1. BUDDY'S SAINT Saint Liam - Tuzia, by Blushing John Bruce Levine
Has yet to do anything wrong, just keeps moving along and doing what is asked of him.
2. LOOKIN AT LUCKY Smart Strike - Private Feeling, by Belong to Me Bob Baffert
I really like the addition of blinkers. I can't wait for his next race. I would love to see him start in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, or even the San Vincente Stakes, but if I recall, it's the San Felipe Stakes in March that will be next.
3. SUPER SAVER Maria's Mon - Super Charger, by A.P. Indy Todd Pletcher
I can't see him coming out for a race until the Fountain of Youth. Some have said that he needs to learn to rate off the pace, but I see this as a good thing; if he is truly good enough it won't matter.
4. JACKSON BEND Hear No Evil - Sexy Stockings, by Tabasco Cat Nick Zito
If he fires in the Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday, he'll move up a spot. If he loses, then he's going to move down. Worked a bullet five furlongs in :59.30 at Palm Meadows on January 16th. He seems to be ready.
5. DUBLIN Afleet Alex - Classy Mirage, by Storm Bird D. Wayne Lukas
I'm just hoping that he's over his problems and can come back successfully. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that this is the horse that will make him famous. Let's hope he's right. The Southwest Stakes (gr. III) on February 15th seems to be just right for him.
6. DRYFLY
Just got moved up off of his win in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn. He was ridden by Calvin Borel. Oaklawn Park seems to be a hot place to train good horses, turning out Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Lawyer Ron, Curlin, Gayego, and Papa Clem since 2004.
7. AMERICAN LION Tiznow - Storm Tide, by Storm Cat Eoin Harty
Currently, he's made three starts, and has won a grade III race during which he raced very greenly. I would like to see him prep in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, or maybe even ship east and try something out here. I don't really care as long as he starts in February.
8. INTERACTIF Broken Vow - Broad Pennant, Broad Brush Todd Pletcher
Still waiting for news on this one, I would like to see him race on the synthetics soon. If he was to ship east and try something on real dirt, he could shoot way up the list. Love his pedigree, seems to say stamina, bold and underlined.
9. CONVEYANCE Bob Baffert
Got his big test in the San Rafael Stakes on the 16th, and passed it with flying colors. Now how about a nice layoff leading up to the Sham Stakes, and then another nice gap leading up to the Santa Anita Derby? Of course, this would mean he would meet Lookin' At Lucky, so maybe Bob Baffert will ship Conveyance out east, which would be great.
10. SASSY IMAGE Broken Vow - Ideal Image, by Hennessy Dale Romans
Successfully made her three year old debut, winning the rained off the turf Sweetest Chant Stakes down at Gulfstream Park. So now she's proven in the slop. I just have this feeling that she could be something special.
11. RULE Roman Ruler - Personal Flag, by Rockcide Todd Pletcher
Hopefully, he'll stick to the Louisiana route, maybe ship to Fair Grounds if he hasn't already, and try for the Louisiana Derby. I have got to find out what he's doing right now.
12. NOBLE'S PROMISE Cuvee - The Devil's Trick, by Clever Trick Kenneth G. McPeek
This appears to be an extremely courageous colt. He finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after leading with only a sixteenth-of-a-mile left to be run. He was only beaten a length. That was followed by a runner up performance in the CashCall Futurity, so it seems that he can run well. Needs to make his three year old debut soon, maybe the Robert B. Lewis Stakes.
13. VALE OF YORK Invincible Spirit - Red Vale, by Halling Saeed bin Suroor
The upset winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile is currently out in Dubai, awaiting his three year old debut at the new Meydan race course. Unfortunately, the new track is synthetic, so we won't have any idea how he runs on dirt until the Derby, if he does get there.
14. BLIND LUCK Pollard's Mision - Lucky One, by Best of Luck Jerry Hollendorfer
I'm fairly surprised that she did not get the Eclipse Award for Champion 2yo Filly. She'll have her chance this year, however. He win in the Starlet Stakes was incredible, and I'm looking for to seeing her in the Las Virgenes Stakes in February, should she start.
15. TOUCH FOR A SHOCK Touch Gold - All Electric, by ??? Cecil Borel
On this list just because of his maiden win back in early November. Very impressive, but he really needs to start again. Another horse that I need to learn more about.
16. WILLIAM'S KITTEN Kitten's Joy - Blush, by Menifee Michael J. Maker
Needs to run well in the Holy Bull stakes on Saturday. A third would be fine, but it would be much better if he ran a close second, or even managed to grab the victory. The latter would move him up many spots.
17. THISKYHASNOLIMIT Sky Mesa - Lovely Regina, by Deputy Minister Steve Asmussen
Didn't quiet run the way I hoped in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Now he needs to prove that he can handle two turns, which he has failed to do so far. Maybe he will ship to Louisiana, or New York, somewhere where he could slowly build up to the Triple Crown.
18. PULSION Include - Spring, by Stravinsky Parick L. Biancone
No news on this one since his poor showing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. However, he came out of that race with a pretty good cut, so I'm sure he's being given some time off. Needs to stay in southern California and take on Lookin at Lucky again.
19. HOMEBOYKRIS Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
Totally didn't fire in the Remsen Stakes, trailing victorious Buddy's Saint by at least ten lengths, if not more. If he is to move up any, he needs to really run tomorrow in the Holy Bull. A victory over Jackson Bend would be huge.
20. D'FUNNYBONE D'Wildcat - Elbow, by Woodman Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
As good as he is from six to seven furlongs, he seems to be just to much of a sprinter to stretch out to the Triple Crown distances. Being beaten nearly thirty lengths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile while finishing last is a lot to blame on disliking synthetics.
NOTABLE OTHER HORSES
BACKTALK
CONNEMARA
MAKE MUSIC FOR ME
AFLEET EXPRESS
FLY BY PHIL
A PLUS TOPPER
SPEEDY MON
OUTQUEST
LAUS DEO
STAY PUT
A LITTLE WARM
AIKENITE
LENTENOR
Among other notes, Brake Lights, who seemed to have an unlimited future after a very impressive maiden race at Aqueduct, has been injured and is off the Triple Crown Trail. A bone chip in his left front ankle is the culprit. And to top that off, Take Control, the first foal of Azeri, has injured himself as well. A shin problem is the issue here. Both incidents were very unfortunate, but hopefully, they will both return to good form and become classy stakes winners later in the year.
As for future racing, it appears that A Little Warm, winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 9th, will aim for the February 20th Hutcheson Stakes. If he should win this, he could then wait another month for the Florida Derby. If he should win that, then he would have had the perfect Triple Crown Trail in my mind, slowly building up the distances. If he can go a mile-and-a-half, he could be the one to sweep the Triple Crown. But this is saying a lot, and the only thing to go on is his six furlong ungraded stakes win. But it's fun to think about.
Another little notice that’s sure be mentioned, 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, has a full brother named Letenor who broke his maiden in his third attempt on January 20th. He joins Barbaro, as well as Barbaro's other full brother, Nicanor, as a winner on turf. There has been talk about the Triple Crown, but for now, it sounds like Letenor will stick to the turf and perhaps try a stakes race somewhere.
And finally, the LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds could quite possibly be a very important prep, as Friesian Fire won that race last year and ended up being the favorite for that year's Kentucky Derby. I won't dive into a deep analysis of the race, but glancing at the entries, Maximus Ruler looks good, as does Worldy and Citrus Kid. The name Rock Hard leaps out at me, and I suddenly can't help but think he'll run well.
-Keelerman
posted by Keelerman
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