Belmont Stakes Contender Profile: OVERANALYZE

Owner: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Diamond A Racing Corp.
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

RACE RECORD

Age 3

11th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I)
1st Arkansas Derby (gr. I)
5th Gotham Stakes (gr. III)

Age 2

1st Remsen Stakes (gr. II)
3rd Iroquois Stakes (gr. III)
1st Futurity Stakes (gr. II)
4th Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. II)
1st Maiden Special Weight

PEDIGREE

		Dixieland Band
	Dixie Union
		She's Tops
Overanalyze
		Unaccounted For
	Unacloud
		Cloud's Ambre

An Early Look at the Belmont Stakes

Although there are still 2 1/2 weeks remaining until the Belmont Stakes, I thought it might be interesting to take an early look at the contenders and try to form some early opinions of the race. In the past, I have found to be very useful (and enjoyable!) to handicap the Belmont several weeks out, because it can help one to view the contenders with an open mind and address their merits without post time looming just a few days away.

We'll begin with the obvious: Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness winner Oxbow. Both have turned in career-best efforts on the biggest stage in racing, but both have also hinted that they could be vulnerable in the Belmont.

Let's take a look at Orb's Derby victory. After trailing the field by nearly twenty lengths following the opening half-mile, he unleashed a powerful rally that carried him past the tired front-runners and on the victory. Based on that performance, he was the 3-5 favorite in the Preakness, where he made a strong run down the backstretch to reach contention before fading without obvious excuse rounding the final turn. Perhaps he didn't like racing between horses. Perhaps the rail wasn't the best part of the racetrack. Whatever the reason, Orb gave up valuable position at the most crucial stage of the race, and while he did succeed in re-rallying mildly to secure fourth, he was never a threat to front-running winner Oxbow.

In part, I believe Orb's disappointing Preakness performance was the result of the two vastly different pace scenarios that occurred in the Derby and the Preakness. In the Derby, you had Palace Malice running the opening half-mile in a blazing :45.33 -- this in the slop, no less -- which resulted in all of the other speed horses tiring badly in the final three-eighths of a mile. This allowed the deep closers -- such as Orb, Golden Soul, and Revolutionary -- to rally from way back and sweep the trifecta. In the Preakness, the opposite occurred. When the speedy trio of Titletown Five, Govenor Charlie, and Goldencents all chose to settle back off the lead, Oxbow was allowed to secure a very easy lead. How easy? Try a half-mile in :48.60, more than three lengths slower than in the Derby. Obviously, Oxbow had plenty of stamina in reserve after setting such a moderate pace, and was thus able to romp home without being seriously challenged.

That said, what intrigues me is that Orb did make that nice run down the backstretch. The slow pace certainly wasn't bothering him then. If anything, it was enabling him to get into the race sooner than usual, which can be a valuable asset. Of course, even if he had continued the move and challenged Oxbow around the far turn, I'm not sure he would have beaten the front-runner, simply because -- as I mentioned above -- Oxbow had plenty of gas left in the tank.

So what does this mean heading into the Belmont? Well, that's hard to say. The Belmont is very rarely a fast-paced race, so the pace scenario should set up well for Oxbow. Then again, does Oxbow look like the type of colt that could stretch out another five-sixteenths of a mile? His breeding suggests he can, but my early opinion is that twelve furlongs might be a bit far for him.

For Orb, I believe the additional distance will help his chances. Assuming he draws outside, the moderate pace should allow him to settle into a comfortable position some seven or eight lengths off the lead and finish with an unimpeded run. Furthermore, his familiarity with Belmont Park, having done a great deal of training there, should also help his chances.

Now -- having taken a brief look at the Derby and Preakness winners, let's shift our focus to the group of horses that ran in the Derby, skipped the Preakness, and are returning for the Belmont. They include Golden Soul and Revolutionary, the second- and third-place Derby finishers.

Perhaps my strongest opinion heading into the Belmont concerns Golden Soul, who rallied up the rail to crack the Derby exacta at 34-1. His profile and overall racing record reminds me very much of Make Music for Me, who ran fourth in the 2010 Derby as a similar longshot. Both colts drew into the race at the last moment, having qualified thanks to the defections of more prominent contenders. Both had a generally disappointing spring campaign prior to the Derby. Both took advantage of blazing pace scenarios to earn a respectable finish in the Derby. Both skipped the Preakness to await the Belmont.

Make Music for Me was sent off as the fifth-choice in the 2010 Belmont at 12-1, but after dropping back to last early on, never rallied and wound up finishing tenth. He's still racing even today -- in fact, he ran third in a grade II stakes back in February. But he never again ran quite as well as he did when fourth with a perfect trip in the Derby.

Might Golden Soul be sitting on a similarly disappointing effort in this year's Belmont? Perhaps not. Perhaps he will be able to adapt to the slower pace, race closer to the lead, and finish well to win the race. But when you throw in the fact that he also saved ground all the way in the Derby, yet still couldn't beat Orb, it's hard to envision him outrunning the Derby winner to the Belmont Stakes finish line.

On a similar note, we have Revolutionary. Like Golden Soul, he rallied strongly up the fence in the Derby and loomed a possible winner before flattening out ever so slightly. I like his Belmont chances a bit better than Golden Soul's, since he did win the Louisiana Derby and Withers Stakes earlier in the spring. But he's another colt who could be vulnerable if allowed to drop too far behind a slow pace in the Belmont.

One other Derby colt that is definitely pointing toward the Belmont is Overanalyze, who ran evenly to finish eleventh in the Run for the Roses. Although he was almost as far behind the fast pace as Orb, Golden Soul, and Revolutionary were, Overanalyze was unable to present a rally of any kind and never threatened. Given this, it's hard to endorse his chances in the Belmont, but I'm going to go ahead and do just that. Remember Stay Thirsty, who was never in the mix when twelfth in the 2011 Derby? He came back to be beaten just three-quarters of a length in the Belmont while finishing ahead of the Derby and Preakness winners. I think that Overanalyze could be primed to execute a similar turnaround. After all, he did win the Futurity Stakes (gr. II) in powerful fashion at Belmont last year, so we know he likes the track.

But my boldest prediction heading into the Belmont concerns Palace Malice, the beaten pacesetter in the Derby. The addition of blinkers was obviously a failed experiment; they made him much too rank and resulted in the blazing pace he set. Assuming the blinkers come off for the Belmont, I envision Palace Malice being much more relaxed early while tracking the pace. From there, it will be up to the horse -- and perhaps the blood of Curlin flowing through his veins -- to help him see out the distance. At the very least, we know we can forgive his poor Derby showing.

Those are just about all the opinions I have generated thus far. Sometime during the coming two weeks, I'll post part two of this topic, concerning the filly Unlimited Budget, Bob Baffert's duo of Code West and Power Broker, and any other contenders on the radar. But for the moment, I'd like to hear your thoughts. Do you think Oxbow can stay the distance? Will Orb rebound to win two-thirds of the Triple Crown? Can Golden Soul and Revolutionary avoid the fate of Make Music for Me? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

-Keelerman

2013 Kentucky Derby Selections

Well, the big day is finally here! Time to make our final run through the nineteen contenders and try and piece together some selections. As usual, we will be breaking down the contenders into three groups, based on how well I like their chances. Enjoy!

UNLIKELY CONTENDERS

#7 GIANT FINISH - Last-minute entry ran well when finishing third in the Spiral Stakes (gr. III) at Turfway, but his only victories came against New York-breds, and by far the worst effort of his career came over a sloppy track. He has the speed to work out a stalking trip, but it's hard to envision him finish well enough to garner more than a minor share.

#11 LINES OF BATTLE - Irish-invader enters off of a solid victory in the UAE Derby (UAE-II) in Dubai, but while he is certainly bred to handle the distance, it's the surface that poses a bigger question. The Derby will mark his first start on dirt. Being a son of War Front out of an Arch mare, handling dirt isn't out of the question, but reports are that his stride seems better suited to turf. He could definitely be in the mix, especially if the track comes up sloppy, but that's a long trip from Dubai.

#13 FALLING SKY - Talented colt won the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa back in February before finishing a distant third in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) and fourth in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I). He has the breeding to handle the mud, being by Lion Heart out of Sea Hero, but ten furlongs may be a bit beyond his best distance, especially facing a field of this caliber.

#15 CHARMING KITTEN - There aren't many colts I'd like to see win the Derby more than Charming Kitten, as I am very fond of the Kitten's Joy progeny and would enjoy seeing the Ramseys win the Derby. But as impressed as I was by Charming Kitten's Blue Grass run -- in which he got shuffled back after a decent start and still rallied to be beaten just a half-length -- the fact remains that he has never run on dirt, and probably has a brighter future on turf.

#17 WILL TAKE CHARGE - I rank him among the unlikely contenders simply because of the weather forecast; let's not forget that Will Take Charge was absolutely trounced when sixth in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III), his lone start on an off track. There are other questions as well, such as the seven-week layoff and the slow five-furlong breeze on April 29th. Deserves respect off of his Rebel triumph, but of the two Lukas trainees, I prefer Oxbow.

#19 JAVA'S WAR - Hard to get a good idea of where this colt fits in. His Blue Grass run was exceptional, as he ran his last three-eighth in a simply spectacular :36 flat. Anything close to that in the Derby would put him right in contention. On the same note, he presented an eye-catching rally when second to Verrazano in the Tampa Bay Derby on dirt. On the other hand, he didn't really fire when sixth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) here at Churchill last fall, and his habit of breaking very slowly puts him at a disadvantage in what should be a moderate-paced Derby. Certainly can make an impact, but like others, his future is probably on turf and Polytrack.

MEDIUM CONTENDERS

#4 GOLDEN SOUL - Maybe I'm crazy, but I actually like this colt's chances pretty well. His sixth-place finish in the Risen Star (gr. II) was by no means bad, and he made a strong middle move in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) to crack the superfecta. Furthermore, he finished just 1 1/2 lengths behind Departing that day, and Departing came back to win the Illinois Derby (gr. III) in sharp fashion. He's had two nice workouts since then, and while he may be overlooked coming into the Derby, I think he can work out a decent trip from gate four and put in a good run late.

#5 NORMANDY INVASION - Wood Memorial runner-up has shown a lot of speed in recent workouts, which may or may not be a good thing. On the positive side, it should enable him to work out a good trip while breaking from gate five, and it should help him to get into the thick of things quicker than usual. On the negative side, he could wind up too close to the early lead, weakening his closing kick and stretching his already speed-oriented pedigree to the limit. Certainly deserves a ton of respect, but I'm leaning against him today.

#6 MYLUTE - When a trainer voices serious concerns about a horse handling nine furlongs, you have to question whether that horse is a good bet going another furlong farther. That is the case with Mylute, whose trainer Tom Amoss questioned the colt's ability to handle the distance of the Louisiana Derby. In the end, Mylute handled it just fine, losing by a neck to the very game Revolutionary. But what worries me is that Mylute looked like a winner at the eighth pole before flattening out just a bit and allowing Revolutionary to reclaim the lead. This is something that Mylute has done a few of other times in the past. In the Risen Star, he was just a length behind at the eighth pole before weakening to be beaten 3 1/4. In the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes last year, he made a spectacular rally around the turn to draw within a length of the lead before winding up third by three lengths. That said, Mylute is bred to handle the mud, and if the track comes up sloppy as expected, you can be pretty sure he'll relish it.

#9 OVERANALYZE - From a visual perspective, he was exceptional in the Arkansas Derby, racing wide throughout before pulling away to dominate by 4 1/4 lengths. However, from a speed figure perspective, it was a rather slow race, and from a final time perspective, it was the slowest Arkansas Derby since 1978. That said, his final eighth in about :12 3/5 was strong, and he showed a lot of grit last year winning the Remsen by a nose over Overanalyze. Of course, the fact that he tends to sandwich winning efforts around poor performances is concerning, as he enters the Derby poised for one of his sub-par races. On the other hand, Todd Pletcher called the colt's last workout his best ever, and I agree with that. So as you can see, I'm not really sure what to do with Overanalyze. Either he's going to run huge, or he's going to finish well behind. And I really don't know which.

#10 PALACE MALICE - He's never run a bad race, not even in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), where his seventh-place finish was the result of a disastrous trip. Last time out, he seemed to lose focus in the stretch of the Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), which wound up costing him dearly as Java's War rallied to edge him by a neck. Returning now to dirt, where he is probably at his best, Palace Malice is bred to handle the slop and should be able to work out a nice mid-pack trip while starting from gate ten. Interestingly, he will be wearing blinkers for the first time today, an equipment change surely meant to keep him focused.

#12 ITSMYLUCKYDAY - He was as impressive as could be in his first two starts of the year, romping to victory in both the Gulfstream Park Derby and the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III). Interestingly, he regressed considerably when second in the Florida Derby (gr. I) off of a two-month layoff, the second time in his career that he failed to fire off a break. I think he got a lot out of that race and should be considerably sharper today, and since he has the tactical speed to stay in touch with the early leaders, he should be right in contention rounding the final turn. Also, don't forget that he won the Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash at Calder last year over a sloppy sealed track.

#14 VERRAZANO - What's not to like about an unbeaten Wood Memorial winner? Well, nothing, except that we were saying the same thing about Gemologist last year prior to his sixteenth-place finish. I expect Verrazano to perform a lot better than that, especially considering that he has drawn outside the primary speed and should work out a great trip. My main concern is that he may have peaked earlier this year. Todd Pletcher's Derby horses don't usually run four races in the span of little more than three months, and this busy schedule may be taking its toll on Verrazano, who couldn't shake Vyjack and Normandy Invasion in the Wood Memorial despite getting a very easy trip. Throw in the Apollo Curse -- no horse has won the Derby with racing as a two-year-old since Apollo in 1882 -- and you have yourself a legitimate, but vulnerable contender.

#18 FRAC DADDY - Runner-up in the Arkansas Derby has had a generally disappointing three-year-old season, but seems to be heading in the right direction now and could be sitting on a big effort. He's already run two good races at Churchill, including a runner-up finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II), and given the tactical speed he has displayed in the past, it wouldn't surprise me to see him racing just a few lengths off of the early lead.

#20 VYJACK - One of the best efforts of his career came over a sloppy sealed track in the Traskwood Stakes at Aqueduct last fall, so he shouldn't have any trouble with today's wet track. Drawing gate twenty certainly wasn't the best, but I think he's versatile enough to work out a decent trip, regardless of whether the pace is fast or slow. Perhaps he doesn't have the best breeding for ten furlongs, and perhaps his recent training hasn't been stellar, but I'm intrigued by his chances.

WIN CONTENDERS

#2 OXBOW - My decision to include him among the win contenders came just this morning. With the track likely to be sloppy, and with his strong breeding off-track breeding, I think this colt could be sitting on a gate-to-wire effort. Think about it -- with the scratch of Black Onyx, he's got enough room on the inside to speed away and take the lead, assuming he breaks well. And since he'll be on the inside, we won't have to worry about him getting hung wide on the turns, which has been the case in his last three starts. And of course, the Awesome Again/Tizamazing match-up should provide Oxbow with more than enough stamina to handle the distance. I can just see Oxbow bounding out of the starting gate, taking command of the lead, and running the stalkers off their feet while the closers struggle to get untracked as mud flies in their faces. We already saw Princess of Sylmar win yesterday's Oaks at 38-1. Can Oxbow do the same?

#3 REVOLUTIONARY - In my opinion, this is the colt to beat, especially if the track comes up sloppy. We have seen what jockey Calvin Borel is capable of doing in the Churchill slop -- remember Mine That Bird and Super Saver? And let's be honest, has there ever been a horse more perfectly suited to Borel's riding style than Revolutionary? This is a colt that surged through one hole after another in the Withers Stakes (gr. III), turning certain defeat into thrilling victory with a spectacular stretch rally. This is a colt that made a sustained rally down the backstretch and around the turn of the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) to take command of the lead -- and then tenaciously hold off the rally of Mylute. This is a colt that earned a Beyer speed figure of 102 when breaking his maiden. Many people expect him to be well off of the early pace, but I don't see that happening. I think the only reason Revolutionary was so far behind in the Louisiana Derby was because of his sluggish start, and assuming Borel can get him out of the gate a bit quicker this afternoon, I envision Revolutionary sitting mid-pack early before riding the rail for yet another Bo-rail victory.

#8 GOLDENCENTS - I'll be the first to admit that I've never viewed this colt as one that could handle ten furlongs, but his Santa Anita Derby victory was visually impressive, and the 105 Beyer that he earned for that triumph is by far the highest last-out figure earned by any of the Derby horses. Taking into account the pace-tracking dimension that he showed in the Santa Anita Derby, I would think that Goldencents will try to settle just behind Oxbow and Falling Sky early on, then try and get first run on the final turn and open up as large a lead as possible before the closers come running. I have two concerns. One is the mud, over which he is untested. The other is the competitive nature he displayed in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) two starts back. Now, don't get me wrong, I like a colt with fire and determination, but the way he accepted Flashback's challenge -- resulting in a truly blazing speed duel that exhausted them both -- makes me wonder if the atmosphere of the Derby will rile him up and cause him to forget rating and sprint much too hard early on. In conclusion, I think Goldencents' Derby fate will be determined in the opening two or three furlongs.

#16 ORB - The incident two days ago where he got spooked in the paddock was concerning, but he seems to have emerged from the event without injury. He's probably been training the best of anyone coming into the Derby, and with his powerful late run, you have to think that he's going to be coming hard in the final quarter mile. The slop is a big question mark, but I'm feeling pretty good about his chances today.

Selections:
1 Revolutionary
2 Orb
3 Oxbow
4 Goldencents

-Keelerman

2013 Kentucky Derby Post Positions

Here are the post positions for the 139th running of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), to be run on Saturday, May 4th, at Churchill Downs.

#/Horse/Morning Line Odds
1 Black Onyx 50-1
2 Oxbow 30-1
3 Revolutionary 10-1
4 Golden Soul 50-1
5 Normandy Invasion 12-1
6 Mylute 15-1
7 Giant Finish 50-1
8 Goldencents 5-1
9 Overanalyze 15-1
10 Palace Malice 20-1
11 Lines of Battle 30-1
12 Itsmyluckyday 15-1
13 Falling Sky 50-1
14 Verrazano 4-1
15 Charming Kitten 20-1
16 Orb 7-2
17 Will Take Charge 20-1
18 Frac Daddy 50-1
19 Java's War 15-1
20 Vyjack 15-1

-Keelerman

Kentucky Derby Contender Profile: OVERANALYZE

Owner: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Diamond A Racing Corp.
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

RACE RECORD

Age 3

1st Arkansas Derby (gr. I)
5th Gotham Stakes (gr. III)

Age 2

1st Remsen Stakes (gr. II)
3rd Iroquois Stakes (gr. III)
1st Futurity Stakes (gr. II)
4th Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. II)
1st Maiden Special Weight

PEDIGREE

		Dixieland Band
	Dixie Union
		She's Tops
Overanalyze
		Unaccounted For
	Unacloud
		Cloud's Ambre

Keelerman's Derby Top Twelve 4-27-13

(Note: With just one week remaining before the Kentucky Derby, I have decided to shorten this week's top twenty down to a top twelve. Enjoy!)

1. Revolutionary (War Pass - Runup the Colors, by A.P. Indy) Trained by Todd Pletcher
He's had two exceptional workouts at Churchill Downs, including a sharp half-mile in :48 1/5 just this morning. Departing's victory in the Illinois Derby last Saturday only enhances Revolutionary's credentials, and I'm feeling more and more confident in his chances with every passing day.

2. Verrazano (More Than Ready - Enchanted Rock, by Giant's Causeway) Trained by Todd Pletcher
Was sharp as could be in his final workout this morning, breezing five-eighths in company with the stakes-placed mare Authenticity and getting the distance in a quick :59 2/5. My biggest concern is how he will react to the expected faster pace of the Derby, but the fact that he did rate off the lead in the Wood Memorial is encourarging.

3. Normandy Invasion (Tapit - Boston Lady, by Boston Harbor) Trained by Chad Brown
He turned in a jaw-dropper of a workout this morning at Churchill, blazing five furlongs in :59 flat while recording splits of :11 4/5, :23 1/5, :34 4/5, and :46 3/5, according to Bloodhorse.com. That's one of those workouts that could end up famous after the race, like Barbaro's :46 flat half-mile heading into the 2006 Derby. Normandy Invasion simply seems to be flourishing right now, and if he wasn't already a major win contender before this work, he certainly is now.

4. Orb (Malibu Moon - Lady Liberty, by Unbridled) Trained by Shug McGaughey
Arrived at Churchill Downs the day after breezing five furlongs in 1:02.10 at Payson Park Training Center. It was his second work since the Florida Derby, with one more scheduled for either Sunday or Monday. According to reports, he's been galloping strongly at Churchill, and seems to be coming up to the race in peak form. He's already proven that he can adapt to many different pace scenarios. Now, he just has to get a good trip.

5. Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron - Viva La Slew, by Doneraile Court) Trained by Edward Plesa, Jr.
Turned in his final pre-Derby workout on April 25th, breezing a half-mile in a very slow :53 flat. It certainly wasn't a stellar work, but coming off of a solid one-mile breeze the week before, it didn't need to be anything serious. I can't believe how the excitement surrounding this colt just disappeared following his runner-up effort in the Florida Derby. It really wasn't that bad of a race, especially coming off of a two-month layoff, and he may very well be sitting on the performance of his life.

6. Oxbow (Awesome Again - Tizamazing, by Cee's Tizzy) Trained by D. Wayne Lukas
Breezed five furlongs in a respectable 1:01 flat on Monday, and -- according to DRF.com -- it was a very good work indeed, with a strong gallop out and solid fractions. The pace scenario, in my opinion, will be the key to success in the Derby. He can't take off the pace like he did in the Arkansas Derby, but at the same time, he shouldn't be the pacesetter. I would like to see him racing third, fourth, or fifth while in the clear on the outside, tracking what should be a fair pace before making his bid on the final turn. He showed in the Rebel Stakes that he has the acceleration to seize command of a race on the turn, and if he can do that in the Derby, it's going to be very hard to beat him.

7. Palace Malice (Curlin - Palace Rumor, by Royal Anthem) Trained by Todd Pletcher
Like stablemates Revolutionary and Verrazano, Palace Malice had a very good morning, breezing a half-mile in company with Overanalyze and getting the distance in :47 1/5, the second-fastest time of the morning at that distance. I haven't formed a very strong opinion of him yet -- wheeling back off of two weeks rest to run in the Blue Grass is not a typical Todd Pletcher training technique -- but he should definitely appreciate the return to dirt in the Derby, and today's workout was a major step in the right direction.

8. Goldencents (Into Mischief - Golden Works, by Banker's Gold) Trained by Doug O'Neill
Turned in his final pre-Derby workout on Thursday, traversing six furlongs in a moderate 1:16 1/5. Overall, it was a solid work, with a final three furlongs in about :36 flat, but let's not forget that O'Neill's Derby winner I'll Have Another clocked the distance in 1:13 4/5 in his final pre-Derby work last year.

9. Overanalyze (Dixie Union - Unacloud, by Unaccounted For) Trained by Todd Pletcher
As mentioned above, he breezed a half-mile in company with Palace Malice this morning, clocking the distance in a bullet :47 flat. While certainly an impressive work on the surface, it becomes even more impressive when one considers that it was -- in my opinion -- his best work of the year by a large margin. This is a colt that breezed five furlongs in 1:01.30 prior to winning the Arkansas Derby. Granted, you can make a case that the work was too sharp, by I see it as a very encouraging sign.

10. Vyjack (Into Mischief - Life Happened, by Stravinsky) Trained by Rudy Rodriguez
Breezed five furlongs in a sharp 1:00 2/5 on Friday at Churchill, but according to DRF.com, he was under quite a bit of pressure throughout and wasn't particularly impressive. I am still intrigued by his chances heading into the Derby, but the combination of his pedigree, so-so workout, and breathing incident in the Wood Memorial leave me slightly less enthusiastic than I was immediately after the Wood Memorial.

11. Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song - Take Charge Lady, by Dehere) Trained by D. Wayne Lukas
Turned in another solid one-mile workout last Sunday at Churchill, going the distance in 1:41 3/5. He is expected to turn in one more workout within the next couple of days, although given the disdain he displayed for mud in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III), I would hope that his final workout comes on a day when the track is fast.

12. Mylute (Midnight Lute - Stage Stop, by Valid Expectations) Trained by Tom Amoss
Coming off of a sharp :47 4/5 half-mile breeze on April 21st, it wasn't at all surprising to see Mylute turn in a much more moderate :50 3/5 work this morning. He's still got plenty of questions to answer, the main one regarding his ability to handle ten furlongs, but if he gets a quick enough pace in front of him, he should come running.

-Keelerman

Arkansas Derby entries: Oxbow draws post 10

Oxbow, runner-up in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) and romping winner of the LeComte Stakes (gr. III), has drawn post position ten in the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby (gr. I), to be run on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

The nine-furlong Kentucky Derby prep race has had a great deal of success in recent years, producing such stars as 2004 Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner Smarty Jones, 2005 Preakness/Belmont winner Afleet Alex, 2007 Eclipse champion older male Lawyer Ron, two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, 2011 Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro, and 2012 Kentucky Derby/Preakness runner-up Bodemeister. With such an unprecedented success rate, it is entirely possible that the 2013 renewal of the race could produce yet another budding superstar.

Oxbow may just be that horse. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the son of Awesome Again has not been able to overcome poor trips in his recent starts, but possesses a great deal of speed and strong acceleration. Gary Stevens, who won the Kentucky Derby with Lukas in 1988 and 1995, has the mount.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who won the Arkansas Derby last year with Bodemeister, has entered two colts, led by the lightly-raced War Academy. The son of Giant's Causeway has only run three times, but was simply spectacular in winning an 8.5-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park last month. A repeat of that performance could make him very tough to beat on Saturday.

The other Baffert representative is Den's Legacy, who has finished second or third in four major stakes since winning the Generous Stakes (gr. III) on turf last year. A true veteran with eleven starts under his belt, Den's Legacy enters the Arkansas Derby off of a good third-place effort in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II).

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who already has Wood Memorial winner Verrazano and Louisiana Derby winner Revolutionary assured of spots in the Kentucky Derby, will try to add a third colt to his Louisville roster by sending out Overanalyze. Winner of the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) and Futurity Stakes (gr. II) as a two-year-old, Overanalyze finished a dull fifth last month in the Gotham Stakes (gr. II) -- his only start of the year thus far -- but has trained nicely since then and could be sitting on a big performance.

Rounding out the field are Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) winner Falling Sky, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Frac Daddy, Rebel Stakes fourth- and sixth-place finishers Texas Bling and Carve, Team Valor Rushaway Stakes runner-up Divine Ambition, and Southwest Stakes (gr. III) third-place finisher Heaven's Runway.

Post Positions:
1 Carve
2 War Academy
3 Divine Ambition
4 Falling Sky
5 Den's Legacy
6 Heaven's Runway
7 Texas Bling
8 Frac Daddy
9 Overanalyze
10 Oxbow

-Keelerman

Overanalyze, Noble Tune return to work tab

A number of promising three-year-old colts returned to the work tab over the last two days, including Remsen Stakes (gr. II) winner Overanalyze and Pilgrim Stakes (gr. III) winner Noble Tune.

Both colts are spending the winter at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida. Overanalyze, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, breezed three furlongs in :36.94 seconds on January 13th, his first workout since winning the Remsen at Aqueduct on November 24th.

Noble Tune also went three furlongs, getting the distance in :37.02 seconds on January 14th, in his first breeze since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) on November 3rd. He is trained by Chad Brown.

Other prominent horses that turned in their first works of the new year at Palm Meadows included Frizette Stakes (gr. I) winner Dreaming of Julia (3f in :37.96); With Anticipation Stakes (gr. II) winner Balance the Books (3f in :37.02); Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II) winner Unlimited Budget (3f in :39.09); So Many Ways (3f in :37.72); and Futurity Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Carried Interest (3f in :37.38.)

-Keelerman

Keelerman's Derby Top Ten 12-28-12

1. Dewey Square (Bernardini - Somethinaboutbetty, by Forestry) Trained by Dale Romans
I was very impressed by his effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. After being hung wide on both turns, he appeared to be on his way to a distant defeat at the top of the stretch. However, he seemed to find another gear when challenged by Tesseron and finished very well in the final eighth of a mile, winning his personal duel with Tesseron and closing 2 1/2 lengths on the winner. Coming off of two very easy victories, I was pleased to see him dig deep when it mattered and give it his all.

2. Normandy Invasion (Tapit - Boston Lady, by Boston Harbor) Trained by Chad Brown
He made a simply tremendous run around the final turn of the Remsen Stakes, and while he did flatten out just a bit in deep stretch to be beaten a nose, I think that he has the potential to keep improving with leaps and bounds. Also take note of the fact that the final time in the Remsen -- 1:50.13 -- was a full two seconds faster than Unlimited Budget ran in winning the Demoiselle Stakes one race earlier.

3. Capo Bastone (Stree Boss - Fight to Love, by Fit to Fight) Trained by Todd Pletcher
In my opinion, Capo Bastone's efforts in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the FrontRunner Stakes were two of the finest performances turned in by a two-year-old this year. In the FrontRunner, he dropped back to last over a very speed-favoring track, yet still rallied to be beaten just a half-length for second. In the Juvenile, he again trailed the field over a speed-favoring surface, yet still rallied to loom menacingly in the stretch before flattening out a bit to finish third. It was later discovered that he had bled. He has since been transferred to the barn of Todd Pletcher and is currently training in Florida.

4. Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday - Steelin', by Orientate) Trained by Todd Pletcher
You can't deny that Shanghai Bobby has talent. He's unbeaten in five starts, he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he won the Champagne, he won the Hopeful . . . you don't sweep that trio if you lack talent. However, speed-favoring tracks seemed to help his chances in both the Juvenile and the Champagne, and he doesn't have the strongest mile-and-a-quarter pedigree.

5. Gulfport (Unbridled's Song - Dream Supreme, by Seeking the Gold) Trained by Dale Romans
This guy has flashed talent since his first start, but really put it all together two starts ago, romping to victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. He backed up that effort with an impressive triumph in a one-mile allowance race at Churchill Downs, which he won by 2 3/4 lengths in the quick time of 1:35.93. It appears as though the sky is the limit for this talented colt.

6. War Academy (Giant's Causeway - Cabbage Key, by A.P. Indy) Trained by Bob Baffert
He's only made one start, but it was a good one. In a 6-1/2 furlong maiden special weight at Betfair Hollywood Park, War Academy settled back into third while racing three wide, then finished up strongly to win by a commanding 1 3/4 lengths. His final time of 1:17.66 wasn't anything stellar, but this colt is not bred to be a sprinter. He is bred top-and-bottom to be a stayer -- he's a son of Giant's Causeway out of an A.P. Indy mare.

7. Violence (Medaglia d'Oro - Violent Beauty, by Gone West) Trained by Todd Pletcher
It took him a couple of tries, but Violence finally seems to be getting this racing thing figured out. After running greenly to victory in both a maiden special weight and the Nashua Stakes (gr. II), he put it all together in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I), racing along the rail for much of the race before splitting horses in the stretch and drawing off late to win by 1 1/4 lengths. He looks like a good one.

8. Titletown Five (Tiznow - D' Wildcat Speed, by Forest Wildcat) Trained by D. Wayne Lukas
This colt's career has been an interesting one. After losing his first three starts -- while competing against horses like Gulfport, Violence, and Maybe So -- he broke through in terrific fashion last time out, winning a seven-furlong allowance race at Churchill Downs by nine lengths while stopping the clock in 1:23.84. The runner-up, Bradester, was in turn ten lengths clear of the third-place finisher, and has since returned to break his own maiden in impressive fashion.

9. Overanalyze (Dixie Union - Unacloud, by Unaccounted For) Trained by Todd Pletcher
This fine colt showed a tremendous deal of grit in the Remsen Stakes, digging in when challenged by Normandy Invasion in the homestretch to turn certain defeat into victory. For his effort, he earned a Beyer speed figure of 99, one of the highest of the year for a two-year-old colt. The only reason I rank him so low is because he seems to be more of a grinder type, and doesn't have the same turn-of-foot as Normandy Invasion.

10. Long River (A.P. Indy - Round Pond, by Awesome Again) Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin
Beautifully-bred Darley colt lost his first two starts -- albeit against some very good horses -- before breaking through with a three-quarter length triumph going a mile and seventy yards at Aqueduct in rather quick time. He is currently scheduled to contest the Jerome Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct on January 5th, where he will get an opportunity to prove himself as an elite Derby contender.

-Keelerman

Overanalyze edges Normandy Invasion in thrilling Remsen

In one of the most memorable renewals of the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) in recent years, Overanalyze held off a terrific challenge from Normandy Invasion in the Aqueduct homestretch to win the nine-furlong juvenile race by the smallest of margins.

Ridden to victory by Ramon Dominguez, Overanalyze flashed speed from the starts and soon found himself racing in second early on as Delhomme set fractions of :23.99, :48.07, and 1:12.54. Vegas No Show, Stormy Len, Irsaal, and Keep the Canoli were also fairly close to the pace, while Micromanage, Quinzieme Monarque, and Indy's Illusion were the trailers.

As the field made their way around the far turn, Delhomme and Overanalyze began to separate themselves from the remainder of the field. In the meantime, Normandy Invasion was in the process of making a spectacular rally along the inside, and turning for home, he appeared to be on his way to a decisive triumph.

However, Overanalyze had something left in the tank, and battled on gamely when challenged by Normandy Invasion in mid-stretch. The two put on a spectacular show from the eighth pole home, with Overanalyze emerging the winner in a head-bobbing finish. The final time was 1:50.13 seconds.

Delhomme stayed on well to complete the trifecta, while Quinzieme Monarque rounded out the top four.

The winner is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Mike Repole.

-Keelerman

Remsen Stakes Entries: Ten entered in nine-furlong Derby test

A field on ten two-year-old colts will get valuable experience around two turns when they head to post for the $250,000 Remsen Stakes (gr. II) on Saturday at Aqueduct, an early prep for the 2013 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

The morning line favorite at 2-1 is Delhomme, who broke his maiden last month at Belmont Park traversing a mile in 1:35.52. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the promising son of Dixie Union looks like a deserving favorite given the wide-open nature of this race.

Other contenders include Normandy Invasion, who broke his maiden here at Aqueduct by 9 1/4 lengths; Micromanage and Overanalyze, a promising pair owned by Mike Repole; and Vegas No Show, runner-up in the Nashua Stakes (gr. II) last time out.

Post Positions:
1 Vegas No Show
2 Irsaal
3 Micromanage *
4 Delhomme
5 Keep the Canoli
6 Indy's Illusion
7 Overanalyze *
8 Stormy Len
9 Quinzieme Monarque
10 Normandy Invasion

* coupled entry

-Keelerman

Breeders' Cup Countdown -- October 3rd, 2012

With so many grade I races being run last weekend, it's not surprising that the grade II and III events across the country got a bit overlooked. But given how these races may still have a serious impact on the Breeders' Cup, despite their lesser grades, I thought I ought to type up a quick recap of a few races that I didn't cover sufficiently at the time. Thus, the following post!

Eddie D Stakes (gr. III)

The three-year-old colt Unbridled's Note, coming off of a third-place effort on dirt in the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I), was the mild favorite at 3-1 while facing eleven rivals. With Corey Nakatani aboard, the son of Unbridled's Song settled into the fourth position early on as Chosen Miracle led the way through fractions of :22.30 and :44.28. He then turned in a strong rally inside the final quarter mile to get up and win by 1 1/4 lengths, stopping the clock for 6-1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf in 1:12.45 seconds. Chosen Miracle stayed on well in the stretch to finish second, a neck in front of the late-running Mensa Heat. Comma to the Top finished fourth in an even effort, while the well-regarded pair of Red Sun and Calimonco failed to fired and finished ninth and eleventh, respectively.


Matron Stakes (gr. II)

Kauai Katie was favorite at 1-5, and the undefeated filly ran to her odds while bringing her record to 3-for-3. After tracking Baby J through a :22.88-second opening quarter mile, Kauai Katie moved up to take the lead prior to the quarter pole and finished up under a hand ride to win by 7 1/2 lengths in 1:11.26 seconds, slightly faster than Overanalyze would run two races later. Baby J held on well to finish second, while Seasoned Warrior raced evenly for third. Unabashed and Doubled trailed the field in that order for much of the race.


Futurity Stakes (gr. II)

Seven two-year-old colts went to post in this historic six-furlong test, with Weekend Hideaway the favorite at 1.85-1. But the winner turned out to be Overanalyze, an overlooked contender from the barn of Todd Pletcher. Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Overanalyze was bumped at the start and soon found himself in last place as Handsome Jack and Carried Interest dueled through fractions of :22.80 and :46.43. Passing the eighth pole, those two were still in front, but Overanalyze was rallying powerfully down the center of the racetrack, and the colt cruised past the leaders at the sixteenth pole en route to a convincing 3 1/4-length triumph. The final time was 1:11.46. Carried Interest outfinished Weekend Hideaway by three-quarters of a length for second, while Handsome Jack finished another two lengths back in fourth. Gulfport, a maiden facing winners, got off to a poor start and raced wide throughout before tiring to finish fifth. Drum Roll and Special Jo never contended while completing the order of finish.

John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (gr. II)

Slim Shadey turned this ten-furlong turf race into a showcase of speed, dominating the race in a fashion reminiscent of the remarkable Presious Passion. With Garrett Gomez aboard, Slim Shadey went straight to the lead and set fractions of :24.02, :46.92, and 1:10.53, which garnered him an eight-length lead. Favored Turbo Compressor attempted to close the gap in the homestretch, but after drawing to within 2 1/2 lengths of the leader at the eighth pole, he was unable to really get any closer. Slim Shadey stayed on strongly to win by 2 1/4 lengths in the exceptional time of 1:59.17 seconds. Interaction finished up well to secure third in a very tight finish that saw six horses separated by just 1 1/4 lengths. Bourbon Bay, who finished eighth, actually ran quite well in his first start since April and figures to continue onward to the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I), where the fitness garnered from this race should greatly improve his chances.

Oklahoma Derby

Politicallycorrect stamped himself a ticket to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) with an impressive victory in the $400,000 race. Sent off at 10-1 under Kent Desormeaux, the son of Kitten's Joy settled off the pace in fifth place, and actually dropped back to seventh with just three-eighths of a mile remaining, but finished up strongly on the far outside while drifting outward to get up for a three-quarter length victory, stopping the clock for nine furlongs in 1:50.23 seconds. Willy Beamin, coming off of a victory in the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I), tracked a moderate pace for six furlongs before taking over the lead in the stretch and giving way late to finish second. He ran well in defeat, but nine furlongs is probably stretching his limits. Called to Serve and Suns Out Guns Out turned in decent efforts to complete the superfecta, but both seemed to flatten out a bit after making menacing moves at the top of the stretch.

-Keelerman

Futurity Stakes Entries: Carried Interest makes stakes debut

The promising Carried Interest, unraced since breaking his maiden first time out at Belmont Park in July, is scheduled to make his stakes debut on Sunday in the $200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II).

Trained by Richard Violette Jr., the son of Henny Hughes showed a great deal of speed in his debut, running the first half-mile of a five-furlong maiden special weight in :44.79 seconds before holding off a late charge from subsequent winner Palace Malice to win by a half-length.

His primary opposition may come from Handsome Jack, who has finished second in both the Sanford Stakes (gr. II) and Track Barron Stakes. Trained by Wesley Ward, he also possesses a great deal of natural speed and could challenge Carried Interest for the early lead.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has entered a pair of promising colts. Overanalyze will likely go off at a lower price, thanks to his decent fourth-place effort earlier this month in the Hopeful Stakes (gr. II), but Drum Roll has run fairly well in a pair of graded stakes events and could also contend.

Special Jo, runner-up in the Sapling Stakes (gr. III); Weekend Hideaway, winner of the David Stakes at Saratoga; and Gulfport, a maiden from the barn of Dale Romans, round out the field.

Post Positions

PP	Horse	Weight	Jockey	Trainer
1	Carried Interest	118	Alan Garcia	Richard Violette, Jr.
2	Special Jo	118	Julien Leparoux	Steve Asmussen
3	Gulfport	116	Javier Castellano	Dale Romans
4	Overanalyze	118	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher
5	Handsome Jack	118	Joel Rosario	Wesley Ward
6	Drum Roll	118	Ramon Dominguez	Todd Pletcher
7	Weekend Hideaway	122	Jose Lezcano	Philip Serpe

-Keelerman

SHANGHAI BOBBY WINS THE HOPEFUL STAKES!

Shanghai Bobby rallied past Majestic Hussar and Overanalyze entering the Saratoga homestretch to win the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. II) in dominating fashion last Monday.

Ridden to victory by Rosie Napravnik, Shanghai Bobby got off to a clean start and settled into the fourth position early on as Majetsic Hussar led the way through the opening quarter mile in :22.55 seconds. Overanalyze was 1 1/2 lengths back in second, followed by favored Fortify and the eventual winner. Lawn Man, Bern Identity, and Show Some Magic were next, while Vegas No Show was the early trailer.

Majestic Hussar and Overanalyze continued to lead around the turn, but after running the half-mile in :45.28 seconds, they were both surpassed by Shanghai Bobby, who made a bold three-wide bid to seize command of the lead. From there, the race was over, as Shanghai Bobby coasted home unchallenged to win the six-furlong race by nearly four lengths in the good time of 1:22.72 seconds.

Fortify rallied mildly to secure second over Bern Identity, while Overanalyze, Show Some Magic, Vegas No Show, Majestic Hussar, and Lawn Man completed the order of finish.

The winner is owned by Starlight Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher. Shanghai Bobby is now undefeated in three starts with earnings of $367,000.

-Keelerman

-Keelerman

Hopeful Stakes Contender Profile: OVERANALYZE

Owner: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Breeder: Diamond A. Racing Corp.
Jockey: John Velazquez

RACE RECORD

Age 2

1st Maiden Special Weight

PEDIGREE

		Dixieland Band
	Dixie Union
		She's Top
Overanalyze
		Unaccounted For
	Unacloud
		Cloud's Ambre

Hopeful Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $300,00 Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. II), to be run on Monday at Saratoga. The prestigious seven-furlong race has drawn a very promising field of nine, led by Sanford Stakes (gr. II) winner Bern Identity, Track Barron Stakes winner Shanghai Bobby, and promising debut winners Overanalyze and Fortify.

1 Show Some Magic
2 Bern Identity
3 Lawn Man
4 Fortify
5 Majestic Hussar
6 Royal Art
7 Overanalyze
8 Vegas No Show
9 Shanghai Bobby

-Keelerman

Sapling Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $150,000 Sapling Stakes (gr. III), to be run on Sunday at Monmouth Park. The six-furlong sprint has drawn a large and promising field of ten two-year-fillies, led by the Todd Pletcher-trained trio of Overanalyze, Lawn Man, and Drumroll.

1 Tap and Trade
2 Bobcat Jim
3 Brave Dave
4 Overanalyze
5 Keep the Canoli
6 Coach A. J.
7 Drum Roll
8 Special Jo
9 Lucci the Lion
10 Lawn Man

-Keelerman

The Juveniles at Saratoga -- August 6-9, 2012

Impressive debut efforts were everywhere over the course of August 6-9th, with horses like Dreaming of Julia, Overanalyze, and Jump for Kitten stamping themselves as ones to watch in the near future.

August 6th

Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
6-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies

Stonestreet Stable had already sent out the promising debut winners Kauai Katie and Teen Pauline earlier in the Saratoga meet, but they may have saved their best for last -- or at least most recently -- when the unveiled Dreaming of Julia. The daughter of A.P. Indy showed speed from the start under John Velazquez and drew off from there to win by 10 1/2 lengths in 1:16.48. Form Fitting overcame a poor start to finish a clear second, but was never a threat to the winner. Neon Moon raced evenly throughout to secure third-place.

Race 5: Maiden Claiming
5-1/5 furlongs for 2yo fillies

Fierce was favored for trainer Wesley Ward, but the filly tired badly after chasing the early pace and wound up finishing last. In the meantime, Over the Counter was able to rally from fourth-place to win the race in the final stride, making up 3 1/2 lengths inside the final eighth of a mile to win by a nose in 1:04.79. Laguna Girl tracked My Kinda Party through fractions of :22.01 and :45.46 before outfinishing that one for second, and nearly winning the race herself.

Race 7: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs for New York-bred 2yos

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez had the favorite in Lucci the Lion, a first-timer starter by Lion Heart. The colt lived up to expectations, breaking on top at the start, running the opening quarter mile in :21.85 and coasting to a 2 1/2-length triumph. He did race a bit greenly around the turn, attempting to drift outward, but jockey Ramon Dominguez expertly kept him under control and brought him home in 1:04.86. Maintainer tracked the pace throughout in second, but failed to seriously challenge the winner at any point in the race. Ultimate Empire rallied from seventh to finish third with a strong run that suggested he might be one to watch in the future.

August 8th

Race 1: Maiden Special Weight
5 furlongs for New York-bred 2yo fillies

Kitty Panda was the mild favorite for trainer Christophe Clement, and the filly rewarded her backers with an impressive 1 1/4-length victory. With Julien Leparoux aboard, the filly settled into the fourth position early on before putting in a strong rally in the homestretch to win in decisive fashion, stopping the clock in :58.45. Shea Darby set fractions of :22.12 and :45.76 seconds and led past the sixteenth pole, but tired late and succumbed to the favorite while finishing three lengths clear of the rest of the field. Physical Delivery rallied from 10 1/2 lengths behind to finish third for trainer Chad Brown.

Race 3: Maiden Claiming
5-1/2 furlongs for 2yo fillies

It isn't too often that Todd Pletcher runs a first-timer starter in a maiden claiming race, but bettors obviously believed that his filly My Emma was the class of the field, and she most certainly was. With John Velazquez aboard, My Emma dueled hard with Elena's Masters through fractions of :22.21 and :46.22 before kicking clear of her rival to lead by three lengths passing the eighth pole. Patty Anne Sissy put in a good run from 11 1/2 lengths behind, but failed by just 1 3/4 lengths to catch My Emma, who held on to win the race in 1:05.57 seconds. Open Mic also rallied well to finish third, but was unable to match strides with Patty Anne Sissy in the homestretch.

August 9th

Race 2: Maiden Claiming
5-1/2 furlongs for 2yos

It took him a while, but jockey Kent Desormeaux finally got his first winner of the meet when he guided first-timer starter Nubin Ridge to a clear victory in this maiden claimer. Trainer by Merrill Scherer, the colt was content to settle into fifth early on, seven lengths off of a :22.29-second opening quarter mile. He then made a strong run around the turn to reach contention as the field turned for home, eventually wearing down Summer Revival to win by two lengths in 1:05.36. The latter colt helped set the early pace and fought on gamely when challenged by the winner turning for home, but proved second best while finishing 7 1/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field. Yankee Mickey raced evenly for third.

Race 3: Maiden Special Weight
5 furlongs for 2yos

Todd Pletcher . . . Mike Repole . . . John Velazquez. When those three team up, you had better watch out. They struck again in this race when they unleashed Overanalyze, a son of Dixie Union with a very bright future. After an alert start, the colt grabbed the early lead and set fractions of :22.20 and :45.61 before turning back a challenge from fellow Pletcher-trainee Nevada to win the race in :57.48 seconds. Nevada settled off of the early pace and put in a good run to finish five lengths clear of everyone else, but never seriously challenged the winner for the victory. Royal Art showed no early speed whatsoever, but finished with a mild run to finish a decisive third.

Race 5: Maiden Special Weight
5-1/2 furlongs on turf for 2yos

Jump for Kitten was the favorite for trainer Wesley Ward, jockey Ramon Dominguez, and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey -- a group that must be respected whenever they send out a runner. Jump for Kitten lived up to expectations, rallying from third place to win by a neck in 1:03.38. The son of Kitten's Joy has a strong pedigree that suggests he could stretch out around two turns sometime in the near future. Sayaad tracked the pace in second for much of the race before striking the front in the vicinity of the quarter pole; however, despite turning in an exceptional performance, he was nailed by the winner at the finish. Asunder rallied well up the rail to finish third for trainer Graham Motion and owner Team Valor International and appears to be one to watch in the future.

-Keelerman