[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6933306]
And Goldencents even tweet a reply, too[/QUOTE]
Oh ducky. The field is going to do some discourse on Twitter. Reminds me of Jane Smiley’s observation that, “Horses look only to each other for instruction and approval.”:lol:
The field was drawn for this Saturday’s (4/13) $1 Million Grade-1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn with a schedule post time of 5:28 pm Eastern
Interesting that Calvin Borel gets the mount with Texas Bling who honestly could be a surprise in here. Also note that James Graham & Divine Ambition cannot be at two tracks at once 
So expect them not to wait around for a scratch in the Blue Grass Stakes.
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, ML Odds
Adding to Vijack’s connections woes - as noted their jockey won’t ride him for the Derby - you can add that trainer “Rudy” Rodriguez has been called before the KHRC before they’ll allow him a license for Kentucky.
[Rudy] who recently served a 20-day medication-related suspension in New York, has been ordered to appear before the commission’s Licensing Review Committee April 16 before he can obtain a Kentucky trainer’s license.
Rodriguez is a former jockey and former employee of Richard Dutrow Jr., the trainer of 2008 Derby winner Big Brown who is now serving a 10-year suspension after a number of rules violations.
Rodriguez started as a trainer in 2010 and, according to a March 13 Daily Racing Form article, “has been a subject of suspicion since he had immediate success” training.
An aside and looking at the ladies with the upcoming Kentucky Oaks … Rose to Gold (very apropos!)
Today at Oaklawn Park in the $400k Fantasy Stakes Grade 3 comes Calvin Borel on a $1,400 yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky (Feb 2011) - impressive run the slop.
Video replay here - with DRF article
“I think Rose has brought herself to the point where she needs to be there,” [trainer Sal Santoro] said. “Whatever happens, happens, whether we’re under the radar or not. Since Day One this is a $1,400 filly, and she’s taken us this far. If she loses by 100 lengths, we still come out winners.”
She has now won 5 of 7 starts and $717,889 for owners Kathleen Amaya and Raffaele Centofanti. All of Rose to Gold’s wins have come in dirt route stakes. … Rose to Gold is a diminutive chestnut daughter of Friends Lake.
“She’s just nothing but heart,” said Borel.
Additional rider changes for the Kentucky Derby (April 11th)…
Javier Castellano has chosen to ride Normandy Invasion (instead of two-time graded stakes winner Revolutionary) and Garrett Gomez was named to ride Vyajck.
Pletcher on the news of losing Javier on Revolutionary:
“We won a lot of races with and without Javier,” Pletcher said Thursday at his Belmont barn. “We’ll be okay either way. There are number of good riders that are available. We’ll see how things develop over the weekend.”
An article on Goldencents jockey Kevin Krigger from Men’s Journal (magazine) with a bit of a Jimmy Winkfield nod: “At this year’s Kentucky Derby, the 29-year-old jockey hopes to recapture the lost glory of horse racing’s black jockeys.”
Moot point as Todd Pletcher already said he was off the Derby trail, but …
Shanghai Bobby has been found to have a stress fracture and is “out indefinitely”.
I do wish for the best with Bobby.
Nice story by Jennie Rees about Contessa’s Derby hopefuly Rydilluc - co-second choice for the Blue Grass Stakes.
In Rydilluc, Contessa might finally get Derby horse of his own
Rydilluc (pronounced RYE-dill-LUKE) was named by partner Sean Shay for young family members named Ryan, Dillon and Luke.
NBC racing analyst Randy Moss watched video of Rydilluc’s races and concluded, "He’s Barbaro – maybe better…. He’s more impressive then (Derby favorites) Verrazano, more impressive than Orb, than Revolutionary or Goldencents.
"But you just don’t know how he’s going to make the transition from grass…
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6935301]
Moot point as Todd Pletcher already said he was off the Derby trail, but …
Shanghai Bobby has been found to have a stress fracture and is “out indefinitely”.
I do wish for the best with Bobby.[/QUOTE]
So sorry about Shanghai Bobby…
Getting old, can’t remember the horse, but wasn’t someone just recently returned to racing successfully after a pelvic fracture? I’m thinking a filly/mare?
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6933943]
An aside and looking at the ladies with the upcoming Kentucky Oaks … Rose to Gold (very apropos!)
Today at Oaklawn Park in the $400k Fantasy Stakes Grade 3 comes Calvin Borel on a $1,400 yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky (Feb 2011) - impressive run the slop.
Video replay here - with DRF article[/QUOTE]
That was fun to watch. Calvin was a statue on her. He seems in shape for the Derby! Hope they do well in The Oaks.
ESPN/NYT’s Bill Finley is already making is pick: Normandy Invasion.
"But the same horse I picked November 24 will be the horse I pick on May 4. "
Worth noting is that Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland can be viewed live, free, on-line: Live video feed coverage of Keeneland here
It’s the 10th race on the card, off at approx 5:40pm EST.
Plenty of great racing to watch between now and then at the Lexington track as races 6/7/8/9/10 are all graded stakes!
[QUOTE=CVPeg;6935642]
So sorry about Shanghai Bobby…
Getting old, can’t remember the horse, but wasn’t someone just recently returned to racing successfully after a pelvic fracture? I’m thinking a filly/mare?[/QUOTE]
Not a filly, but Bens Cat fractured his pelvis as a 2yo, prior to his first start and 1.4mil + in earnings
Video replay: 89th edition of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes $750k
After the poor start, I never saw that final outcome coming! We know the winner is a closer 
Java’s War charged from last place to first to win the 89th Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday.
Rydilluc held a commanding lead from the top of the stretch almost all the way to the finish before Java’s War and jockey Julien Leparoux charged past for a dramatic win at the wire.
Java’s War, 4-1 in the morning line, is owned by Charles Fipke and trained by Ken McPeek.
Taking second “Palace Malice” and third “Charming Kitten” earning 40 and 20 Derby points, respectively. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher, who already has major contenders in Verrazano, Revolutionary, and Arkansas Derby winner Overanalyze for the May 4 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Java’s War, maybe he’s improving, but I didn’t take away much from this BG win. His 2 runs at Churchill last year were dismal. His only claim to fame for me still is running 2nd to Verrazano (who I’m going to try to beat come 4May;))
Video replay: Arkansas Derby Grade 1 - Oaklawn Park
Overanalyze takes the race with confidence with Rafael Bejarano riding for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole. Frac Daddy took 2nd with Ken McPeek capping off a great day with this colt on top of the Blue Grass victory less than an hour before.
War Academy, the Bob Baffert-trained 9-5 favorite, was pulled up at about the half-mile pole after stalking the leaders. Mike Smith indicated he felt off and pulled him up. No problems were found and he was not vanned off.
Interesting blog post here about the points chase:
http://www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/kentuckyderbypost/20_Points_is_No_Longer_Enough_123
Current Derby Points standings …
http://www.drf.com/news/kentucky-derby-2013-point-standings
I’d say horses in positions 1 - 17 are a lock. Meaning # 17 Oxbow with 36-points likely will be in although two additional races will have Derby points available.
Any opinions about leaving all the filly races out of the points race?
[QUOTE=CVPeg;6938428]
Any opinions about leaving all the filly races out of the points race?[/QUOTE]
See no problem with it whatsoever, as every filly has the option run in the open company. They are in no way inconvenienced.
All three fillies that have won the Derby raced against males in their prep races.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;6938336]
Current Derby Points standings …
http://www.drf.com/news/kentucky-derby-2013-point-standings
I’d say horses in positions 1 - 17 are a lock. Meaning # 17 Oxbow with 36-points likely will be in although two additional races will have Derby points available.[/QUOTE]
While he gets in if he shows up, Lines of Battle is by no means a certain to be in Louisville. The 2000 Guineas is being considered for him according to an interview with O’Brien a couple of days ago. Course that could well be O’Brien’s penchant for keeping every option open till as late as possible.
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