections opt to run on the first Saturday in May.
The SA Derby (88 BSF with slow final 3/8ths) was a mad 5-horse scramble in the stretch and Gormley got up late over Battle of Midway, Royal Mo, Reach the World, and Iliad. The latter pair do not have the necessary Derby points and Royal Mo is on the bubble.
The final Derby prep is the Arkansas Derby on April 15 and it figures to have major implications on the final points standings. I will be back next week with a video preview of Oaklawn Park’s showcase event.
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-9-17)
#1 - ALWAYS DREAMING
#2 - Gunnevera
#3 - McCraken
#4 - Irish War Cry
#5 - Battalion Runner
#6 - Girvin
#7 - Practical Joke
#8 - Gormley
#9 - Classic Empire
#10 - One Liner
#11 - Irap
You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.
* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards
Friday, April 7, 2017
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Risen Star Recap + Fountain of Youth and Gotham Preview
Girvin picked up 50 Kentucky Derby 2017
qualifying points and basically guaranteed himself a starting spot on
the first Saturday in May with a sharp score in the Grade 2 Risen Star
Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday, Feb 25.
Recent maiden winner Local Hero was all alone on the lead but could not keep it going and Girvin stalked inside, moved out in the lane, and won by a comfortable 2-lengths.
Untrapped was always in contention and easily went by Local Hero for the place. The latter just held the show over Guest Suite with 3-2 favorite another 5+ lengths back in 4th. The winning BSF was a respectable 93 but the feeling here is that the New Orleans Derby contenders are a notch or two below the best.
El Areeb rolled home in the Jerome and Withers and figures to be a very short price in the Gotham. He has looked great all winter for trainer Cal Lynch but he keeps beating the same horses on the inner dirt at Aqueduct so his true Derby standing is unknown at this point.
In the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, Irish War Cry tries to remain unbeaten. He defeated Gunnevera in the Holy Bull and that rival is back again, along with new shooters Three Rules and Practical Joke.
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 3-4-17)
#1 - MASTERY
#2 - El Areeb
#3 - Gormley
#4 - Irish War Cry
#5 - Three Rules
#7 - McCraken
#7 - Practical Joke
#8 - Royal Mo
#9 - Battalion Runner
#10 - Classic Empire
#11 - Theroy
You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.
* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards
Recent maiden winner Local Hero was all alone on the lead but could not keep it going and Girvin stalked inside, moved out in the lane, and won by a comfortable 2-lengths.
Untrapped was always in contention and easily went by Local Hero for the place. The latter just held the show over Guest Suite with 3-2 favorite another 5+ lengths back in 4th. The winning BSF was a respectable 93 but the feeling here is that the New Orleans Derby contenders are a notch or two below the best.
El Areeb rolled home in the Jerome and Withers and figures to be a very short price in the Gotham. He has looked great all winter for trainer Cal Lynch but he keeps beating the same horses on the inner dirt at Aqueduct so his true Derby standing is unknown at this point.
In the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, Irish War Cry tries to remain unbeaten. He defeated Gunnevera in the Holy Bull and that rival is back again, along with new shooters Three Rules and Practical Joke.
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 3-4-17)
#1 - MASTERY
#2 - El Areeb
#3 - Gormley
#4 - Irish War Cry
#5 - Three Rules
#7 - McCraken
#7 - Practical Joke
#8 - Royal Mo
#9 - Battalion Runner
#10 - Classic Empire
#11 - Theroy
You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.
* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards
Friday, March 3, 2017
Handicapping video of the week: Fountain of Youth Stakes featuring Irish War Cry
Irish War Cry won the Holy Bull Stakes earlier this year at Gulfstream Park and tries to keep his perfect record intact in the Fountain of Youth on Saturday, March 4.
Gunnevera chased Irish War Cry in the Holy Bull and hopes to get more pace help this time.
Three Rules stretches back out and loves the Gulfstream Park oval, and Practical Joke was one of the top juveniles in the land last year and makes his much anticipated sophomore debut for Chad Brown.
Gunnevera chased Irish War Cry in the Holy Bull and hopes to get more pace help this time.
Three Rules stretches back out and loves the Gulfstream Park oval, and Practical Joke was one of the top juveniles in the land last year and makes his much anticipated sophomore debut for Chad Brown.
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