I am working on some Kentucky Derby prospects and here is a description of the first six:
1.) Street Sense
Jockey – Calvin Borel
Trainer – Carl Nafzger
Owner – Jim Tafel LLC
Pedigree – Sire: Street Cry; Dam: Bedazzle
Dark bay almost black colt seems to get better with age. Street Sense won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by ten lengths, the largest winning margin in the history of the race and second longest margin of victory in the Breeders’ Cup altogether. As a two year old, Street Sense was still very immature. When he turned three, Carl Nafzger, his trainer, said Street Sense had grown into a man and was no longer an immature boy. Street Sense has never finished worse than third in his life. A good thing that will help him in the Derby is that Churchill Downs is his home and favorite racetrack. Sired by the Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry and out of the mare Bedazzle, he was bred to go a mile and a quarter.
2.) Curlin
Jockey – Robby Albarado
Trainer – Steven Asmussen
Owner – Stonestreet Stables, Padua
Stables, George Bolton
Pedigree – Sire: Smart Strike; Dam:
Sherriff’s Deputy
Undefeated chestnut colt has been very impressive in every start of his career, including a win in the Arkansas Derby by 10½ lengths. If he can just get by Street Sense in the Derby, he can sweep the Triple Crown. Curlin likes to sit slightly off the pace, but the question is out the window how he’ll beat Street Sense at the rival’s home track. Curlin is also trying to become the first horse since 1882 to win the Derby having not raced at two.
3.) Nobiz Like Shobiz
Jockey – Cornelio Velasquez
Trainer – Barclay Tagg
Owner – Elizabeth Valando
Pedigree – Sire: Albert the Great; Dam:
Nightstorm
Nobiz Like Shobiz possesses the kind of pure talent that excites fans of the game. Since the addition of blinkers, he has been rank, fighting his rider for the whole race. That is something he can’t do in the Derby. In the Wood Memorial, his last race, he had to dig down deep to hold off Sightseeing, who was closing fast. He wore himself out by fighting the rider in that race. He needs to relax a little if he’s going to have a good chance of withstanding the mile and a quarter.
4.) Scat Daddy
Jockey – Edgar Prado
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – James Scatuorchio, Michael
Tabor
Pedigree – Sire: Johannesburg; Dam: Love
Style
Florida Derby winner figures to follow in the great Barbaro’s footsteps. Scat Daddy is trained by Todd Pletcher, who is the Eclipse Award winning trainer for the third straight year, but has never won a Kentucky Derby (0 for 14). The first stakes winner sired by Johannesburg, Scat Daddy has never finished worse than fourth in his career. The handsome dark bay colt is ridden by Edgar Prado, who just won his second straight Florida Derby and his looking for his second consecutive Kentucky Derby (he rode Barbaro to victory in the 2006 Derby).
5.) Circular Quay
Jockey – John Velazquez
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – Michael and Doreen Tabor
Pedigree – Sire: Thunder Gulch; Dam:
Circle of Life
This beautiful chestnut colt is another Todd Pletcher horse who is trying to become the first horse in a VERY long time to win the Derby off of an eight-week layoff or longer. He has a tendency to find trouble in his races, and comes from very far behind. When he’s in the clear, he can really run. His sire, Thunder Gulch, won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1995, nearly sweeping the Triple Crown.
6.) Cowtown Cat
Jockey – Fernando Jara
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – Winstar Farm Bill Casner, et al
and Gulf Coast Farm
Pedigree – Sire: Distorted Humor; Dam:
Tom’s Cat
Impressive winner of the Illinois Derby gets better with every race. ANOTHER Todd Pletcher horse with tons of talent.
Will be adding more soon!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Friday, April 6, 2007
World Cup night wrap-up
The night of the Dubai World Cup was sure exciting. With great entertainment and even better races it was a memorable night. I will now run over the races and winners.
Godolphin Mile
The USA based Spring at Last ridden by Garrett Gomez romped home a winner in the Godolphin Mile. Second went to Parole Board. This win also gives Gomez and Doug O' Neill their very first World Cup night wins.
UAE Derby
We may never see a UAE Derby performance like this again. Asiatic Boy romped home by 9 1/2 lengths, thus sweeping the UAE Triple Crown. He may come to the U. S. for the Breeders' Cup Classic at year's end. He is too old for the American Triple Crown.
Golden Shaheen
It wouldn't be any fun without Frankie Dettori winning one, wouldn't it? Another reason for Kelly's Landing to win. Americans finished one-two-four in the sprint, with Friendly Island second.
Sheema Classic
Hong Kong racing had yet to win a World Cup race heading into March 31st. That all changed when Vengeance of Rain won the Sheema Classic by 1 1/4 lengths. Americans didn't do so well, all finishing near the back of the field.
Duty Free
Lava Man has never won outside of California, and now he never will because he will never leave. When the field broke for the Duty Free, Lava Man went out to the lead under jockey Corey Nakatani. He kept the lead past the half mile pole, but suddenly quit in the stretch. He faded back to last, where he would finish. Meanwhile, Admire Moon, the Japanese invader, was an easy winner.
Dubai World Cup
Going into the race, we all thought it was a two-horse race between reigning Horse of the Year Invasor and the undefeated Discreet Cat. That match race didn't occur between those two, but Invasor still would not be denied. Discreet Cat broke a small step slow, letting Invasor actually break in front of him. Invasor was quickly rated by Fernando Jara while Premium Tap went to the lead. Discreet Cat was having a problem, not showing as much speed as usual. Frankie Dettori was forced to take up the reins near the back of the pack, a place totally unfamiliar to Discreet Cat. Turning into the stretch, Premium Tap still led, but Invasor was gaining on him. He finally managed to pass the other U. S. invader and win by two lengths. Discreet Cat finished last, 23 lengths behind Invasor. It was later found out after the race that Discreet Cat had a throat obstruction, an infection in his respiratory tract. It restricted the air flow to his lungs and barely let him breathe. This is probably why he ran so poorly. I still think he showed gameness in still chasing after the other horses.
Godolphin Mile
The USA based Spring at Last ridden by Garrett Gomez romped home a winner in the Godolphin Mile. Second went to Parole Board. This win also gives Gomez and Doug O' Neill their very first World Cup night wins.
UAE Derby
We may never see a UAE Derby performance like this again. Asiatic Boy romped home by 9 1/2 lengths, thus sweeping the UAE Triple Crown. He may come to the U. S. for the Breeders' Cup Classic at year's end. He is too old for the American Triple Crown.
Golden Shaheen
It wouldn't be any fun without Frankie Dettori winning one, wouldn't it? Another reason for Kelly's Landing to win. Americans finished one-two-four in the sprint, with Friendly Island second.
Sheema Classic
Hong Kong racing had yet to win a World Cup race heading into March 31st. That all changed when Vengeance of Rain won the Sheema Classic by 1 1/4 lengths. Americans didn't do so well, all finishing near the back of the field.
Duty Free
Lava Man has never won outside of California, and now he never will because he will never leave. When the field broke for the Duty Free, Lava Man went out to the lead under jockey Corey Nakatani. He kept the lead past the half mile pole, but suddenly quit in the stretch. He faded back to last, where he would finish. Meanwhile, Admire Moon, the Japanese invader, was an easy winner.
Dubai World Cup
Going into the race, we all thought it was a two-horse race between reigning Horse of the Year Invasor and the undefeated Discreet Cat. That match race didn't occur between those two, but Invasor still would not be denied. Discreet Cat broke a small step slow, letting Invasor actually break in front of him. Invasor was quickly rated by Fernando Jara while Premium Tap went to the lead. Discreet Cat was having a problem, not showing as much speed as usual. Frankie Dettori was forced to take up the reins near the back of the pack, a place totally unfamiliar to Discreet Cat. Turning into the stretch, Premium Tap still led, but Invasor was gaining on him. He finally managed to pass the other U. S. invader and win by two lengths. Discreet Cat finished last, 23 lengths behind Invasor. It was later found out after the race that Discreet Cat had a throat obstruction, an infection in his respiratory tract. It restricted the air flow to his lungs and barely let him breathe. This is probably why he ran so poorly. I still think he showed gameness in still chasing after the other horses.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Scat Daddy - Florida Derby Winner!!
Per ntra.com
Favored Scat Daddy put away his rival Stormello away soon after they reached the stretch and finished strongly to hold off the grinding Notional, capturing the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park in an impressive effort Saturday.
Winner of the track's Fountain of Youth (gr. II) with a breathtaking late run to overcome a wide trip and defeat Stormello by a nose March 3, there was no need for those kind of heroics Saturday from jockey Edgar Prado, who won his sixth race on the Gulfstream card in the Florida Derby.
This time the California invader Stormello, who set a sizzling pace (:23, :46 3/5, 1:10 4/5) under Victor Espinoza, was cooked by the time he led the field into the stretch. Scat Daddy, never far back while stalking the leader three wide, challenged Stormello, who fought back gamely along the inside but could not match strides. Notional, a second Golden State challenger, slowly gained through the stretch after moving into contention on the final turn, but came up one length short of Scat Daddy, who completed the 1 1/8-mile distance in a solid 1:49. Chelokee, who was squeezed off along the inside by Stormello while rallying in the lane for Ramon Dominguez, gathered himself to gain the show spot over Stormello.
Scat Daddy is not expected to race again until the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on May 5, and will try to duplicate Barbaro's feat of sweeping the Florida and Kentucky Derbys.
Owned by the partnership of Jim Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor and trained by Todd Pletcher, Scat Daddy, the son of Johannesburg-Love Style, by Mr. Prospector, captured last year's Champagne (gr. I) and Sanford Stakes (gr. II) before running fourth, 15 lengths behind Street Sense in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). The dark bay colt ran third in Gulfstream's one-mile Holy Bull (gr. III) Feb. 3 to begin his 3-year-old campaign before returning to capture the nine-furlong FOY one month later. He boasts a 5-1-1 record in eight starts and improved his earnings to $1,334,300 with Saturday's winning purse of $600,000.
With regular rider John Velazquez in Dubai with Pletcher, Prado rode Scat Daddy for the first time. Though Pletcher was blanked during the World Cup meet, he won five races on the Gulfstream card.
Alex Wend bred the winner, a $250,000 Keeneland yearling buy, in Kentucky.
Scat Daddy paid $6.40, $3.40 and $2.80. Notional, who won the Risen Star (gr. III) at Fair Grounds and the San Rafael (gr. II) in powerful fashion in his last two starts for trainer Doug O'Neill, returned $4.20 and $3, completing a $21.40 exacta. Chelokee, making his stakes debut for trainer Michael Matz -- winner of last year's Florida Derby with Barbaro -- was $3.80 to show.
The Florida Derby winner has gone on to take the Kentucky Derby three times in the past 12 years. Before Barbaro's win last year, Monarchos did it in 2001 and Thunder Gulch in 1995.
Favored Scat Daddy put away his rival Stormello away soon after they reached the stretch and finished strongly to hold off the grinding Notional, capturing the $1 million Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park in an impressive effort Saturday.
Winner of the track's Fountain of Youth (gr. II) with a breathtaking late run to overcome a wide trip and defeat Stormello by a nose March 3, there was no need for those kind of heroics Saturday from jockey Edgar Prado, who won his sixth race on the Gulfstream card in the Florida Derby.
This time the California invader Stormello, who set a sizzling pace (:23, :46 3/5, 1:10 4/5) under Victor Espinoza, was cooked by the time he led the field into the stretch. Scat Daddy, never far back while stalking the leader three wide, challenged Stormello, who fought back gamely along the inside but could not match strides. Notional, a second Golden State challenger, slowly gained through the stretch after moving into contention on the final turn, but came up one length short of Scat Daddy, who completed the 1 1/8-mile distance in a solid 1:49. Chelokee, who was squeezed off along the inside by Stormello while rallying in the lane for Ramon Dominguez, gathered himself to gain the show spot over Stormello.
Scat Daddy is not expected to race again until the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on May 5, and will try to duplicate Barbaro's feat of sweeping the Florida and Kentucky Derbys.
Owned by the partnership of Jim Scatuorchio and Michael Tabor and trained by Todd Pletcher, Scat Daddy, the son of Johannesburg-Love Style, by Mr. Prospector, captured last year's Champagne (gr. I) and Sanford Stakes (gr. II) before running fourth, 15 lengths behind Street Sense in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). The dark bay colt ran third in Gulfstream's one-mile Holy Bull (gr. III) Feb. 3 to begin his 3-year-old campaign before returning to capture the nine-furlong FOY one month later. He boasts a 5-1-1 record in eight starts and improved his earnings to $1,334,300 with Saturday's winning purse of $600,000.
With regular rider John Velazquez in Dubai with Pletcher, Prado rode Scat Daddy for the first time. Though Pletcher was blanked during the World Cup meet, he won five races on the Gulfstream card.
Alex Wend bred the winner, a $250,000 Keeneland yearling buy, in Kentucky.
Scat Daddy paid $6.40, $3.40 and $2.80. Notional, who won the Risen Star (gr. III) at Fair Grounds and the San Rafael (gr. II) in powerful fashion in his last two starts for trainer Doug O'Neill, returned $4.20 and $3, completing a $21.40 exacta. Chelokee, making his stakes debut for trainer Michael Matz -- winner of last year's Florida Derby with Barbaro -- was $3.80 to show.
The Florida Derby winner has gone on to take the Kentucky Derby three times in the past 12 years. Before Barbaro's win last year, Monarchos did it in 2001 and Thunder Gulch in 1995.
Invasor did it again!!
Invasor, 2006 Horse of the Year in the U.S., added a win in the Dubai World Cup to his growing list of accomplishments, wearing down a game Premium Tap to win the 12th running of the $6 million Dubai World Cup on Saturday at Nad Al Sheba.
Discreet Cat suffered his first career loss in the race, finishing last in the seven-horse field, beaten 23 lengths by the victorious Invasor. Bullish Luck, who was making his first start on dirt, finished third, followed by Vermilion, Forty Licks, Candidate, and the trailing Discreet Cat. Invasor's time of 1:59.97 for 2,000 meters is the second-fastest time in race history behind Dubai Millennium's 1:59.50 in 2000.
Discreet Cat suffered his first career loss in the race, finishing last in the seven-horse field, beaten 23 lengths by the victorious Invasor. Bullish Luck, who was making his first start on dirt, finished third, followed by Vermilion, Forty Licks, Candidate, and the trailing Discreet Cat. Invasor's time of 1:59.97 for 2,000 meters is the second-fastest time in race history behind Dubai Millennium's 1:59.50 in 2000.
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