ROLE

 

WHO DO YOU LIKE?

Lots of awesome races today and two very big, 50 point KENTUCKY DERBY prep races..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH – GRADE 2
1 1 /16 miles – post time 5;31 p.m.

 

CONTENDERS

COMMISSIONER – post 1, 2 wins from last 3 races and a son of A.P. Indy.
What more do you want from a Kentucky Derby hopeful> WinStar Farm, Todd Pletcher and John Velasquez are together with this nice colt who beat TOP BILLING in an allowance race at 9 furlongs last time (Jan. 3). The latter has since come back to win and is back in here.

WE MISS ARTIE – the longer priced of the Pletcher starters and the Ontario bred who won a Grade 1 on Polytrack. Trainer is admanant he deserves another shot on the dirt (he was 7th beaten just 4 lengths in the Juvenile without Lasix last fall). Have to cheer for him!

WILDCAT RED – This colt really looks like he wants one-turn races only (by D’Wldcat) but he does have Miner’s Mark on his dam’s side. He is a head away from never having a horse in front of him at the wire. Big Beyer Figures, 96 and 92.

GENERAL A ROD – He is by Roman Ruler and e w

on the Gulfstream derby by a head over Wildcat Red and that was a tough stretch battle. He’s been rested since Jan. 1 by Mike Maker, you know, the trainer that is winning at a 33% clip? Castellano up too.

TOP BILLING – Gorgeous breeding by Curlin out og nice mare Parade Queen. Only loss was by a neck to Commissioner. 7 to 2 would be nice price.

 

INTERESTING LONGSHOTS

ALMOST FAMOUS – He is a not a bad colt for $500,000 (2yo price). Was burned out in the pace battle in the Holy Bull.

BEST PLAN YET – Did not like his hurried trip in the Hily Bull, jockey Zayas goes to C Zee (the stablemate) but maybe this colt will do better from off the pace if given that chance?

C ZEE – First route race for son of Elusive Bluff (2 for 2 in his career at this dist. on grass). Has breeding to handle distance, has cool Beyer Figure pattern (86 last time, off a 90). One of 2 in the race for JACKS OR BETTER FARM, don’t mind either of them but leading to other one as a longshot play.

 

NOT ON OUR LIST

MEDAL COUNT – Yes it is Dale Romans for Spendthrift Farm but this son of Dynaformer recently dead-heated in a 7 1/2 furlong grass race and may have found his preferred surface.

CASIGUAPO
– He was 2nd in the Delta Jackpot last fall, 2nd in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga but he has not done enough

OUR CARAVAN – 2 starts for this son of Canadian-bred Daaher. Maiden win was followed by blow out in Holy Bull.

HESINFRONT – Won a 9 furlong grass race but faed behind Top Billing in an allowance. Probably turf only.

EAST HALL – 3rd to General A Rode and Wildcat Red in the GP Derby but not sure this is his best distance.

 

THOROUGHBLOG PICKS –  based on what kind of odds are offered, but the two  young guns, Comissioner and Top Billing can be used around the 3 longshots picks in exotics – big odds on Artie or A Rod would entice. low odds on ‘Red’ not interesting.

 

 

CHART FROM THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS:

BESILU STABLES FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH S.-GII, $400,000, 3yo,1 1/16m
PP HORSE OWNER BREEDER TRAINER/JOCKEY ML

1 Commissioner K WinStar Farm LLC WinStar Farm LLC-KY Pletcher 3-1
(c, 3, A.P. Indy–Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold ) Velazquez

2 We Miss Artie K Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey Richard Lister-ON Pletcher 8-1
(c, 3, Artie Schiller–Athena’s Gift, by Fusaichi Pegasus) Bravo

3 Medal Count K Spendthrift Farm LLC Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings-KY Romans 15-1
(c, 3, Dynaformer–Brisquette, by Unbridled’s Song ) Rocco

4 Wildcat Red Honors Stable Corp Moreau Bloodstock International-FL Garoffalo 6-1
(c, 3, D’wildcat–Racene, by Miner’s Mark) Saez

5 General a Rod J Armando Rodriguez Hare Forest Farm-KY Maker 5-1
(c, 3, Roman Ruler–Dynamite Eyes, by Dynaformer) Castellano

6 Casiguapo All American Horses University of Kentucky-KY Morales 30-1
(c, 3,Sightseeing–Emerald Buddha, by Buddha) Lezcano

7 C. Zee Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Jacks or Better Farm Inc-FL Gold 12-1
(c, 3, Elusive Bluff–Diamondaire, by Distorted Humor) Zayas

8 Almost Famous K Charles and Maribeth Sanford LLC Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings-KY Byrne 10-1
(c, 3, Unbridled’s Song–Wild Gams, by Forest Wildcat) Borel

9 Best Plan Yet Jacks or Better Farm Inc. Jacks or Better Farm Inc-FL Gold 20-1
(c, 3, Hear No Evil–Bayou Plans, by Bayou Herbert) Lopez

10 Our Caravan Anstu Stables Inc. Hare Forest Farm Ltd-KY Dilger 30-1
(c, 3, Daaher–Alwaan, by Elusive Quality) Lanerie

11 Hesinfront Frank L. Jones Jr. Frank Jones-KY Romans 20-1
(c, 3, War Front–Classy Marlin, by Elusive Quality) Jaen

12 Top Billing K W S Farish and EJ Hudson Jr. W S Farish and EJ Hudson Jr-KY McGaughey III 7-2
(c, 3, Curlin–Parade Queen, by A.P. Indy) Rosario

13 East Hall H Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice Mary K Haire-FL Kaplan 20-1
(g, 3, Graeme Hall–East Long Lake, by Sultry Song) Leyva

 

USA TODAY PREVIEW
Jennie Rees

It’s the biggest day of Kentucky Derby preps so far this season, attracting a pair of full fields and putting on display three of the top seven horses on The Courier-Journal’s national Kentucky Derby poll: No. 2 Top Billing and No. 5 Commissioner in Gulfstream Park’s Fountain of Youth and No. 7 Vicar’s in Trouble in the Fair Grounds’ Risen Star.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/horseracing/2014/02/22/horse-racing-fountain-of-youth-commissioner-seeks-top-billing/5720329/

 

RISEN STAR STAKES
1 1/16 miles, Grade 2, post time 6:25 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So this race has been won by 100 to 1 shots in the last couple of years, can it happen again?

I am saying no, but it is a wide open race if you think that the little bear, VICAR’S IN TROUBLE can be beaten from his 13 post (one scratch). He looks like a freaky guy with a 97 and 98 Beyer from last
last 2 races.
Canadian racing fans will know from reading Thoroughblog that his 2nd dam is Ms Paragon, from the breeding family of Beclawat Stables in Ontario.

I like INTENSE HOLIDAY, another Todd Pletcher trainee. he is off a 3rd to the mighty Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull. “He’s a work in progress” said the trainer, I like that Mike Smith is riding this son of Harlan’s Holiday.

Other considerations: SON OF A PREACHER is a 20 to 1 shot for exotics – he is a son of Canadian champion KIMCHI. HOPPERTUNITY is a Baffert – Pegran special off a nice maiden win and West Point TBs’s COMMANDING CURVE is fresh from November when he won his maiden and working in smart times.

 

Saturday, Fair Grounds, post time: 6:25 p.m. EST
RISEN STAR S.-GII, $400,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Albano K Istan Clark Jones 12-1
2 Rise Up K Rockprt Harbor Melancon Amoss 4-1
3 Flat Gone Flatter Landeros Desrmux 30-1
4 Vigorish English Channel Pedroza Lukas 50-1
5 Bond Holder K Mineshaft Scr Scr Scr
6 Gold Hawk K Empire Maker Nakatani Asmussen 8-1
7 Interchange Fairbanks Baird Clark 30-1
8 Hoppertunity K Any Given Satrdy Garcia Baffert 8-1
9 Intense Holiday K Harlan’s Holiday Smith Pletcher 8-1
10 Son of a Preacher Pulpit Mena Calhoun 20-1
11 Quick Indian K Indian Charlie Hernandez Jr Scherer 20-1
12 Xtra Luck K Exchange Rate Eramia Pish 50-1
13 Commanding Curve K Master Command Albarado Stewart 20-1
14 Vicar’s in Trouble Into Mischief Napravnik Maker 5-2
Also Eligible:
15 Emmett Park K Bob and John Graham Pincins 20-1
16 Teniente Coronel K Colonel John Bridgmohan McGee 30-1

BARBADOS GOLD CUP – TRINIDAD STAR TRIP IN LIMBO
Woodbine’s Emile Ramsammy to ride if Awesome Again horse makes trip

from the TRINIDAD EXPRESS

NOMINEE’S comprehensive victory over 2013 Horse of the Year Bigman In Town in last Saturday’s 1,700-metre Eric ‘Colt’ Durant Memorial on the Santa Rosa Park turf was supposed to have booked his ticket for the 1,800-metre Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, which will be run off on March 8 at the Garrison Savannah.

However, the defection of Bigman In Town from the South Caribbean’s richest race could stymie Nominee’s participation. Nominee’s trainer Kenneth De Silva Jr indicated that his charge vetted (came out sound) well on Sunday following his exertions, while adding that he is keen to send the Antonio Navarro-owned five-year-old bay son of Awesome Again across to Barbados.

“It is up in the air right now,’’ said De Silva. We are waiting on Barbados as they had made an offer based on three horses going across. And since Bigman In Town and Island Star (nominated for the Tanglewood Stakes) are not going, Robin Jaisingh (Arima Race Club racing secretary) is in discussion with them.

“If they (the Barbados Turf Club) are (willing) to pay the return freight, we are going. I should be updated soon.”

 Regarding the rider for Nominee, De Silva said: “The rider is still to be negotiated but we are negotiating with Emile Ramsammy.”