2013 Kentucky Derby 139th Edition: congrats to Orb (Shug, Joel, Phipps/Janney)

[Glimmerglass]

Interesting backstory on likely runner this weekend in the Gotham Stakes @ Aqueduct with Vyjack owned by David Wilkenfeld - which is a mix of his mother and father’s names: Vivienne and Jack.

Vyjack - Kentucky bred but Maryland purchased is 3-0 but without any Derby points to date. He’s listed under “Pick Six Stable” because why? Of course Wilkenfeld had hit the pick six … not once, but twice.

But his money isn’t just from handicapping but rather he’s President of online retailer PromGirl.coml and it would appear to be the sole owner of it too. It throws off enough cash to buy that $16.5 million 4,700 sq ft penthouse in Tribeca.

[Glimmerglass]

Interesting backstory on likely runner this weekend in the Gotham Stakes @ Aqueduct with Vyjack owned by David Wilkenfeld - which is a mix of his mother and father’s names: Vivienne and Jack.

Vyjack - Kentucky bred but Maryland purchased is 3-0 but without any Derby points to date. He’s listed under “Pick Six Stable” because why? Of course Wilkenfeld had hit the pick six … not once, but twice.

But his money isn’t just from handicapping but rather he’s President of online retailer PromGirl.com and it would appear to be the sole owner of it too. It throws off enough cash to buy that $16.5 million 4,700 sq ft penthouse in Tribeca.

Maybe if he eventually has a filly she’ll be named Quinceañera

[Glimmerglass]

Saturday March 2nd will be the $400k Grade 2 Gotham Stakes - with the next phase of Derby points

1 1/16 miles with a field of 12 although, a coupled entry: Transparent, Now and Then for Darley Stables.

PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Champion Boy (KY), E. Castro, 116, J.C. Guerrero
2. Escapefromreality (NY), D. Cohen, 116, D. A. Schettino
3. Ore Pass (CA), J. Pimentel, 116, M. J. Trombetta
4. Amerigo Vespucci (KY), E.D. Rodriguez, 116, T. Tullock, Jr.
5. Transparent (FLA), I Ortiz, Jr., 116, K.P. McLaughlin
6. Now and Then (KY), J. Alvarado, 116, K.P. McLaughlin
7. Siete de Oros (PA), A.S. Arroyo, 116, R. Preciado
8. Vyjack (KY), J. Rosario, 123, R.R. Rodriguez
9. Elnaawi (KY), C. Hill, 116, K.P. McLaughlin
10. Sky Captain (KY), M. Mena, 116, M. Casse
11. West Hills Giant. (NY), J.L. Espinoza, 116, J.P. Terranova III
12. Overanalyze (KY), J.R. Velazquez, 123, T.A. Pletcher

HRTV & TVG will air live - post time 5:02 pm EST

Also opening this Friday through Sunday (closing at 6pm EST) is the second Derby Future Pool via Churchill.

The wagering field is as follows with the initial Morning Line odds:

2013 Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2
NO. HORSE ML ODDS

1.  Code West 	  	20-1
   

2.  Delhomme 	  	50-1
   

3.  Den's Legacy 	  	50-1
   

4.  Dynamic Sky 	  	50-1
   

5.  Falling Sky 	  	50-1
   

6.  Flashback 	  	12-1
   

7.  Goldencents 	  	20-1
   

8.  Itsmyluckyday 	  	12-1
   

9.  I've Struck a Nerve (n) 	  	30-1
   

10.   	Normandy Invasion 	  	15-1
    

11.   	Orb (n) 	  	12-1
    

12.   	Overanalyze 	  	20-1
    

13.   	Oxbow 	  	30-1
    

14.   	Palace Malice (n) 	  	30-1
    

15.   	Revolutionary 	  	12-1
    

16.   	Shakin It Up (n) 	  	15-1
    

17.   	Shanghai Bobby 	  	15-1
    

18.   	Super Ninety Nine 	  	10-1
    

19.   	Titletown Five (n) 	  	30-1
    

20.   	Treasury Bill 	  	30-1
    

21.   	Uncaptured 	  	30-1
    

22.   	Verrazano 	  	10-1
    

23.   	Vyjack 	  	30-1
    

24.   	All Other Three-Year-Olds 	  	3-1
    

(n) designates a new named wager horse

[Sancudo]

What can anyone tell me about Delhomme? Named after my absolute
Favorite (much maligned, also a horse racing man) NFL player perchance? Because just from the name alone, I’ll be rooting for him!

[Glimmerglass]

Video: Grade 3 Gotham Stakes @ Aqueduct which gave the winner 50 Derby Points.

Video - trainer Rudy Rodriguez comments on Vyjack’s win

We’ll see a rematch of the top again at Aqueduct too: Vyjack, West Hills Giant, and Elnaawi are expected to meet again in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6. Vyjack ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.09 and earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

[Glimmerglass]

A potential Derby contender Rydilluc who won the $150,000 Palm Beach at Gulfstream Park March 3rd.

Video replay: 29th running of the G3-turf Palm Beach Stakes

“That was beautiful,” Contessa said. “You see what he looks like turning for home, with the stride he’s got, he’s just an amazing horse.”

Contessa said he’ll give Rydilluc one chance to earn his way into the Kentucky Derby later this spring.

“I think we’ve got to go Spiral or Blue Grass and take a shot,” Contessa said. “He’s nominated to the Spiral and nominated to the Blue Grass, and I’ve followed a lot of horses who did this, turf to Poly then showed up in the Derby. So we’re not going to rule it out.”

[Glimmerglass]

In case you wanted to wear the fan shirt … Overlay Apparel makes this Verrazano offering for Let’s Go Stables.

For something different with the future wagering try the Euro bookmaker William Hill’s odds (as of MAR 4th)

Big weekend winner, Vyjack, who is now tied for 2nd in the points standings is at 15-1. Whereas Revolutionary is at 12-1 and Shanghai Bobby at 10-1.

This Saturday - March 9th - will focus on the Grade 3, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby where the aforementioned Verrazano will be running. He has no points yet towards the Derby but a win here will give him 50 points, with 20 points for second, 10 points for third, and 5 points for a fourth-place finish.

Entries aren’t complete yet but there are seven probables for the Tampa Bay Derby and “a couple more on the fence”. According to the DRF ‘several on that list – like Purple Egg, Falling Sky, and Honorable Dillon – have good early speed, so there could be a lively pace.’

[Glimmerglass]

Interesting that D. Wayne Lukas is sending in two different clients horses into the same race. Both Oxbow & Will Take Charge will run next in the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 16th. Jon Court who has had the mount on both now has Will Take Charge while Mike Smith will get Oxbow. It’s unclear if Jon had the pick of the two or not.

The Rebel is worth 50 points to the winner, as well 20 points to second, 10 to third and 5 to fourth. At 1 1/16 miles it is Oaklawn’s final prep before the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13.

Currently Oxbow has 16-points and Will Take Charge with 10-points.

[Glimmerglass]

The field for Saturday March 9th’s $350,000 Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby - will include Marylou Whitney’s homebred Eton Blue. Timing wise ‘Blues’ trainer Nick Zito will be there. He won’t begin serving a 15-day suspension for a clenbuterol positive until March 11.

post time approx 5:15pm EST
2013 Tampa Bay Derby
PP. Horse … Jockey __ Trainer

1. Eton Blue … J. Bravo __ N. Zito
2. Purple Egg … E. Trujillo __ J. Cibelli
3. Honorable Dillon … C. Lanerie __ E. Kenneally
4. Java’s War … W. Martinez __ K. McPeek
5. Dynamic Sky … J. Rosario __ M. Casse
6. Verrazano … J. Velazquez __ T. Pletcher
7. Offlee Fast … J. Santana __ R. Pellegrini
8. Park City … E. Prado __ T. Pletcher
9. Falling Sky … J. Espinoza __ J. Terranova

Side note: Big Chief Racing sells minority stake in Risen Star winner (at shocker odds) Ive Struck a Nerve - to Paul Braverman who among his prior horses was Soldat, winner of the 2011 Fountain of Youth Stakes.

[MadeYaLook]

Watch out for Purple Egg(which IMO is just about the worst name ever!). I disagree about the early speed-he tends to come off the pace more-but he likes this track and won his last race there late last year as a 2 year old. He was supposed to run earlier this year at Gulfstream but had a fever and was scratched. He has been breezing really well leading up to this and knowing his trainer she won’t put them in unless she feels they have a real shot.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=MadeYaLook;6874197]
Watch out for Purple Egg (which IMO is just about the worst name ever!). I disagree about the early speed-he tends to come off the pace more-but he likes this track and won his last race there late last year as a 2 year old.[/QUOTE]

Since being gelded he does like Tampa and holds a track record at Tampa Bay. $75,000 Inaugural Stakes @ 6-furlongs Dec 1, 2012 won in a stakes-record time of 1 minute, 9.93 seconds, eclipsing Dream of Angels’ 1:10.89 in 2006.

As to the name chosen for the gelding - here you go with syndicate group “Goodwood Racing II” (there four diff groups): Purple Egg

Partner Sven Johnson had the opportunity to choose the horse’s unusual name.

“My wife, Sara Sawti, was pregnant when we were trying to think of one,” he said. “She was wearing a purple sweater at the time and looked like an egg, so there you have it.”

When Cibelli was told, her first reaction was, “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me. But Sven said that the best horse in the world (at that time) was Black Caviar and those are eggs, so why not?”

Another poor horse saddled with a craptastic name.

[MadeYaLook]

Thanks for the story behind the name-you are so right-Black Caviar is so much more classy than “Purple Egg”. I thought it had to come from a kid naming him-makes it worse that it was a adult.

As far as the gelding-he was gelded way before he came down south. He dumped the jock on 2 seperate ocassions when they tried to start him before up at Momouth which is where he broke his maiden. It sure turned him around and got him going in the right direction-brain surgery:lol:!

[Glimmerglass]

The other Derby points awarding race this weekend from Santa Anita will have two noted contenders: Flashback and Goldencents

Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes, race 7, worth 85 points – with 50 going to the winner. Key stat is that both Flashback and Goldencents already have won at the San Felipe distance of 1 1/16 miles.

$300,000 San Felipe Stakes (Grade 2)
Race 7, approx 3:35 p.m. PST

PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer

1. Carving (KY), R Bejarano, 118, B Baffert
2. Flashback (KY), J R Leparoux, 123, B Baffert
3. Goldencents (KY), K Krigger, 120, D F O’Neill
4. Kochees (KY), J Valdivia Jr., 118, M Pender
5. Hear the Ghost (KY), C S Nakatani, 118, J Hollendorfer
6. Tiz a Minister (CA), G K Gomez, 118, P G Aguirre
7. Salutos Amigos (KY), M Garcia, 118, E J Guillot
8. Omega Star (CA), J Talamo, 118, J A Shirreffs
   Blinkers On: Kochees

[Glimmerglass]

For this weekend’s two Derby points-awarding races free past-performances:

Source BRISNET: G2 $350K Tampa Bay Derby (race 10)

Source BRISNET: G2 $300K San Felipe (race 7)

Other bits …

March 6, 2013 - ESPN’s poll for the Top 10 Derby Contenders (this week) - abridged

Rank. Horse. Record (sts w-p-s). KD Points current

1. Orb. 6–3-0-1. 50-points
2. Verrazano. 2–2-0-0. 0-points
3. Itsmyluckyday. 9–5-1-1. 10-points
4. Flashback. 2–2-0-0. 10-points
5. Revolutionary. 5–2-1-2. 10-points
6. Super Ninety Nine. 5–3-1-0. 10-points
7. Shanghai Bobby. 6–5-1-0. 24-points
8. Vyjack. 4–4-0-0. 50-points
9. Goldencents. 4–3-1-0. 24-points
10. Normandy Invasion. 4–1-1-0. 4-points

Another article on Vyjack owner David Wilkenfeld from Forbes (3/1/13)

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6857033]
From the Risen Star - 50 Derby qualifying points went to Ive Struck a Nerve,…[plus] Ive Struck a Nerve already had 1 prior point for 4th place finish in the Lecomte back on Jan 19th.[/QUOTE]

And the long shot Risen Star winner enjoyed his few weeks in the sun atop the leader board for the Kentucky Derby - alas he’s injured and off the Derby trail (as of Mar 9th)

… suffered an ankle injury in a Saturday morning workout and will miss the Triple Crown series, trainer Keith Desormeaux said.

“It’s very disappointing,” said Desormeaux. “We’re still trying to pinpoint the exact nature of the injury. The vets still have to take more X-rays. It doesn’t look like it’s career-threatening and he’s not in peril. …”

[Glimmerglass]

The Tampa Bay Derby affirmed the talent of Verrazano - Johnny V. never needed to encourage him once. He won easily. Taking 2nd was a long shot Java’s War from dead last and 3rd was Falling Sky.

[Glimmerglass]

DRF’s Steve Crist has an interesting article on the weights for the Derby point prep-races - he contends that because those races are key they should all have equal weights for the field.

With horses making so many fewer starts than they once did, and those starts in key preps now tied to admission in the Crown and lucrative entry-fee awards in the Cup, unequal weights in these events are a worse idea than ever.

Even in non-handicap races on the Derby Trail, old allowance conditions once needed to attract full fields remain in place even though they are unnecessary anachronisms. There is no shortage of Derby candidates for the races where points must be earned to secure starting berths, but race conditions remain from a time when it might be hard to scrounge six starters without them.

As for the Tampa and San Felipe races of Saturday -

Video replay: Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (Sat 3/9/13)

Derby points finish (1st - 4th): Hear the Ghost, Flashback, Tiz a Minister, and Goldencents.

Hear the Ghost was purchased as a yearling by Hollendorfer for $40,000. Further Hear the Ghost was gelded after his debut.

Video replay: Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (Sat 3/9/13)

Derby points finish (1st - 4th): Verrazano, Java’s War, Falling Sky, and Dynamic Sky

Btw - Purple Egg finished last.

[Glimmerglass]

Following the Tampa Bay Derby:

Verrazano (winner of the Tampa) Todd Pletcher said he was likely to start next in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, with the Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby the second and third options.

Java’s War (2nd in the Tampa) Ken McPeek will talk with owner Charles Fipke before determining his next start, but he said the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the UAE Derby are two primary options.

[Glimmerglass]

A telling sign - John Velazquez chooses to ride Orb in the $1 Florida Derby - which is key as that race is held the same day as the $1 Louisiana Derby and also the $10M Dubai World Cup which he could’ve had a mount for.

Another interesting jockey decision:

In the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby (March 24; awarding 50-Derby points to the winner) Gary Stevens will be aboard Titletown Five for D. Wayne Lukas for the first time.

[Glimmerglass]

Saturday MAR 16 is the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park@ 1 1/16-mile. Field of 11 when the race drew Wed morning:

PP. Horse __ Jockey __ Weight __ Trainer

1. Carve __ C S Nakatani __ 117 __ S M Asmussen
2. Treasury Bill __ J Talamo __ 115 __ R W Ellis
3. Texas Bling __ M C Berry __ 119 __ D Durham
4. Delhomme __ G K Gomez __ 115 __ T A Pletcher
5. Hardrock Eleven __ T J Thompson __ 115 __ D P Banks
6. Den’s Legacy __ R Albarado __ 119 __ B Baffert
7. Will Take Charge __ J K Court __ 122 __ D W Lukas
8. Stormy Holiday __ D C Bell __ 115 __ M Robertson
9. Title Contender __ L S Quinonez __ 115 __ W M Catalano

10. Oxbow  __	M E Smith  __	122  __	D W Lukas
    

11. Super Ninety Nine  __ 	R Bejarano  __	122  __	B Baffert
    

A - Coupled Entries - Treasury Bill, Title Contender