Weekend Video Preview

If you’re a trip handicapper, this will be in your wheel-house. Winning Ponies has ALL of the Derby and Oaks preps on site so you can go back and take a good look before you download your E-Z Win Forms. I love to trip handicap, but I hate jumping from place-to-place. Here it is in one easy spot, and all you have to do is sit back and make some mental notes.

I am hooked on the Florida Derby card. It appears to be an excellent wagering opportunity, and last year Constitution kept me in action for quite sometime. Eight opponents enter the starting gate for the $1 million dollar Besilu Stables Florida Derby. The Florida Derby has produced 57 winners of Triple Crown races since its inaugural running in 1952. This year’s 1 1/8-mile contest will provide the winner 100 points in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” standings. It is the finale on a 14-race card that includes eight stakes, seven of which are graded according to the Bloodhorse.com.

Here are some insights that may be a decision maker, or tossed to the wind:

03/24/2015

$1 Million Besilu Stables Florida Derby

Post Position & Odds

1 – Ami’s Flatter 8-1

2 – Jack Tripp 20-1

3 – Indianaughty 20-1

4 – Itsaknockout 2-1

5 – Quimet 20-1 20-1

6 – My Point Exactly 30-1

7 – Materiality 7-2

8 – Dekabrist 30-1

9 – Upstart 8-5 8-5

#1 – Ami’s Flatter (8-1) – If you like a runner who was finishing up nicely against a much tougher foe in Carpe Diem, then you have one to watch right here. http://bit.ly/1DY9DjF

#4 – Itsaknockout (2-1) – This guy is one tough cookie and appears to be peaking at the right time. Three races to his resume, and is undefeated for Todd Pletcher. The Todd-Squad will be on full alert as he knows Baffert has pocket aces with Dortmund and American Pharaoh. He has that look of a Derby Day runner. Broke his maiden in 2014, and is 2/2 in 2015. “He has trained very well,” Pletcher said. “He’s a very consistent colt and very easy to train. He’s one of those horses that does whatever you ask. You’d never know he’s in the barn. (Where he is in the race) is going to depend on the pace scenario a little bit, according to Todd Pletcher. For me, he fits perfectly. If this race goes to plan, he’ll be on his way to Louisville. http://bit.ly/1B8PJqB

#7 – Materiality (7-2) -Alto Racing’s Materiality, the 7-2 third choice on the morning line, debuted Jan. 11 with a 4 1/4-length victory at six furlongs at Gulfstream before romping away to win by 5 3/4 lengths from highly regarded stable mate Stanford when stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in the Islamorada Handicap March 6th. “To be running in the Florida Derby off three starts and two starts is fairly uncommon,” Pletcher said. “We were able to do it with Constitution last year, but it takes exceptional horses to do it, and so far these two have handled every step up that we’ve given them,” according to the Blood Horse interview with Todd Pletcher. He’ll be one of the “didn’t start as a two-yr.-old question, but if he continues off his last race he’ll be coming into his own. http://bit.ly/1FV14dH

#9 – Upstart (8-5) – A New York-bred son of Flatter has done very little wrong. He comes into the race in fine order, but must overcome the #9 post. If you look back at the Holy Bull, he had no problem being three wide at the 1/2, and scored easily. The last race has me questioning pace and distance. If he gets pushed too fast, it may set up nicely for “Knockout.” http://bit.ly/1B8PJqB

This is a HUGE weekend of racing, and you will want to examine the past performance videos on the Winning Ponies before downloading your E-Z Win Forms. There is incredible racing for the Dubai World Cup, and you can read up all the action right here http://bit.ly/1xxhsQw. – The (G-2) Louisiana Derby takes place on Saturday, and you can read the latest all Derby notes from the “Big Easy,” http://bit.ly/1ETBbJW

Best of luck this weekend from Winning Ponies, and be sure to take a look at the replays. Winning Ponies has both Oaks and Derby prep replays, and you’ll find them to be a handy-dandy tool in refreshing yourself on how the race took shape.