Kentucky Derby Top Twenty

1. Tapiture: Jockey Change..feel bad for Ricardo Santana Jr. but I am excusing roughly run Rebel. His previous wins were exciting and memorable

2.Constitution:  Florida Derby win was impressive...maybe time to put Apollo to bed...He wants more

3.Wildcat Red: Okay I maybe drinking a little juice with this one rank so high but I love this little monster...How far does he want to go..ask War Emblem..dam side has staying power

4. Intense Holiday: I am throwing out Louisiana Derby..Risen Star win convinced me.

5. Cairo Prince: Too early to be discourage on this charge. Too talented. Holy Bull was still most impressive prep thus far

6. Hoppertunity: I love a bad ass horse and he is a bad ass...taking him into battle

7. California Chrome: The little engine that could. This week's Santa Anita Derby still won't answer questions. He may lose even if he wins.

8. Candy Boy: If you love Midnight Hawk and Chitu then here is your derby horse.

9. Samratt: Another horse I would take to a fight. He should he higher. New York Bred is still playing tricks on my mind. I know..I know..Funny Cide

10.Uncle Sigh: If it wasn't for Samratt he would be the toast of New York.

11. Bayern: I need an encore or I am calling sandman to drop you down further

12.Social Inclusion: Eight Million Dollars..I have some bills to be paid plus a mortgage..see Bayern

13.Conquest Titan: Allowance win at Churchill was mind blowing..I am still a believer

14.Commanding Curve: I am always looking for a price and he was coming in Louisiana Derby..I know I said I was throwing out the race but he still was coming.

15. Vicars In Trouble: Derby won't be that easy and if Mike Maker didn't think he was best chance for derby then why should I think he is going to win...Rosie factor makes him viable

16. Strong Mandate: This is a case of what have you done for me lately...strong Saratoga form..so so Breeders' Cup..lousy last two race..now Rosario said bye bye and hops to Tapiture..put Ricardo Santana Jr up coach

17. Chitu: Needed a number seventeen

18: Ring Weekend: Scratching my head about this one but Motion knows the motion to the derby ocean

19. General A Rod: Nice horse..loved Churchill..see Conquest Titan...

20. We Miss Artie: Starting to fall asleep..YAWN

Who Wants To Win The Kentucky Derby?

this was suppose to be separation Saturday and what we ended up with was a more cloudy forecast.

Constitution laid down the law in Florida winning the Florida Derby with a strong fight down the

stretch to defeat Wildcat Red. Johnny Velasquez apparently fell asleep at the wheels of Wildcat Red

and allowed world class jockey Javier Castellano to sneak up the rail in his best Borel imitation to win

the Florida Derby, and the hundred qualifying  points needed for the Kentucky Derby. Take nothing

 away from Wildcat Red, he fought like he had in previous races, not willing to let anyone pass him.

Constitution was just a big boy today and he brought big guns to this fight. Cairo Prince was the

biggest disappointment of the day. He sat a beautiful trip under jockey Saez but when they turned for

home and Saez squeezed him there was nothing in the tank. He has only twenty four qualifying points,

so his opportunity to make the gate the first Saturday of May is depending on how the next few weeks

shake out. Constitution was the take away today from Florida. He gave Castellano a little trouble going

down the back stretch but once he was settled he was moving lovely.

In Louisiana, Rosie Navpranik took them to school when she put Vicars In Trouble on the lead and

stole one from them like a thief in the night. The other speed in the race Rise Up got caught napping at

the gate and it was game set match. Rosie put them to sleep and turning for home she had a ton of gas

left in the tank. She unleashed the beast and Vicars In Trouble responded lovely for her. Mike Smith

had Intense Holiday on the inside and he was more in the game this time around compare to the Risen

Star where he was a little further off the pace. Intense Holiday was going up and down instead of

chasing and coming like he did in the Risen Star. I was not impress. If the Kentucky Derby was

tomorrow I am throwing out all the horses from the Louisiana Derby.

The most impressive horse of the day was Untapable. She did what she was suppose to do. She took on

an impressive winner in Unbridled Forever and she demolished her.

Untapable Unstoppable

1:43 flat, six lengths, much more to give, the longer they went the more beautiful she moved over the Fairgrounds strip. Jockey Rosie Napravnik won the race out of the gate. She guided Untapable off the rail and to the outside of Fiftyshadesofgold. Jockey Napravnik sat like she was on the beach soaking up the Louisiana sun. Robbie Albarado, the jockey aboard Unbridled Forever moved his filly alongside Untapable to engage her turning for home, but Rosie shook the reins, drew the stick from her holster, and the daughter of Tapit yelled bye bye. She moved down the stretch like a fine jazz tune serenading the Fairgrounds crowd. Unbridled Forever who was impressive in her previous wins wasn't any match for Untapable today. I am starting to wonder how did
she lose the Breeders' cup Juvenile fillies. Let's see how the boys show up in the Louisiana and Florida Derby. They may be competing for the headline after this day is over. Untapable has taken some of the bad taste from the Asmussen's barn while showing showing everyone she maybe the best three year old horse in training.

New Orleans Handicap Could Be Fools Gold

Normandy Invasion storms into New Orleans after a track setting, dominating performance win in his comeback race down at the conveyor belt track Gulfstream Park. He took his competition apart with ease and Castellano sat aboard the Chad Brown charge like a jock who knew he had this battle won from the moment he charged out of the gate. Who did he really beat in that come back race?  Not much, but when you set a track record in your come back effort its worth putting down your past performance sheets and take a look. Normandy Invasion was always a horse that showed tons of promise. Last year triple crown trail he had many thinking he could give Brown and Castellano their very first Kentucky Derby win. He turned for home with the lead and then was blasted to pieces by Orb who destroyed all comers in the mud at Churchill. I expect big things from Normandy this year, but his last race while impressive is suspect because of the track. The track down at the Fairgrounds could be a little soupy and sticky today and he won't be running against first level allowance horses who filled a race trying to cash a check.

 Palace Malice also takes his beauty down to Fairgrounds with Mike Smith climbing back aboard. Palace Malice also came back to win down at Gulfstream after taking a break. He was moving comfortably in his come back race, until a second tier handicap horse Uncaptured moved alongside him with a premature move by his jock. Uncaptured wilted like lettuce, and Palace malice rallied to win his come back with a hard charging Golden Ticket,  a nice miler, making the end result interesting. People were so impress with this win by Palace Malice. all the talk was about how he was headed then fought back inside with a relentless ride by champion jockey Johnny Velasquez. The fact is, Palace Malice was suppose to win that race. he was suppose to dispose of his competitors like Normandy Invasion did. He was suppose to be on the lead and Johnny Velasquez was suppose to be given an arm chair ride while looking over his shoulders and between his legs a few times to make sure no one was coming. That wasn't the script. He was in a race of his life from two horses that will not win any handicap races at major tracks this year. But win he did and I will never take anything from a horse that wins. Winning is what matters and he delivered the ten cents back on the dollar for all whom wager that day. I am staying away form Both Normandy Invasion and Palace Malice in the New Orleans handicap. Both horses will bring excitement for their backers this year in the handicap division but the value isn't there today down at Fairgrounds.

For value I am taking a look at three other horses. Bradster trained by the underrated Eddie Kenneally, Sunbean who is trying to become what Star Guitar once was, and Prayer for Relief whom left the Steve Asmussen barn after the Peta scandal by his owner Zayat.  Prayer For Relief now eats up after races in the Dale Romans barn. I know these horses haven't showed the talent of Will Take Charge or Mucho Macho Man but they are good enough to cash a ticket considering that the two main threats are making their second start off a comeback. This race maybe  a two horse race turning for home. Palace malice maybe playing catch me if you can under Mike left handed whipping Smith and Normandy Invasion may just run him down in the stretch under the guidance of Rosie, but that is a shot worth taking against. If they both go at it and run one, two, then it would've been a nice entertaining race that wet the appetite of those who can't wait to see all the big stars in the handicap division line up. But if they are not up to stuff in their second race after a layoff, then put your two dollars elsewhere. I will be rooting for a nice race but my two dollars will be seeking a value.

The pick: Prayer for Relief over Sunbean

Untapable Maybe The Best

To say this past week has been a troublesome one for Steve Asmussen would be an understatement. The Asmussen barn came under sever scrutiny when Peta went undercover and released a video showing Asmussen's top assistant Scott Blasi sharing his views on horses in the barn. His views started a firestorm on how Asmussen manage his stable. Scott Blasi's actions resulted in Zayat stables dispersing their horses to other trainers around the country. This weekend could bring some welcome joy to the Asmussen barn. He has the top three year old filly Untapable running in the fairgrounds oaks. Her last effort in the Rachel Alexandra was the most impressive win this triple crown season by either sex. Jockey Rosie Napravnik guided the daughter of Tapit around the fairground strip with a superb Hand. Rosie sat chilly on her, knowing full well how much horse she had. Turning for home she unleashed the beast, and she demolished the opposition in one swift motion. Napravnik even had time to take a look back to see where the others where, and they were no where to be found. The win was dominating, and secured her position as the top filly going into the Kentucky Oaks. This Saturday she will face a test, when the Dallas Stewart train Unbridled Forever try to put a stop to the Untapable express. I am looking forward to this match because Unbridled Forever two wins were very impressive. Robbie Albarado who guided this talented filly in her previous wins climbs back aboard once again. Sure the Louisiana and Florida Derby highlights the day because of the prestige of the Kentucky Derby and the lofty place it holds, but we may see a star that will surpass anything that the boys can do. Steve Asmussen will be hoping for a dominating win after a tumultuous week. The star may aligned to reverse the pain for the time being. Horse racing is always looking for its next big star that will bring the chorus to those who are not paying attention to the sweet sport. Untapable maybe just that star that will quiet some of the negative noise that has been bubbling waiting to explode.

Florida and Louisiana Derby

The Kentucky Derby picture is becoming clearer as the weeks draw closer to the first Saturday in May. Owners and trainers are fine tuning their charges to get them prime for the best two minutes in all of sports. This Saturday the Florida Derby and Louisiana Derby takes center stage. A few horses from each race will serve notice to the racing community. Cairo Prince who is handled carefully by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will be the favorite. He is a strong horse that will be in the mix early under the handling of young jockey Luis Saez, but before this race is over Wildcat Red will make him run. Wildcat Red an impressive winner of the Fountain Of Youth will be ridden by top jockey Johnny Velasquez. He will replace Rosario who jumps off wildcat Red to ride General Arod. Wildcat Red will send when the gates open. Johnny Velasquez will guide him around the oval and dare the others to catch him if they can. Cairo Prince will sit close along with General Arod. These three will carry the race with Matador and Spot serving notice from the back of the field. Wildcat Red will be tough, but Cairo Prince who is fresh, will turn him back and win this race convincingly. The minor places and derby points will be fought out between Wildcat Red, General Arod, Spot and Matador. Everyone else in the race are window dressing hoping for a miracle in Florida.

Picks: Florida Derby

Look for a fast blistering pace on the lead. Cairo Prince will prevail over General Arod. 

The Louisiana Derby is the most entertaining derby prep of the week. You have a lot of unknown factors trying to make a noise before the first Saturday in May. The Risen Star winner Intense Holiday who is campaigned by Todd Pletcher comes into the Fairgrounds major derby prep with an impressive come off the pace win under Jockey Mike Smith. Intense Holiday tracked a slow pace which was set by Albano. Turning for home Smith guided Intense Holiday in the clear and wore down Albano right at the wire. No one else was finishing fast in the Risen Star, but I believe that was because of the soft fractions that kerwin Clark got away with on Albano. That was allowed to happen because the other speed in the race Rise Up, and Vicars In Trouble sat off the pace. Rise Up just didn't get in the race and Vicars In Trouble who had a very bad post was guided beautifully by jockey Rosie Napravnik around the Fairground strip. Albano will once again be up close in the Louisiana Derby but this time around he will have company and plenty of it. Rise Up, I expect to be more forwardly placed along with In Trouble, who invades New Orleans after running a strong third to Samarrat and Uncle Sigh in the Gotham Stakes in New York. Vicars In trouble will also be in contention upfront, with Intense Holiday, Gold Hawk and Commanding Curve menacing from off the pace. I am looking for Gold Hawk who was a disappointment in the Lecomte and Risen Star to step forward. Gold Hawk will be ridden by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan who won the Louisiana Derby aboard Pyro and also gave Mylute an exceptional ride in last year edition of the Louisiana Derby. Gold Hawk who broke his maiden at Churchill downs, and then added an allowance win at Fairgrounds is a superbly bred horse. His sire is Empire Maker who broke New York fans heart when he splashed home to a Belmont Stakes win while the country hoped for Funny cide. Gold Hawk's dam is Carressing who won the breeders' cup juvenile in 2000. I am willing to give this charge another look despite his disappointment. Bridgmohan will have him in the perfect position while turning for home and he will be on the outside charging. The pace upfront will be a meltdown. Albano, Vicars in Trouble and Rise Up will succumb to the pace and distance. In Trouble with his game, gutty effort in the Gotham will falter after his hard try last time out and second time out. Intense Holiday, Gold Hawk and Commanding curve will be coming. Whose turn of foot will be fastest? Well we all know Intense Holiday can finish. Gold Hawk is yet to live up to the hype and Commanding Curve may not be in this league. I am throwing out the others in this field including the other Pletcher charge King Cyrus at my own peril, but one must take a stance and I am taking a stance against him. I am all in on Intense Holiday and Gold Hawk. These two will secure enough points to make the starting gate the First Saturday in May.

Picks: Louisiana Derby
An entertaining race with Albano, Rise up and Vicars In Trouble carrying them as far they can.
I am looking to Gold Hawk to finally wake up and live up to the massive breeding and hype. Gold Hawk over Intense Holiday.