Keeneland – 5th race – 2-Private Client (10-1) The known element in this maiden turf router doesn’t inspire so let’s try a fresh face. Private Client, by the exceptional grass stallion Kitten’s Joy, has done plenty of good work in the morning for Tom Proctor and looks fit and ready for a big effort first crack […]
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Gulfstream Park – 4th race – 5-El Vedado (8-1) Has the classic two-sprints-and-a-stretch-out pattern we like so much and at 8-1 on the morning line this daughter of Big Brown offers considerable value in a modest maiden $35,000 claiming turf miler. Exits a fast, highly-rated sprint and goes for a barn that has superior stats with the […]
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Keeneland – 4th race – 5-Veil (3-1) This Shug McGaughey-trained 3-year-old tipped her hand in an excellent debut last month at Gulfstream Park, finishing a strong runner-up in a similar two-turn turf maiden affair without being knocked about, and seems sure to produce a significant forward move with that performance behind her. The daughter of Hat Trick retains […]
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(For the week of April 13-17) CAT RIDE (April 13th, 6th race, GP) – Making his first start since May of last year and only his second start overall, the son of Candy Ride couldn’t have been more impressive in winning a five furlong maiden special weight sprint in fast time with a huge speed […]
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The Kentucky Derby is a bit more than two weeks away and that means it’s time to review what we’ve seen at coast-to-coast tracks in preparation for an all-out assault on Derby mutuel payoffs. Loyal readers will recall that this horseplayer annually sets his sights on the Kentucky Derby superfecta bulls-eye. Sometimes we hit it; […]
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The races in which horses can earn points for the 2016 Kentucky Derby are over. It all began when Cocked and Loaded won the Iroquois at Churchill Downs to earn 10 points last year on Sept. 12. The Iroquois was the first of the 34 races offering points to “get into the starting field” for […]
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(Updated April 19, 2016) 1 – NYQUIST (D. O’Neill) 126 Uncle Mo-Seeking Gabrielle, by Forestry, Latest workout: April 15, Kee, 5f-1:02.3b Last start: April 2, GP, first, Florida Derby-G1 Ky. Derby qualifying points: (130) 7-7-0-0 – $2,322,600 $400,000 FTF March 2-year-old in training, Eclipse Award winning champion 2-year-old, athletic, medium-sized colt with fluid action, extremely tactical […]
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Keeneland – 2nd race – 4-Stradivari (3-1) Broke his maiden in his second career start in early December like a potential Derby candidate, but had to be stopped on and missed the valuable winter/spring prep races that would have allowed him to become a contender. Makes his comeback in a first-level allowance affair at nine furlongs and […]
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Oaklawn Park – 4th race – 6-Mom’s On Strike (8-1) Performed exceptionally well in her sprint debut at Fair Grounds last month, overcoming a rugged start (bounced repeatedly leaving the gate) before finishing with a strong late rally and a superior gallop out when third behind runaway winner Limitless in a very fast, highly-rated race. Certainly bred […]
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Keeneland – 5th race – 8-Peppermint Zip (10-1) Intriguing shipper from California is bred to move up a ton on grass (City Zip) and gets his chance in this entry-level allowance sprint after demolishing a maiden special weight field at Santa Anita last month over a wet-fast surface. Has big-time winning connections (Pratt/D’Amato) and we suspect […]
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JEFF SIEGEL’S WEST COAST BLACK BOOK (For the week of April 7-10) AMERICAN FREEDOM (April 9th, 12th race, SA) – Was highly-touted prior to his debut and didn’t disappoint, scoring at first asking in superb fashion like a colt with the potential to be something special. The Bob Baffert-trained colt settled just off the pace […]
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JEFF SIEGEL’S EAST COAST BLACK BOOK (For the week of April 6-10) ENCRYPT (April 9th, 4th race, GP) – Tapit gelding from blue hen producer Ava Knowsthecode (Greenpointcrusader, Algorhythms, etc.) finally made it to the race at age four and was green as grass in maiden special weight main track sprint. Broke slowly and was […]
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Keeneland – 3rd race – 10-Brinkley (4-1) Returned off a layoff and was sharp in victory when beating maidens at Gulftream Park with a strong speed figure last month. The Pletcher-trained daughter of of City Zip sports a healthy work tab since that score and should produce a forward move in her first start vs. winners. Looks […]
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The way I currently see it, there is a good chance the winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby has a 91007 zip code. On my Kentucky Derby Top 10 this week, No. 1 Nyquist, No. 2 Exaggerator and No. 3 Mor Spirit are all based in California at Santa Anita Park, zip code 91007. No. […]
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Three major Kentucky Derby prep races were contested Saturday and what we learned about this season’s crop could fill a…well…could fill a Kentucky Derby superfecta ticket. The Wood Memorial at Aqueduct featured an unbeaten favorite in the Chad Brown-trained Shagaf against seven foes, including second choice Outwork–a Todd Pletcher student and mere one-time loser […]
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