Down and Derby c10

All of a sudden the Derby Trail just got a whole lot downer and derbier with several important preps being run yesterday. The theme of the day was Mr. Todd Pletcher, who scored with three Derby prep wins, topped by a scintillating score by Eskendereya. All of yesterday’s preps, and a non winner of one allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs, went a long way in rattling the cage of ZATT’s master list. I can’t wait for more days like yesterday. The Top 20 1 Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike - Private Feeling by Belong to Me) Still waiting…It looks like the juvenile champ will return March 13 for the San Felipe Stakes, and he better be ready, because a California bred gelding named Caracortado certainly will be. Let’s see, who is a good trainer to have his horses ready to roll? Yes, I am talking about that Silver-haired devil. 2 Eskendereya (Giant’s Causeway - Aldebaran Light by Seattle Slew) Took things to a new and impressive level in yesterday’s Fountain of Youth. The race set up beautifully for him and he clearly appreciates the Gulfstream Park strip, but he now has run the best race by anyone on the Derby trail and pointed himself out as one of the major players. 3 Super Saver (Maria’s Mon - Supercharger by A.P. Indy) Part of the Pletcher brigade, he finished his juvenile campaign in style by waltzing home in Churchill Downs’ biggest race for juveniles ridden by Calvin Borel. The distance bred colt is now working well in Florida and should be set for a return in early March, in either the Gotham or the Rebel. 4 Caracortado (Cat Dreams - Mons Venus by Maria’s Mon) All he does is win. I do not care where this horse came from, after last week’s performance, I have no doubt that this undefeated Michael Machowsky is the real deal. I can’t wait to see what he does next, because we have a major story brewing here. A meeting with Lookin at Lucky will be very interesting. 5 Connemara (Giant's Causeway - Satin Sunrise by Mr. Leader) Yesterday’s redemption in the El Camino Real Derby carries on my faith in this attractive colt. I expect continued improvement with development, as he still shows flashes of greenness. Distance should not be a problem and look for him to get a stern class test next in the Santa Anita Derby. 6 Dublin (Afleet Alex - Classy Mirage by Storm Bird) Maybe D. Wayne was right about this powerful colt all along. The throat surgery certainly has seemed to turn him around towards the right direction. His rally for a strong second in the Southwest was even better than it looks on paper, considering the track condition. Distance will be a bit of a question, but he looks strong. 7 Rule (Roman Ruler - Rockcide by Personal Flag) I admit it, I was slow to come around on this speedy son of Roman Ruler, but one thing has become evident for me…this horse has more gears to go to when the real running begins. I thought his performance last week in winning at the Sam F. Davis was plenty good enough to move up into my Top 10. 8 Odysseus (Malibu Moon - Persimmon Hill by Conquistador Cielo) This horse has the breeding, looks, and stride of a future Kentucky Derby contender. His win in a Tampa Bay allowance was electrifying, but also against inferior horses. I think he is the real deal, but until he gets tested, you just don’t know. The Tampa Bay Derby will provide that test 9 Dave in Dixie (Dixie Union - Risk by Wavering Monarch) Well regarded since his impressive debut win last August, the John Sadler trainee returned with a fast finishing second in last week’s Robert B. Lewis. Further improvement off only his third lifetime start, and this colt will become a big threat in ten weeks. Looks to take on Lucky and Caracortado next. 10 Buddy’s Saint (St. Liam - Tuzia by Blushing John) Anything that could go wrong, did go wrong in his sophomore debut yesterday. The nightmare on the first turn left him with no chance to beat the winner, but Buddy showed little the rest of the way. A Derby winner needs to overcome some hardship. Let’s see if this talented colt can rebound next time. 11 Awesome Act (Awesome Again - Houdini‘s Honey by Mr. Prospector) I am taking a bit of a flyer here, as this horse has never run on dirt and is based in England, but I love the way he finished in the BC Juvenile Turf. He is headed to New York to make another assault on the U.S. beginning with the Gotham and remember, his breeding suggests dirt will be his surface. 12 Ron the Greek (Full Mandate - Flambé by Fortunate Prospect) At first glance, his sixth place finish in yesterday’s Risen Star would seem to be a big disappointment, but when you consider that he was coming from last again in a paceless race it looks a whole lot better. He ran widest of all and was making up ground the entire stretch to be beaten just more than 4 lengths. He shouldn’t run into a pace like that again anytime soon. 13 Conveyance (Indian Charlie - Emptythetill by Holy Bull) I have been taught to always respect the undefeated horse and he is a two-time stakes winner this year, but I can’t get past the feeling that he will start losing as the races become longer, and the final quarter time yesterday did nothing to convince me otherwise. Conveyance will get a chance to prove me right or wrong in the very near future. 14 Uptowncharlybrown (Limehouse - La Ilimunada by Langfuhr) The Fantasy Lane Stable hope lost a bit of luster and his undefeated record by finishing third last week, but I liked the way he galloped out after Davis. The race, his first around two turns, should do him some good, and sets him up well for a return in the Tampa Bay Derby, which is setting up as a key race. 15 Schoolyard Dreams (Stephen Got Even - Hear This by Prospector‘s Music) From the same trainer, Derek Ryan, that brought us Musket Man last year, this is a colt who appears to be developing each and every week. His Davis second was a solid effort, and he will return to the same strip to be one of the major players in the Tampa Bay Derby. I like his potential to handle 10 furlongs better than many of the others. 16 Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor - Golden Ballet by Moscow Ballet) Stuck on the rail with the same slow pace that Ron the Greek faced, Drosselmeyer is definitely a horse that deserves another shot. It was his first real test and the result was good enough to think that a little improvement in his next race will get him right back on the Derby radar. 17 Noble’s Promise (Cuvee - The Devil’s Trick by Clever Trick) Full of class, last year’s excellent juvenile is working sharply for his return to the races. No races yet this year, a lack of dirt form, and breeding much more suited for sprinting keep him near the bottom of my Top 20. Oaklawn Park’s Rebel Stakes should be his first race of 2010. 18 American Lion (Tiznow - Storm Tide by Storm Cat) His third place finish in the Robert B. Lewis was a disappointment, and I am not really sure that he can improve enough off that effort to be a Derby winner. I will keep him on this list, because I still think there is potential, but he will need to show major improvement in his next race which may happen in New Mexico. 19 Nextdoorneighbor (Lido Palace - Fencelineneighbor by Wild Rush) I loved his maiden win at Santa Anita when stretched out for the first time. He has been absolutely tearing up the track in his morning workouts and could be quickly moving up this list. Look for him in next week’s Sham Stakes where he should be the one to beat. T-20 Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil - Sexy Stockings by Tabasco Cat) A hard knocking and classy horse to be sure, but I believe his distance limitations were pointed out in spades yesterday. At this point, it is hard to imagine that he will be one of the horses appreciating the 1 ¼ test of the Kentucky Derby. I think he can make mucho money at nine furlongs or less. T-20 Sidney’s Candy (Candy Ride - Fair Exchange by Storm Cat) An impressive bounce back for the Jenny Craig colt in running away with the San Vicente Stakes. He has run four races to date and they all have been sprints so far, because of this, I am going to keep him low on my list with a wait and see attitude. He will get a chance to stretch out a bit with a trip east for the Gotham.