1. BUDDY'S SAINT Saint Liam - Tuzia, by Blushing John Bruce Levine
Just keeps working down in Florida patiently waiting for the Fountain of Youth. He should be a fresh horse by the time it rolls around. His pedigree says stamina, so he'll be keeping the #1 spot until someone beats him.
2. LOOKIN AT LUCKY Smart Strike - Private Feeling, by Belong to Me Bob Baffert
It looks as though he’ll be waiting for the San Felipe in March, so until then there’s not much to say about him. Bob Baffert nominated him to the UAE Derby, which was interesting.
3. DUBLIN Afleet Alex - Classy Mirage, by Storm Bird D. Wayne Lukas
If all goes well, he’ll make his next start in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. His workouts have been good, and it looks like he’ll run huge.
4. SUPER SAVER Maria's Mon - Super Charger, by A.P. Indy Todd Pletcher
I just love the fact that he was taken out of training for couple of months. It gives him some time to grow without the stress of training and prepare him for the Triple Crown.
5. JACKSON BEND Hear No Evil - Sexy Stockings, by Tabasco Cat Nick Zito
Couldn’t quite get the win in the Holy Bull after racing wide the whole way, but he should definitely improve in his next race. Pedigree is still a concern.
6. DRYFLY
No information lately, but I expect him to run well in the Southwest Stakes, should he start. I always respect a horse ridden by Calvin Borel.
7. AMERICAN LION Tiznow - Storm Tide, by Storm Cat Eoin Harty
All set to go in the February 6th Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. It will be his first two turn test, and he will face some horses with excellent class. Whether he moves up or down depends on this race.
8. RON THE GREEK
With the Louisiana Derby moved to five weeks before the Kentucky Derby and changed to a mile and an eighth in distance, Ron the Greek is on the right track. He literally appeared from nowhere in the LeComte, with an explosive late run. Nice workout on February 3rd.
9. INTERACTIF Broken Vow - Broad Pennant, Broad Brush Todd Pletcher
This horse is sitting on a keg of dynamite, just waiting to shoot him on to the top of the Triple Crown picture. If he were to try the synthetics, or even ship out east and try something on real dirt, he could really turn into something special.
10. SASSY IMAGE Broken Vow - Ideal Image, by Hennessy Dale Romans
Right now, the Kentucky Oaks is her goal, but that may change if she continues to dominate the fillies. Entering her in a turf race, even if it did get rained on to the dirt, was an interesting move.
11. BLIND LUCK Pollard's Mision - Lucky One, by Best of Luck Jerry Hollendorfer
Will try to grab her third grade I win in the Las Virgenes Stakes on Saturday. If she keeps running well, she looks like she could be a Santa Anita Derby horse.
12. CONVEYANCE Bob Baffert
The latest information on this one is that he is a very pretty grey and that he may be shipped to Dubai for the UAE Derby. His trainer, Bob Baffert, believes that he may be better on dirt. However, we may not find out until the Kentucky Derby.
13. RULE Roman Ruler - Personal Flag, by Rockcide Todd Pletcher
His pedigree looks like a Triple Crown pedigree, but time will tell if he can go a distance. It would make sense to try him in the Hutcheson Stakes on Fountain of Youth day, but it seems unlikely.
14. VALE OF YORK Invincible Spirit - Red Vale, by Halling Saeed bin Suroor
It is going to be very hard to figure out how good he is when he is racing in Dubai, especially since the new track out there is synthetic. But he could very well be special.
15. WILLIAM'S KITTEN Kitten's Joy - Blush, by Menifee Michael J. Maker
He ran a pretty good race in the Holy Bull, dropping back to one turn for his three year old debut. Expect a big performance in his next two turn start.
16. AFLEET EXPRESS Afleet Alex - ???, ??? Steve Asmussen
Finished second on January 30th to General Maximus, but it seems like he needs more distance. Maybe he’ll go for it in the Fountain of Youth.
17. NOBLE'S PROMISE Cuvee - The Devil's Trick, by Clever Trick Kenneth G. McPeek
He hasn't done anything since his second place finish in the CashCall Futurity. At this point, he doesn't quite look like a Triple Crown horse, but he could step up and prove me wrong.
18. PULSION Include - Spring, by Stravinsky Parick L. Biancone
Unfortunately, he was scratched by the vet from the January 31st allowance race, won by Drosselmeyer. Hopefully he’ll be okay, but he lost his prep race for the Fountain of Youth.
19. DROSSELMEYER Distorted Humor – Golden Ballet, by Moscow Ballet
Won the allowance race from which Pulsion scratched. He wasn’t hugely impressive, but he could improve off that race. I expect him to return in the Fountain of Youth.
20. TOUCH FOR A SHOCK Touch Gold - All Electric, by ??? Cecil Borel
Very hard to keep him in the top twenty when I don’t even know what state he’s in. Every time I start to take him off I remember his maiden win at Churchill Downs. Maybe he’ll race soon.
NOTABLE OTHER HORSES
BACKTALK Sanford winner just isn’t on track. Anticipating his return.
CONNEMARA Didn’t quite get it done in the California Derby.
MAKE MUSIC FOR ME Waiting until he races before I move him up.
FLY BY PHIL We’ll have to wait for his next start, but he’s won on dirt.
A PLUS TOPPER On here because of his maiden win.
OUTQUEST On here because of his maiden win.
LAUS DEO Won the Count Fleet at Aqueduct, perhaps he’ll run in the Gotham.
STAY PUT May start in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. Watch out.
A LITTLE WARM He’ll wait for the Hutcheson, then maybe the Florida Derby.
AIKENITE Didn’t fire in the Holy Bull.
LENTENOR Barbaro’s full brother who has broken his maiden on turf.
MAXIMUS RULER It looks like he just doesn’t have the stamina. We’ll see.
DROSSELMEYER He will get his class tested in the FOY, should he start.
GENERAL MAXIMUS He has got the speed, but can he carry it a distance?
UPTOWNCHARLYBROWN Look out Florida colts!
KERA’S KITTEN He looks good for the Lane’s End.
EIGHTYFIVEANDAFIFTY If he wins the Whirlaway on Saturday, watch out.
D’FUNNYBONE Seems to be a sprinter.
HOMEBOYKRIS Seems to be a sprinter.
TIZ CHROME Gets his shot at a stakes race on Saturday.
Among other Triple Crown news, the main headline is that Holy Bull winner Winslow Homer is off the Triple Crown trail due to a stress fracture in one of his legs. This is very unfortunate, as he is a fine colt, but he should make a return to the races in the summer.
Also off the trail is Pisciteli, who has suffered a bone bruise and will be off for several months. This is the reason for his last place finish in the Holy Bull, as he was eased after three eighths of a mile. However, he should be back this summer.
Finally, there are several good races coming up on the 6th, with Eightyfiftyandafive making his two turn debut in the Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct, American Lion, Tiz Chrome, and Caracortado will battle it out in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, and Blind Luck will take on five other fillies in the grade I Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita, including La Nez and Crisp. It’s going to be an exciting and influential Saturday.
Among workouts. . .
February 2nd
Uh Oh Bango worked five furlongs in 1:03 1/5 handily at Turf Paradise.
Dublin breezed six furlongs in 1:14 flat at Oaklawn Park, the fastest of six workouts at that distance.
February 3rd
Thank U Philippe breezed four furlongs in :49 1/5 at Calder Race Course.
Ron the Greek breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Fair Grounds.
Concord Point worked seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 handily at Santa Anita.
Eightyfiveandafifty worked three furlongs in :34 1/5 handily at Aqueduct.
-Keelerman
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