(Yours truly drank from it years ago, not sure it helped! Plus it was weird tasting water.)
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH/RISEN STAR
Derby preps mean big points to successful horses
The Grade 2 RISEN STAR STAKES at Fair Grounds and the Grade 2 FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH at Gulfstream Park go off later tomorrow afternoon and the races have huge ramifications for starters in the Kentucky Derby.
With the point system for the Derby being the critical factor to getting into the field, these races offer big points to the winner.
Here is THOROUGHBLOG’S HANDICAPPING stab:
RISEN STAR – 5:57 p.m.
How many of us have been waiting for the return of NORMANDY INVASION since his near miss in the Grade 2 Remsen last November at Aqueduct? Lots of people as this Fox Hill colt is getting lots of ink. He may be favoured and he may be the superstar most of think he is, but will you bet him off the layoff? Trainer CHAD BROWN has a 28% rate winning off such layoffs in the last 2 years and the colt’s prep times have been solid.
Can’t wait to see him run but there is always time to bet on him.
OXBOW is the son of Canadian-bred Awesome Again who was awesome in the LeComte last time with his 11 length win and a 91 Beyer. Is he a need to lead type? He could have some pace pressure from Palace Malice but the pace may not be very strong as it lays out on paper.
Both these colts are formidable as they are proven and meeting some guys who have not show as much yet.
DEPARTING is a Claiborne Farm colt who has an awful post (14) but he could be any kind.
Canadian Charles Fipke has GOLDEN SOUL in the field and he was 2nd to Oxbow last time.
THOROUGHBLOG’S flyer is MYLUTE, son of the red-hot MIDNIGHT LUTE and from a speed family top and bottom. It’s hard to be convinced he is a true route horse he won his latest at Fair Grounds by a long margin and he comes in fres for 29% trainer Tom Amoss.
Picks – not in order, Normandy Invasion, Departing, Oxbow, Mylute.
VIOLENCE, A PRETTY SON OF MEDAGLIA D’ORO, by Kelly Carlson
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
I think the pace scenario of this race will be different than that of the Risen Star. It appears there could be a strong pace as several have done their best running on the pace.
The headline horse is the unbeaten VIOLENCE, A $600,000 yearling purchase who can stalk or rally and he comes off off a December break for the powerful Todd Pletcher Stable.
Yes, Gulfstream favours speed more than anything, but this colt is the real deal and he will be tough to beat.
Who else intrigues? CERRO may not have to have the lead and he is interesting for Graham Motion. SPEAK LOGISTICS had a tough trip at Tampa Bay last time when 4th.
ORB just won with 1st Lasix for trainer Shug McGaughey and he is a late threat, although also a bounce possibility.
The picks – VIOLENCE – CERRO – ORB – SPEAK LOGISTICS
Canadian trainer SKY CAPTAIN is expected be scratched and Canadian-owned HE’S HAD ENOUGH with Hastings Park jock Mario Gutierrez has an outside chance to get a small piece.
Canadian bred LADY BANKS is in the Grade 2 Davona Dale on the same card – she was bred by Sue Foreman in Ontario.
UNCAPTURED HAS 2ND WORKOUT
UNCAPTURED had his 2nd workout in his comeback on Feb. 19 at Ocala Training Centre, speeding 4 furlongs in 47.80. The Lion Heart colt is headed to the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.
ONTARIO BREEDING FEATURE IN DRF
Most of the local breeders are trudging through, doing what they love and taking care of business. Let’s hope they can thrive again with a longterm deal from Premier Wynne …
http://www.drf.com/news/ontario-breeding-industry-hit-hard-loss-slots-revenue
CANADIANS ELSEWHERE
Ontario bred MAYS TREASURETROVE won an allowance/optional claiming race at Gulfstream on Friday at 10 to 1 by a neck for Mike DePaulo, owner/trainer. The Forestry – Purple Princess, Carson City 5yo mare won the 5 1/2 furlong dirt dash by a neck under Luis Contreras. She was 10 to 1.
Trainer BRIAN LYNCH and the UPHILL STABLE of Leonard Zenith et al won at Gulfstream on Friday with ORIGINAL CAST.
The 4yo by City Zip was making his first start since september at Woodbine and won a 5 furlong turf dash for $30,000 claiming at 9 to 2 under Joel Rosario.
JIM ENSOM, whose high winning percentage with hsi small stable of horses at Woodbine in recent years has been impressive, claimed AT THE SAGAMMORE from Fair Grounds’ 2nd race Friday evening. The horse finished 3rd for $20,000.
BARBADOS GOLD CUP DRAW
March 2 is the race
ZOOM goes for another Gold Cup
Previous Gold Cup winners ZOOM and DANCIN DAVID square off against stalwart SHOW ME THE MONEY (who won 3 years ago but was disqualified) and the red hot DAGA and others in the 32rd Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup next Saturday.
1. Show Me The Money – St. Michael
2. Discreetwon – St. James
3. Kendal Moon – St. Joseph
4. Modimo (Reserve 3)
5. Erados – St. Philip
6. Meteorite – Bridgetown
7. Apostle – St. Peter
8. Daga – St. Lucy
9. Giovedi – St. Thomas
10. Just Call Me Roger – St. Andrew
11. Aristodemus – St. John
12. Graeme Hill (Reserve 1)
13. Dancin David – Christ Church
14. Little Man Arran (Reserve 2)
15. Zoom – St. George
Trainers and jockeys ready for Gold Cup
2/23/2013
By Petra Gooding
With just a week to go before the 32nd running of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, all the trainers and jockeys are optimistic about each of their chances in the most prestigious race in the Caribbean.
Andrew Nunes, trainer of Apostle and Kendal Moon thinks that this is a wide open race and hopefully the conditions will suit Apostle, who does not like a soft track.
“I think the competition is about the same as last year. Last year the conditions didn’t suit him because he doesn’t like a soft track, so hopefully we would get conditions that would suit him this year. The draw doesn’t seem to bother him, wherever he draws he gets out well enough. He is looking as good as he ever does,” said Nunes.
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=29333
