By Dennis Miller
We are down to the last big day of Kentucky Derby preps, with the Derby field pretty much being set by the end of racing Saturday.
We have the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the Bluegrass at Keeneland, and the Santa Anita Derby set for the Great Race Place.
All three races are of the 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points and at the end of the day Saturday, there is a very good chance the field of 20 will be set for the May 2 Kentucky Derby.
Of course, there will be some scratches and there is technically a chance in the Lexington next Saturday, the winner with the 20 points available to the first-place horse, could slide in the backway with the late points.
Saturday also features our next free handicapping contest at the Pleasanton OTB. The contest features three races from Aqueduct, three from Keeneland, and a pair of races from Santa Anita.
All you have to do is the pick a winner from each race and points will be awarded on a 5-3-1 basis if your selection finishes in the top three.
Entry forms will be available starting Thursday at the OTB and you must turn it in by the start of the first race in the contest – the Grade II Carter from Aqueduct with a post of 12:16 p.m.
The winner must be present at the OTB in order to be eligible for one of the top three finishers. The prizes are cash vouchers of $200 for first, $100 for second, and $50 for third.
Following is a quick look at the three Kentucky Derby prep races on Saturday.
Aqueduct
Grade II Wood Memorial
(12 race, 3:34 p.m. PDT)
A field of 13 runners are entered here, going 1-1/8-miles in what I think is an open race.
Napoleon Solo (Chad Summers, Paco Lopez) looked great in winning the Grade I Champagne last fall at Aqueduct. He went to the shelf after that early October race and didn’t return until February 28 in the Grade II Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream and never looked good finishing fifth, beaten 11 lengths. Now he’s back for the second off a break an angle the barn hits at 33 percent. The works have been consistent and good. I don’t think he wants the lead but will settle right off.
Talk to Me Jimmy (Rudy Rodriguez, R Silvera) crushed the field at Aqueduct in early February in the Withers, an early prep for this one. He broke clean and took off that day, finishing 11 lengths in front of the second-place runner. Three career starts with a third, followed by a pair wins. Not a lot of secrets here – when the gate opens, he will go.
Buetane (Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia) is a disappointment that he is 1-for-5 as a $1.15 million runner. But on the flip side there have been some good runs in some graded stakes races. He was second in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga in September, then came back in the Grade II San Vincente Jan. 10 at Santa Anita and was second. Next was a trip to Arkansas where he was third in the Grade III Southwest in early February. March 14 he went to Colonial Downs and was fourth in the Virginia Derby, running into trouble throughout. Now he runs here and if you are doing the match, it’s his sixth start and six different tracks. He has been well bet, going off as the favorite in four of his five starts. He did have a strong work over the track on March 29. Keep waiting for him to deliver on his expectations – could it be here?
Iron Honor (Chad Brown, Manny Franco) has two starts and two wins, the latest which came February 28 in the Grade III Gotham right here at Aqueduct. He has been here since he started running for real and he shoot to be on or pushing the pace.
Keeneland
Blue Grass Stakes
(11th race, 3:22 p.m.)
There are nine horses set to go to post for this one, 1-1/8 miles, featuring some solid runners. The is opening weekend at Keeneland.
Class President (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez) was the winner of the Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn and ships in for this spot rather than run in the Arkansas Derby. The was his third start, winning his debut against straight maidens in December at Gulfstream then coming back in the Swale at Gulfstream in January and ran second. The works have been consistent, and he looks like he wants to be part of the pace.
Reagan’s Honor (Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz) has won two straight races, taking a straight maiden at the Fair Grounds in January, then coming back in February with a 6-length win in a $55,000 allowance race. In the last two starts he has wired the field so look for speed here.
Further Ado (Brad Cox, Irad Ortiz) won the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill in late November, then was second Tampa Bay Derby on March 7. Now finds himself in contention for the KY Derby berth and has put together a nice work tab for this spot.
Ottinho (Chad Brown, Flavien Prat) has been off since February 6 when he was third, beaten 11 lengths in the Withers. He is also entered in the Wood and at this point not sure where he runs. He prefers to come from off the pace and there will be speed here to set up the late runners.
Santa Anita
Grade I Santa Anita Derby
(10th race, 4:30 p.m.)
Hands down this used to be my favorite Derby prep every year and always seemed to have a field of 3-4 potential Derby winners. I am not sure we can say that anymore.
There are some good runners in here, but I think that’s maybe it – good runners, not great runners. Four runners return from the Grade II San Felipe on March 7, including the winner. Only seven entered here.
Cherokee Nation (Bob Baffert, Florent Geroux) is one that has been bouncing back and forth between straight maiden and graded stakes. After dropping a pair of maiden starts, he took a shot at Grade II Jockey Club at Churchill back in November and finished fifth. He went back to the maiden ranks and was second in January, then came back in the Grade III Lewis on February 7 and ran fifth. One more maiden start on February 27 produced a 10-length win and now the connections run here. He’s a middle of the pack runner who chooses to come hard late.
Potente (Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez) was the winner of the San Felipe on March 7 with a strong late run after stalking the pace. Has two starts, the other being a straight maiden win on Jan. 31, also at Santa Anita. There’s a lot to like here and the works have been certainly been strong.
So Happy (Mark Glatt, Mike Smith) has a solid resume over the track, winning the San Vincente and running third in the San Felipe, getting caught running outside. There have been some dynamic works for this spot. Doesn’t look like he wants the lead early but doesn’t want to be far off.
Intrepido (Jeff Mullins, Hector Berrios) after winning the American Pharoh last October 4 at Santa Anita, took a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He was fifth, beaten 10 lengths and he went to the bench for a break. He came back on February 7 and put together a big effort to run second in the Lewis at Santa Anita. He has been off since and has a consistent work tab for the return. There’s some talent there.