Courtesy of Scrappy 
It’s the end of February and for horseplayers everywhere that can only mean one thing. The road to the Kentucky Derby has fresh asphalt on it and its time to get the long trek started. The “Derby” is 8 weeks away and handicappers are getting their picks ready, jockeys are picking their mounts and trainers are weeding out their stables, seeing which 3 year olds have what it takes to get the classic mile and a quarter distance. In the next couple of weeks, I will try to decide which horses can get us a nice return on our money and which ones will get us to hear the dreaded sound of tickets being ripped and discarded.
We have already seen the powerful Pyro, the Asmussen trained 3 year old went from last to first in The Risen Star, getting the last quarter mile in a sizzling 22 and 1/5 seconds. The debut of the 2 year old champion War Pass has been delayed, thanks to a Gulfstream Park allowance race failing to fill. I guess when the reigning Breeders Cup Juvenille winner enters its not that easy to find 5 or 6 others willing to take him on. We have already seen a big injury, The talented Crown of Thorns has been sidelined by an injured left fron leg and will not be a part of the spring classics. Richard Mandella’s best chance now rests with Cash Call Futurity winner, Into Mischief.
The California based El Gato Malo will make his next start in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes on March 1st at Santa Anita Park. The 3 year old gelded son of El Corredor is trained by Craig Dollase and gives him his best shot he’s had to smell the roses.
This weekend Gulfstream Park will run the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. The race sports a large talented field, led by the Billy Mott trained Court Vision. The son of Gulch will make his first start since winning the Remsen in late December. He will be ridden by Garret Gomez. Nick Zito will send out Anak Nakal, the Kentucky Jockey Club winner. The son of Victory Gallop will try to give Zito another major contender and will have Julien LeParoux in the irons. Todd Pletcher will put the bridle on Monba, the handsome grey son of Maria’s Mon will be making only his second start on conventional dirt after winning his only try on that surface. His last race was a fast closing 4th in the Cash Call Futurity and will be guided by Edgar Prado.
Yes, the Derby is getting close and the excitement is growing. I don’t know if its just me, but the real “March Madness” is just starting. I am getting the Mint Juleps ready.
Filed under: Horses, Scrappy | Tagged: 3 year olds, Adam, Churchill, Court Vision, Dollase, El Gato Malo, Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream, horse, Kentucky Derby, Mott, Scrappy, Sham, soup, sport, sportsoup
