Road to the Derby – 2/11/17

by Ed Meyer

posted on February 13, 2017 in Blogroll, General Discussion, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

Every week brings horse players another step closer to the Derby. – If you’re not a racing fan you wouldn’t get it in a thousand years. There’s something magical about the first Saturday in May. I’m not sure if it’s the beauty, the pageantry or the building excitement of watching the process funnel down to the big day. – With that in mind, here’s a glimpse of a couple races that may hold some answers in Louisville.

 

Tampa Bay Downs

 

Race #10 – The G-3 Sam F. Davis – 1 1/16 – 2/11/17

 

 

After watching this awesome display. You have to be thinking McCracken is something special. This son if Ghostzapper has a scary turn of foot and after settling in along the rail to save ground. B.J. Hernandez gave the green light to this colt and he tipped off the rail only to inhale the leaders. He had three races as two-year-old and was coming off a two month layoff at Churchill in the G-2 Kentucky Jockey Club. This colt is pretty impressive and has the look of a real contender winning easily breaking the track record.

Tapwrit had the services of Jose Ortiz and two impressive wins from three starts. Todd Pletcher always has plenty of runners that look good, and this guy may be just finding his way. The son of Tapit held against the rail and tried to weave off only to tap on the brakes gently watching McCraken roll by quickly. If you’re still not sold just take a gander at his turn of foot once Ortiz got him straightened. I like his action and he’ll have my attention as a rapidly maturing colt.

 

Santa Anita

 

Race #4 – The G-2 San Vincente – 7f – 2/12/17

 

 

Iliad won impressively and took down the prize. A ridgling son of Ghostzapper formerly trained by Bob Baffert. After the ownership transferred runners, he looked to rebound nicely off the his maiden win at LRC. Flavien Prat looked strong in the saddle and guided this fella with perfection.  – This was a super effort coming off a 56 day layoff with red-hot fractions in a compact field.