Glimmerglass, how about Barclay Tagg’s horse??
I think he is slated to run in the Wood Memorial…isn’t he undefeated so far also? Not sure.
Yep - Showing Up is aimed for the Wood but at this point there is so little room for error and having him jump up like that with the distance is going to be very tough and demanding IMHO. A very good colt given a bad trip would almost have no way to build up the needed graded stakes money to get into the Derby.
Thats how Rock Hard Ten was locked out - despite being better then most for his class.
Since Showing Up is owned by the same stable as Barbaro I’d hate for them to use him in any way such as they did with Spanish Chestnut last year. Although he does not seem to have that crazy horse sprinter look 
A fast but steady - no unrateable horse like say Yessirgeneralsir 
From the Blood-Horse for April 3rd:
At Gulfstream Park on Sunday morning, Barclay Tagg worked undefeated colt Showing Up five furlongs in 1:00 4/5. Showing Up is owned by Lael Stables, whose undefeated Barbaro won the Florida Derby (gr. I) in his fifth start Saturday.
“He didn’t go quite as fast as he did last time,” Tagg said, referring to a :58 2/5 work on March 26. “This is what we wanted.”
Showing Up has only run twice, winning both a maiden special weight and an entry-level allowance by comfortable margins. The Wood will be Showing Up’s first try around two turns after scoring at 6 ½ furlongs and one mile at Gulfstream.
As an aside, Lael Stables is owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson. They owned George Washington and sold him as a yearling - fetching $2.05-million at the 2004 Tattersalls October yearling sale.
Another article on “Showing up”
Tonights DRF update has an interesting article on Showing Up and it says both trainer and owner are very upbeat on him. DRF 4/3/06 "Barbaro’s owners excited by the prospect of a second Derby horse]
Tagg: “You’ve got to be a little excited about him … I don’t know if he’ll go two turns or any of that stuff. He hasn’t shown me he can’t.”
The colt didn’t race at 2 because of a shin problem at Fair Hill. To his credit in his two starts he’s put in an impressive Beyer Fig of 91 and 100, respectively!
Illinois Derby and other aired prep races for this weekend
The field for this Saturday’s (April 8th) Illinois Derby - at Hawthorne Race Course is set at 10 horses.
The $500,000 Illinois Derby (Grade II)
PP, HORSE, JOCKEY, Morning Line odds
- Malameeze, J. McKee, 8-1
- Creative Force, E. Perez, 30-1
- Itsallaboutthechase, C. Emigh, 12-1
- Lewis Michael, F. Alvarado, 20-1
- Devilofarush, E. Baird, 30-1
- Mister Triester, B. Blanc, 8-1
7. Cause to Believe, R. Baze, 5-2 - Racketeer, P. Valenzuela, 5-1
- My Golden Song, C. DeCarlo, 5-1
- Sweetnorthernsaint, K. Desormeaux, 4-1
Keep an eye on this crucial chart: Graded Stakes Earnings as of 4-3-06 as the top 20 will only make it in.
The horse in the IL Derby with the highest graded-earnings to date is Malameeze with $66k (ranking him 22nd)
On television this weekend …
ABC Sports will air the IL Derby, Wood Memorial (G1), Bay Shore (G3) and the older horses in the Carter (G1) from 4 - 5 pm EST; while NBC Sports will then take over at 5 pm airing the Santa Anita Derby (G1)
Achilles of Troy off Derby trail
ESPN 4/5/06 “Achilles of Troy out of Derby”
Such a shame 
Paragallo said Achilles of Troy would leave the barn at the end of the week for a facility where he would be able to swim for 30 days. He wouldn’t resume training until summer.
Santa Anita Derby - small field
A small but challenging field for this Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby although Brother Dererk will likely loom large in this one. Especially since Fast Parade a true to name horse is not in the field. (He’ll go to Keeneland for the G2 Lexington on the 22nd)
Brother Derek is unbeaten in three starts at Santa Anita, including the G2 Santa Catalina and San Rafael. He’s also unbeaten in four starts around two turns, including last fall’s Grade I Hollywood Futurity.
At 1 1/8 miles this will be his first distance challenge.
$750,000 Santa Anita Derby
PP. Horse, Jockey, ML Odds
- A.P. Warrior, Corey Nakatani, 7-2
- Brother Derek, Alex Solis, 3-5
- Wildfang, Omar Berrio, 50-1
- Indy Wildcat, Tyler Baze, 30-1
- Sacred Light, Aaron Gryder, 9-2
- Point Determined, Rafael Bejarano, 4-1
An article on Point Determined - CBS Sports/DRF 4-5-06 “Point Determined carries Lewis legacy”
Baffert said Point Determined did not start until then because he had “super sore shins” after being purchased as a 2-year-old in training in March 2005.
“It took awhile for him to come around,” Baffert said. “He needed to get his confidence.”
Since he started racing, Point Determined has held up well, Baffert said.
“He’s got Point Given’s constitution,” Baffert said. “He doesn’t lose weight. He doesn’t look like a horse who ran five times in less than three months. He’s getting stronger.”
Point Determined was purchased by the Lewises for $750,000 at Barretts. He was one of several big-ticket purchases as yearlings or 2-year-olds that now make up the Lewis-owned crop of 3-year-olds. Their horses are trained by either Baffert or D. Wayne Lukas.
Showing Up - to miss the Wood Memorial
According to Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg, Showing Up has a bruised right front foot.
I’m not sure if the bruise now means he won’t be able to make any prep-race (and will thus not meet the earning’s requirement) or they will look to slot him into one of the very few remaining graded stakes races - e.g., G1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on April 15 at Keeneland.
Positions for this Saturday’s Wood Memorial at the Big A
Wood Memorial (G1) $750,000 at 1 1/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Morning Line
- Jazil, F. Jara, 10-1
- Platinum Couple, J. Santos, 30-1
- Keyed Entry, E. Prado, 5-2
- Deputy Glitters, J. Lezcano, 7-2
- Niagra Causeway, I. Enriquez, 30-1
- Greeley’s Legacy, E. Coa, 6-1
7. Bob and John, G. Gomez, 2-1 - Marco’s Tale, N. Arroyo Jr. 15-1
- Scanlon’s Song, R. Dominguez 20-1
a pinch more on Tagg’s horse
As for Showing Up, “We’ll try to make it next weekend,” Tagg’s assistant Robin Smullen said, referring to the Bluegrass or the Arkansas Derby.
Brother Derek
Didn’t he look like the consumate race horse today!!! He moves like a cat, straight and elastic…he really impressed me from the warm up on!!! He looks exceptionally well coordinated !!!
He’s stunning!!!
Jazil
I think i am going to hop on the Jazil bandwagon. His closing kick really impressed me, and I had him picked to win the Wood. Dont know if he’ll get in the Derby but I sure hope so. I think he could be the outsider of the year…
Brother Derek
Wow, hard not to be impressed with this horse. Having seen his Santa Catalina and now the SA Derby you get the impression this horse has lots left in the tank. I guess the big question is the quality of the horses he has competed against in SoCal.
He doesn’t give me the impression that he’d have a hard time with 10f.
I try not to get excited about horses until they do the biz on the first Sat in May, too many have come up short in the past, but I think we could be seeing something special here.
Another horse that impressed me today was Sweetnorthernsaint in the Illinois Derby. Granted he wasn’t exactly in a stacked field, but his turn of foot is impressive and finished full of running. Seems like a very plucky horse that won’t back down.
Unrelated questions. well kinda related… but 1) why does Aqueduct have 2 dirt tracks? 2) why are Hawthorne and Sportsman’s Park right next to each other? What’s the logic in that?
Sportman’s no longer runs horse races. Car races, yes. No more horses.
Hawthorne was owned by the Cary family until the Bidwill family closed Sportsman’s Park in 2002. Today Hawthorne is owned 50-50 by both families. The 70-year old SP won’t be reopening as the City of Cicero purchased in 2003 Sportsman’s for the purposes of retail development.
As for Saturday’s racing action it seems terribly obvious that Brother Derek is very impressive and without a valid knock on him whatsoever. He didn’t struggle at the distance, rates quite well, and has the ability to listen to his rider and will kick on at the asking. The training and race regiment to date will work perfectly going into the Derby.
By comparison I still think Barbaro - while also doing well - hasn’t retired all doubt and just won’t be as seasoned as BD. As cited during the program neither horse will have seen the large (and often crazy) 20-horse field of the Kentucky Derby which does add a new element. The FL and Santa Anita Derby each had relatively smaller fields.
Too Much Bling could go to the Derby but up against a Brother Derek with his two turn experience - why? Gelding ‘Sweetnorthern Saint’ took on a decent field in the IL Derby and impressed folks with speed on a dull track.
I wasn’t a fan of Keyed Entry (the biggest claim IMHO was knocking off Samurai who I don’t see winning the Derby period) so Bob and John’s effort in the slop was almost expected. What wasn’t was that sweet close and game effort right to the end by Jazil. I love it! The race doesn’t end a furlong before the wire
The next big race horse to go to the track will be Lawyer Ron in the Arkansas Derby. With two Grade 3 wins and 5 undefeated starts the horse is, like Brother Derek, being prepared very nicely in 2006. Per the DRF he put in a damn nice workout Saturday: working five furlongs in a bullet 59 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:10.91
But why were they right next to each other in the first place. I asked people in Chicago about this, as it really threw me for a loop the first time I saw that, yet nobody knew why.
Brother Derek and Barbaro
In comparing the two, didn’t Brother Derek impress you as the more athletic of the two? Two lovely horses for sure…but maybe is this Brother Derek something really special??? I know he raised the hair on the back of MY neck in the post parade…we’ll see what THAT’s worth!! :))
I just placed my future wager bet on Brother Derek, five seconds before they closed the bets ( I couldn’t figure out where the heck TVG online put the future bet). 
I can’t wait til he gets to CD. Maybe I get a glimpse or two at him in a morning work. On TV he looks like one beautiful package and those huge strides in the SA Derby yesterday where just breathtaking.
A good article on the prep races - in particular the Illinois Derby - and how the picture still isnt clear on the rest of the “cast” to fill up the field of 20.
[url=“http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12233512/page/2/print/1/displaymode/1098/”]NBC Sports Vic Zast 4-10-06 “Kentucky Derby preps bring up questions;
Sweetnorthernsaint, Brother Derek stamp themselves as contenders”
In capturing the first Grade II victory for 39-year-old trainer Michael Trombetta, Sweetnorthernsaint accelerated in the long Hawthorne stretch to win going away. He drew even with Mr. Triester at the quarter pole and then increased his advantage to 9 1/4 lengths. His time of 1:49.82, while not anything spectacular, was excusable for a horse that had posted three Beyer figures in the 100s coming into the race. This horse can rumble, and he’s getting better.
“The Kentucky Derby is all about timing,” said Trombetta, as if he knew what he was talking about. In 20 years of training horses, Trombetta has never participated in a Kentucky Derby. “This horse is getting right at the right time,” he announced, departing the scene like a bride on her wedding night.
What made Sweetnorthernsaint’s victory all the more impressive is that he broke from the far outside 10 post.
Top 10 List as of 4-09-06
Baltimore Sun 4-10-06
Horse, Trainer, Jockey, St W P S, Last race, Next race
- Brother Derek, Dan Hendricks, Alex Solis, 8 6 0 1, Santa Anita Derby (1st), Kentucky Derby (5/6)
- Barbaro, Michael Matz, Edgar Prado, 5 5 0 0, Florida Derby (1st), Kentucky Derby (5/6)
- Lawyer Ron, Bob Holthus, John McKee, 13 6 1 3, Rebel (1st), Arkansas Derby (4/15)
- Bob and John, Bob Baffert, Garrett Gomez, 9 4 1 3, Wood Memorial (1st), Kentucky Derby (5/6)
- First Samurai, Frank Brothers, Edgar Prado, 7 5 1 1, Fountain of Youth (pl 1st), Blue Grass (4/15)
- Sweetnorthernsaint, Michael Trombetta, Kent Desormeaux, 6 3 0 1, Illinois Derby (1st), Kentucky Derby (5/6)
- Bluegrass Cat, Todd Pletcher, John Velasquez, 6 4 1 0, Tampa Bay Derby (2nd), Blue Grass (4/15)
- Point Determined, Bob Baffert, Rafael Bejarano, 6 2 3 1, Santa Anita Derby (2nd), Kentucky Derby (5/6)
- A.P. Warrior, John Shirreffs, Corey Nakatani, 8 3 1 1, Santa Anita Derby (3rd), Kentucky Derby (5/6)
- Strong Contender, John Ward Jr., Edgar Prado, 2 2 0 0, Allowance (GP) (1st), Blue Grass (4/15)
Triple Crown panel: John Cherwa, Orlando Sentinel; Dave Joseph, South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Bob Mieszerski, Los Angeles Times; Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune; Paul Moran, Newsday.
Yikes, that journo doesn’t sugarcoat things!!
This barrister is about to make his closing statement before May 6
Lawyer Ron is looking to be the southern Brother Derek with a strong command of two turns and fierce speed …
The rest of the field should be afraid, very afraid of this monster on the lose Saturday.
Daily Racing Form
Lawyer Ron set to serve notice
By MARY RAMPELLINI
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Lawyer Ron has won his last five starts by 31 lengths, and by all accounts he seems to be improving as he heads into the most important race of his career on Saturday, the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
The one to beat in the 1 1/8-mile race, Lawyer Ron has posted four straight two-turn stakes wins. In his final prep for the Arkansas Derby, he wowed a number of horsemen on Saturday by working five furlongs in a bullet 59 seconds and galloping out six furlongs in 1:10.91.
The powerful move signaled just how well Lawyer Ron has done since his three-length win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 18.
“His last workout, I thought, was probably the best work he’s ever had in his life,” said Bob Holthus, who trains Lawyer Ron for the Estate of James T. Hines Jr.
“The way he worked the other morning, I tell you, he’s just thriving,” said John McKee, who was aboard for the drill. “He’s just a monster right now.”
Clockers caught Lawyer Ron galloping out seven furlongs in 1:23.46.
[b]“That’s the best work I’ve seen since Smarty Jones, prior to his Arkansas Derby,” said Jim Hamilton, the state clocker at Oaklawn since 1992.
“He did it with ease, and just kept going,” said Betty Fetters, a clocker for 14 years at Oaklawn.[/b]
Lawyer Ron has blossomed over the winter, according to Holthus.
“Since early December, he has really matured,” he said. "He’s probably put on at least 75 pounds. If you had a picture of him in December and one now, you wouldn’t know it was the same horse. He’s really filled out.
"And he’s taken his training well. He’s never missed a day. He is fortunate he’s gotten this far without any injury or sickness or anything like that. You’re always fortunate when you can come through the winter and not miss anything.
“He’s been on top of his game better than four months.”
… article continues …
