Get ready ---- March 13th is going to be the greatest day of 2010 racing so far. With Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta ready to make their returns, Dublin to take another shot at returning to the winners circle, and Super Saver making his three year old debut, it's going to be a spectacular day. But before we examine any of the upcoming races, let us first take a look at what happened last week, beginning with the Gotham Stakes.
Here are the results. . .
1 Awesome Act
2 Yawanna Twist
3 Nacho Friend
4 Turf Melody
5 Shrimp Dancer
6 Peppi Knows
7 I've Got the Fever
8 Wow Wow Wow
9 Three Day Rush
10 Afleet Again
. . . versus my selections.
1 Afleet Again
2 Wow Wow Wow
3 Awesome Act
4 Three Day Rush
5 Peppi Knows
6 I've Got the Fever
7 Turf Melody
8 Nacho Friend
9 Shrimp Dancer
10 Yawanna Twist
Wow. . . was I wrong, or was I wrong!? It's obvious that Awesome Act was not affected by the plane flight from Europe four days before the race, nor did he care that he was racing on dirt. He made a great run from behind to grab a 1 1/4 length win, although Yawanna Twist was definitely flying at the finish. Speaking of Yawanna Twist, I had him picked to run last. When making the selections, I was a bit low on time, and failed to seriously examine him. Big mistake.
As I said on my last post, my pick was Afleet Again, although I knew that I would be taking a chance. Sent off at odds of 25-1, he ran last, beaten twenty-four lengths by the winner.
Nacho Friend, like Yawanna Twist, was a horse I failed to seriously examine. He ran an excellent race, but tired in the drive to finish third at odds of 8-1. Wow Wow Wow failed to run the race I thought he would, as did Three Day Rush. So I learned my lesson: When you see a name you don't know, find out who it is. . . fast.
Moving on, we come to the Sham Stakes. I assume that the race is named after Sham, runner up to Secretariat in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 1973.
Here are the results. . .
1 Alphie's Bet
2 Setsuko
3 The Program
4 Outlaw Man
5 Boulder Creek
6 Marcello
7 Nextdoorneighbor
8 Kettle River
9 El Mirage King
10 Wolf Tail
. . . versus my selections.
1 Nextdoorneighbor
2 The Program
3 Kettle River
4 Outlaw Man
5 El Mirage King
6 Setsuko
7 Marcello
8 Wolf Tail
9 Boulder Creek
10 Alphie's Bet
After this race was run, I truly realized that I need to pay more attention to the horses I haven't heard of. I always try to find out who they are prior to making my picks, but occasionally I just plain run out of time and fail to find all the information I need.
So, taking a look at how the race was run, Nextdoorneighbor took the early lead, which I thought was odd. I figured he would be farther back, but perhaps his jockey didn't want to be caught wide. But after a half mile in :47 3/5, I realized that Nextdoorneighbor would have to be a really, really good horse to win. After about three quarters of a mile had been run, I saw The Program make his move, and turning for home I thought it was the winning move.
But perhaps it came too early. Coming into the homestretch, it looked for a moment as though Nextdoorneighbor might accept the challenge and turn The Program back. But although the former gave it everything he had, he just couldn't stop The Program. Fading somewhat rapidly, Nextdoorneighbor finished seventh.
Still, The Program's worries weren't over yet. The favorite, Setsuko, was making a strong challenge on the outside, as was Alphie's Bet. The Program, who seemed to be running out of gas, finished third, three and a half lengths behind Alphie's Bet, and one and a quarter lengths behind Setsuko.
As for Outlaw Man, he really ran a good race, finishing fourth, beaten only a head for third. I wouldn't give up on him yet. Perhaps he will improve in his next start, or perhaps he will improve on dirt.
So my final thoughts? Nextdoorneighbor should try dirt. It appears to me that front runners don't do very well on synthetic tracks, and if that's the way he likes to run, he might find that he has better luck on a good old dirt. Perhaps the Sunland Derby is next? We'll find out soon.
Now it's time to discuss the Santa Anita Oaks. The grade I race for three year old fillies was headlined by Blind Luck, who was trying for her third straight grade I win. Sent off at the heavy favorite, she came from last after a half mile to finish. . . third.
On the surface, this looks like a poor effort. But considering what Blind Luck was forced to overcome, it was really an incredible effort.
To begin with, the pace was snail-like. All Due Respect, ridden by Garrett Gomez, broke fastest and got away with an opening quarter mile in :24 4/5. And if that wasn’t slow enough, she managed to run a still slower half mile fraction, :49 3/5. At this point, Blind Luck needed to turn in the type of run only Zenyatta can do to get the win. Incredibly, she did it.
Despite going three quarters of a mile in a pedestrian 1:13 4/5, Blind Luck began a rally. Her jockey made the decision to come up the rail, and it nearly worked. Blind Luck, full of run, willingly charged between horses but could find no openings. Finally, at the last possible moment, she and her jockey made a desperate move to the outside and Blind Luck made an incredible surge that startled me. She missed second by a neck, and the win by only a length. The winner, take nothing away from her, was Crisp. At odds of nearly 6-1, she was the third choice in the seven horse field. She sat second for most of the race before taking the lead from All Due Respect in the stretch. An excellent run, but she did get a much better trip than Blind Luck did.
As for All Due Respect, give credit to her and Garrett Gomez for setting such a slow pace. How they got away with it, I don't know. A great race for both of them.
Finally, Sister Dawn was scratched by her trainer before the race. Hopefully there is nothing wrong with her.
So here are the results. . .
1 Crisp
2 All Due Respect
3 Blind Luck
4 Warren's Jitterbug
5 Cozi Rosie
6 Zilva
7 Riviera Chic
. . . versus my selections.
1 Blind Luck
2 Crisp
3 All Due Respect
4 Zilva
5 Warren's Jitterbug
6 Cozi Rosie
7 Riveria Chic
So I was closer here than I was in the prior two races. I had the top three right, just not in order, and I had Riviera Chic to run last. As for fourth, fifth, and sixth, I was somewhat off, but not too badly.
One final note, it was announced that Blind Luck will ship to Arkansas and run in the Fantasy Stakes next month as her final prep for the Kentucky Oaks. Or will she run in the Kentucky Derby? I doubt it. But it's fun to think about.
OTHER RACE RESULTS
Now, the three races I discussed above were not the only races run last week. Although the next two races I shall mention were run on turf, you never know where a Triple Crown contender will come from.
The first race was the Pasadena Stakes, run on the undercard of the Santa Anita Oaks and Sham Stakes. The heavy favorite was Macias, and rightfully so. But I had the suspicion that he might not want to go a mile, and that he might just tire inside the final eighth. After carefully analyzing all of the entries, I decided that Make Music for Me would catch him at the wire. I knew that he had been placing behind some very good horses, and that he seemed ready for a great run. I also liked Straightomidnight and Runaway Bandido.
Fortunately for me, I was able to see this race live, along with the Santa Anita Oaks, Sham Stakes, Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap, and Santa Anita Handicap. This also meant that I could see what the odds were. I figured that Macias would be the slight favorite with Make Music for Me the second choice. I knew that Alfarabia would get some play, and I assumed that Runaway Bandido would be something like 15-1. How wrong I was. Macias was the heavy favorite, Alfarabi was the second choice at about 4-1, Make Music for Me was about 7-1, and Runaway Bandido was sent off at 80-1.
But at least I had the race figured out. Macias set the pace and led into the stretch, but Make Music for Me passed him late to snatch a one length victory. Finishing third was Albaradi, Fantastic Pick was fourth, and Runaway Bandido came home fifth. As for Straightomidnight, I could tell watching him in the post parade that he was going to challenge Macias early and fade in the end. He just looked wound up and anxious to run. He finished last of ten.
So, I hit the exacta, and I was a very happy person the rest of the day.
Moving on, I must mention the Palm Beach Stakes, which was run last Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The favorite was Bim Bam, who was coming off of a nose victory over Triple Crown hopeful Interactif. Looking over the entries, I felt that Bim Bam wasn't going to run a top race, but I wasn't sure who was going to beat him. In the end, I couldn't decide, so I decided not to make any picks. At the wire, it was Paddy O'Prado in front by two and a half lengths. Dean's Kitten finished second, Our Champion third, and Asphalt fourth. Bim Bam finished fifth after being bumped at the start. The final time was excellent, 1:45 2/5 for the mile and an eighth. Of course, it was still a good second and a half off of the world record, but it was still an incredible time. Who knows? Perhaps Paddy O'Prado will some day be known as the world record holder for a mile and an eighth. We'll see where he goes from here.
Then there was the Herecomesthebride Stakes, identical to the Palm Beach Stakes except that it was for fillies. I liked Upperline and In the Rough, but both were defeated by Khancord Kid, who went wire-to-wire to win by a half of a length. Finishing second was Apple Charlotte, with Upperline in third. In the Rough finished up seventh.
Finally, there was the Santa Anita Handicap and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap. Both were for four year olds and up, but I mentioned them on my last post anyway. In the former, I went with St. Trinians, with Neko Bay to finish second and Misremembered to run third. St. Trinians ended up sixth, but Misremembered just held off Neko Bay for the win. In the latter, I went with the five year old mare Proviso, with Awesome Gem to finish second and Fluke to run third. As I watched, I could see that Fluke had the lead, and I could see where Awesome Gem was, but I couldn't find Proviso. As they turned for home, I was watching Awesome Gem, and I totally didn't see Proviso until I heard her name called. I looked back at Fluke and there she was, cutting into his lead with little ground remaining. Imagine how thrilled I was when she nailed him on the wire for a nose victory. With that win, she became the first filly or mare ever to win the Frank E. Kilroe Mile. And I saw it!
Now, with all of last week's races discussed, it's time to look at what's to come, beginning with the. . .
TAMPA BAY DERBY (gr. III) ---- Tampa Bay Downs, Race 11, March 13th
8.5 Furlongs (Dirt)
Wow ---- that's what I thought when I looked at the entries for this race. I thought there couldn't possibly be a race as tough to figure out as this one. Then I saw the entries for the Rebel Stakes. But we'll discuss that one later.
For now, let's stick to the Tampa Bay Derby. This mile and a sixteenth race drew Super Saver, impressive winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November. It also attracted the impressive optional claiming race winner Odysseus, the improving Uptowncharlybrown, and the interesting colt Schoolyard Dreams. So let's take a closer look at the entries, beginning with the number one horse, Uptowncharlybrown. The son of Limehouse was victorious in his first two starts before making a huge class jump in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. In that race, he met up with top Triple Crown hopeful Rule, and ended up third, four lengths behind the winner, Rule, and one length behind the runner up, Schoolyard Dreams. Although it wasn't a win, it was a good race, and he was really closing at the finish. He should continue to improve, and should be a major threat on Saturday, especially with only 116 pounds on his back. As if that wasn't enough, he will be wearing blinkers for the first time.
The number two horse is Tuvia's Force. The son of Mineshaft comes off of a third to Wildcat Frankie and Bank the Eight in a one mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park. The competition that beat him wasn't that great, but he was making up considerable ground late. He will likely improve off of that race. He'll have to really step up in class, but he'll only have to carry 116 pounds. His workouts have been great. He could run a huge race.
The number three horse is Gleam of Hope. This City Zip colt seems to run either really well or really badly. He doesn't appear to be on the same level as some of the other entries, but he could have a shot at the money. However, he will have to carry 122 pounds, which is the co-top weight with Super Saver. He will have to give away six pounds to all of the other entries. This could affect the outcome of the race. Still, I think he has a shot at hitting the board.
The number four horse is Slammy Boy. A son of Grand Slam, this will be his fifth race, and his first in stakes company. He has been against some decent competition, including Prince Will I Am, Outlaw Man, and Doubles Partner, but he doesn't look quite ready for this level of competition. He will carry 116 pounds.
This brings us to the number five horse, Schoolyard Dreams. In his first race, he finished third behind Afleet Again and Laus Deo. In his next start, he defeated Tempted to Tapit. In his first start of 2010, he won an optional claiming race, and then finished second to Rule in the Sam F. Davis Stakes while defeating Uptowncharlybrown. Carrying 116 pounds, he should be in the mix. It's also possible that he could provide some pace, as he likes to race near the lead. His workouts have been excellent.
Then there is the number six horse, the morning line favorite Super Saver. The son of Maria's Mon likes to have the lead, a style that possibly cost him the Champagne Stakes last year. However, the colt redeemed himself by going wire-to-wire in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November. I believe that if he is to have any shot at the race, he is going to have to set a slow pace. Not necessarily snail like, but slower than in the Champagne. I think that if he goes three quarters of a mile in 1:10 3/5 tomorrow, he's going to be tough to catch. However, if he goes that same distance in 1:09 2/5, like he did in the Champagne, he's going to have to show another gear in the stretch if he's going to hang on.
And so finally, we come to the number seven horse, Odysseus. The son of Malibu Moon has the biggest question to answer. How good is he? In his last race, and Optional Claiming race, he exploded as they turned for home and drew off at will to win by fifteen lengths. It was a huge performance, his best so far. And it was at this same track, at this same distance. With only 116 pounds on his back, he looks ready to fire another big one. And it would be crazy if a horse with a name like his didn't turn out to be something special. Odysseus? That's a name that goes with the rest of the Triple Crown winners.
So, here are my selections for the race.
1 Uptowncharlybrown
2 Odysseus
3 Super Saver
4 Schoolyard Dreams
5 Tuvia's Force
6 Gleam of Hope
7 Slammy Boy
That said, let me contradict everything. I think that Odysseus is capable of winning the race. He just keeps improving and should be able to handle the competition. It looks to me like Uptowncharlybrown is sitting on a big one, and he should be really closing late. As for Super Saver, I think that this is going to be a tough spot back, and that he may not be completely primed for a best effort. I could be wrong, but those are my thoughts.
Getting back to the top two, I just couldn't decide whether Uptowncharlybrown or Odysseus looked better here. I had actually written Odysseus into the top spot when I remembered that Uptowncharlybrown would be wearing blinkers for the first time. So, after much thought, I reluctantly removed Odysseus from the top spot and put Uptowncharlybrown in his place. However, if I was going to bet the race, which I won't, I would go with both of them. Maybe place two exactas, one with Uptowncharlybrown on the top, the other with Odysseus in that place. Of course, it's hard to ignore Super Saver, but I guess that I just don't think that he's ready. Last of all, I think that Schoolyard Dreams has the potential to win the race, but I just don't like him here as well as I like the other three.
That said, I think that it is time to move on to the. . .
SAN FELIPE STAKES (gr. II) ---- Santa Anita Park, Race 9, March 13th
8.5 Furlongs (Synthetic)
A few days before the entries for this race were released, I sat down and thought about who might show up. I figured that I would see the names Caracortado, Dave in Dixie, and if I was lucky, American Lion. I couldn't imagine the race getting any better.
It did.
When the entries were announced, I was amazed to see Interactif among them, and even more surprised to see Sidney's Candy. All of a sudden, the race got just that much harder to figure out.
First off, I shall discuss the number one horse, Stephen's Got Hope. The son of Stephen Got Even has won no races so far, and appears to be out of place here. But after Paddy O'Prado won the Palm Beach Stakes for his first win last week, who knows? He will carry 116 pounds, and will be ridden by Tyler Baze. One final interesting fact, he is a Texas-bred, which I don't see all that often. Or maybe I've just never noticed them before. . .
Then there is the number two horse, Interactif. The son of Broken Vow won two grade III races on the turf last year before finishing third in a very tight Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He was then given a rest until February before reemerging for the Hallandale Beach Stakes. In that race, he tracked the pace set by Bim Bam, overtook the latter in the stretch, but lost the race when Bim Bam came back at him to grab a nose victory. He has not raced since then. As for tomorrow's race, he will carry 117 pounds and will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano. If he likes the synthetics, he should be able to run a good race.
This brings us to the number three horse, Erbeia. The son of Pulpit has only a maiden win to his credit, and he looks a bit outclassed here. Tomorrow, he will carry 115 pounds and will be ridden by Alex Solis.
Then there is the number four horse, American Lion. The son of Tiznow has won two of his four races. In 2009, he won the seven furlong Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III). In his 2010 debut, he tracked the pace set by Tiz Chrome in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and gave way late, finishing third behind Caracortado and Dave in Dixie. Tomorrow, he will wear blinkers for the first time. He will be ridden by Julien Leparoux and will carry 117 pounds. It's hard to say whether he will race close to the pace, as he did in the Robert B. Lewis, or try racing farther back. If he chooses the former, he'll have to prove that he can stay with Sidney's Candy. If he chooses the latter, he'll have to catch Sidney's Candy.
Moving on, we come to the number five horse, Sidney's Candy. The son of Candy Ride will be making his two turn debut. He was very impressive in his last start, going wire-to-wire in the San Vincente Stakes to win by four and a half lengths. If he can carry his speed two turns, watch out. He will carry 117 pounds and will be ridden by Joe Talamo.
The number six horse is perhaps the most intriguing. In that gate will be Dave in Dixie. The son of Dixie Union was the runner up in last month's Robert B. Lewis Stakes. In that race, he was perhaps the most impressive of everyone running, rocketing from behind with a late run in his first start since October 4th, 2009. I suspect that he will run even better tomorrow than he did last month. He will be ridden by Joel Rosario, and will carry only 115 pounds, four less than Caracortado will.
Speaking of Caracortado, he is the number seven horse. The impressive winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes is undefeated in five starts so far, and is looking to make it six. A son of Cat Dreams, he is a gelding, so it would be really cool if he continues to improve. Perhaps he will become the next Kelso! Getting back to tomorrow's race, he will be ridden by Paul Atkinson and will carry 119 pounds, the high weight of the seven entries.
So my final selections are. . .
1 Caracortado
2 Dave in Dixie
3 American Lion
4 Interactif
5 Sidney's Candy
6 Stephen's Got Hope
7 Erbeia
Well, it was a tough race to figure out, but I guess I think that Caracortado is ready for another great performance. I feel that Dave in Dixie is only going to improve now that he has a prep under him. American Lion should also improve, based on the addition of blinkers and a two turn race under his belt. Interactif has been running very consistently, but I'm concerned that he just isn't good enough. Sidney's Candy definitely has talent, and I'm sure he will run a good race, but I suspect that the pace in this race may be a bit fast, and I've also noticed that closers do better at Santa Anita than front runners. As for Stephen's Got Hope and Erbeia, I feel that they just aren't capable of beating this field. I could be wrong, but those are my thoughts. One final note, if Interactif races off the pace tomorrow, than ignore everything I said about him not being good enough. I think that if he goes back to coming from behind, he'll finish in the top three. Maybe he'll even win.
Now I believe that it is time to move on to the. . .
REBEL STAKES (gr. II) ---- Oaklawn Park, Race 10, March 13th
8.5 Furlongs (Synthetic)
Wow . . . what a race this is going to be. Dublin, Lookin at Lucky, and Noble's Promise. Three grade I winners. This is going to be exciting . . . and influential.
To begin with, Dublin and Lookin at Lucky are my top two picks for the Triple Crown, in that order. I also greatly respect Noble's Promise, and will not forget about Uh Oh Bango. The winner of this race, if he wins it the right way, will likely top my "The Twenty" list. So get ready. Let's take a look at who's running.
First off, there is the number one horse, Cardiff Giant. The son of Yankee Gentleman was most recently third in the Southwest Stakes behind Conveyance and Dublin. Carrying only 115 pounds, he should be in the mix. His style of coming from behind should benefit him in this race. The question is, can he out close Dublin?
Then there is the number two horse, Lookin at Lucky. The son of Smart Strike has won five of six starts, his only loss coming in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, in which he finished second, beaten only a head by longshot Vale of York. In that race, Vale of York raced along the rail, while Lookin at Lucky was caught extremely wide on both turns. So it further proves how good a colt Lookin at Lucky is. He returned later that year to capture the CashCall Futurity by three quarters of a length, sewing up the Eclipse Award for champion two year old colt. However, he does have a habit of easing up when he takes the lead, which could lead to trouble if a colt like Dublin was to coming rocketing from behind and catch him off guard. So Bob Baffert, Lookin at Lucky's trainer, has added blinkers for the first time. He believes that they will help his talented colt stay focused. He will be ridden by Garrett Gomez and will carry 119 pounds.
Now we move on to the number three horse, Royal Express. The son of Royal Academy comes off of a runner up performance in the Sportsman's Paradise Stakes behind Backtalk. He will likely set the pace tomorrow. He will carry 117 pounds and will be ridden by P. Compton.
This brings us to the number four horse, Uh Oh Bango. The son of Top Hit has not raced since finishing a neck behind top Kentucky Derby hopeful Rule in last December's Delta Jackpot Stakes. He has never finished worse than second, and should really be in the mix tomorrow. He will carry 117 pounds and will be ridden by G. W. Corbett.
But of course, we must not forget Pleasant Storm. The late-running son of Pleasant Tap failed to put in a rally while finishing seventh in last month's Southwest Stakes, but prior to that, he finished second in the Smarty Jones Stakes. Carrying 117 pounds, he will be ridden by J. K. Court. He doesn't appear to be as good as some of the other colts in this race, but if he's lucky, he could get a piece of the money.
Next up for discussion is the number six horse, Noble's Promise. The son of Cuvee has been very consistent his entire career, winning three races, finishing second in two, and third in one from six starts. Winner of the Breeders' Futurity last fall, his best race probably cam in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he ran an incredible race to be beaten only a length by Vale of York and Lookin at Lucky. Following that performance, he finished second to Lookin at Lucky after making a big move in the CashCall Futurity. Like the latter, he will be making his first start since then. I believe that he is ready to run the best race of his career. He will carry 119 pounds, and will be ridden for the first time by Robby Albarado.
Finally, we come to the number seven horse, Dublin. The son of Afleet Alex was my early Kentucky Derby pick after he won the Hopeful Stakes, but I eventually switched over to Buddy's Saint. After Buddy's Saint ran into disaster in the Fountain of Youth, Dublin once again reclaimed the top spot as my pick for the Triple Crown. I was very proud of him when he ran second in the Southwest Stakes, and I think that he's ready for an even better effort tomorrow. With the extra sixteenth of a mile, as well as the presence of more pace, he should be flying late. He will carry 117 pounds and will be ridden by Corey Nakatani.
So here are my selections for the Rebel Stakes. . .
1 Dublin
2 Lookin at Lucky
3 Noble's Promise
4 Cardiff Giant
5 Uh Oh Bango
6 Pleasant Storm
7 Royal Express
I think that the pace is going to be very fast tomorrow, and I think that Lookin at Lucky will be pushing it. With Noble's Promise, Royal Express, and Uh Oh Bango all interested in the lead, I think that the race is going to set up perfectly for Dublin. The latter already raced once this year, and should be ready for an excellent effort. Lookin at Lucky and Noble's Promise should be able to run great races, but I think that neither of them a primed to run their best. As for Cardiff Giant, he's already raced twice this year, and seems to be improving. Uh Oh Bango seems to be a fine colt, but I think that he will be cooked by the early pace. I could be wrong, but that's what I think. Pleasant Storm might be able to get a piece of the money, but I don't think he's quite good enough. Finally, I think that Royal Express will set the pace and tire in the drive. Those are my final thoughts.
OTHER RACES TO WATCH
Although it's going to be fabulous watching all of the great races tomorrow, it's also unfortunate that I can't discuss all of them as thoroughly as I would like. So I will just quickly mention a few of the better races that shall be run this Saturday, beginning with the six furlong Cicada Stakes, held at Aqueduct.
The race is headlined by Bickersons, who is returning only two weeks after her fourth place finish in last month's Davona Dale Stakes. That race was perhaps a bit long for her, being one mile, and she should be able to rebound tomorrow. If anybody is going to beat her, I feel it will be either Female Drama, Liam's Dream, or Fuzzy Britches. It should be a good race.
Then of course, there is the Florida Oaks, run at Tampa Bay Downs. The big name here is She Be Wild, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Eclipse Award for champion two year old filly. In her last start, she was soundly beaten by Bickersons in the seven furlong Forward Gal Stakes. Also in the race is Diva Delight, winner of the Gasparilla and Suncoast Stakes this year. Both of those wins came at this track.
It looks like a tough race to win, but I feel that She Be Wild is ready to rebound, and has an excellent shot at winning. Diva Delight should also be in the mix, as will Cuff Me and Awesome Vow. I respect Miss Afleet Alex and Imaginary Saint as well. I can't wait for the results.
Finally, there are the two races that I have been waiting for the most: The Santa Margarita Invitational and the New Orleans Ladies. In the latter, 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Zenyatta will make her return, and in the former, Rachel Alexandra will make hers. Both fillies will likely be sent off as the favorites, but both have questions to answer. Can Zenyatta give away eight to twelve pounds in her first start since the early November? And is Rachel Alexandra fit enough to defeat her four rivals, having not raced since early September? I think that both of them will win rather easily. Zenyatta has the harder race to win, but I feel that she is better prepared and will run one of the best races of her life. Rachel Alexandra probably won't win by twenty, but she should win with relative ease. Zardana will likely be in the mix, as will Clear Sailing. They are going to have to work for their wins, but they are two of the greatest fillies of all time. I have no doubts that both of them will find a way to win. Twenty-six days until the Apple Blossom. . . let's hope it works out.
-Keelerman
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