The Final Four Preps on the Road to Louisville© Greg Melikov
Apr 5, 2004
Three of the final four preps for the Kentucky Derby are Saturday. The results may or may not shed light on the truly top contenders if this year's races are any indication.
Several 3-year-olds can make amends for disappointing finishes en route to Louisville. The most competitive contest appears to be the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes. The eight-horse field features some talented runners, including the 5-2 morning light favorite who flopped in his last outing.
Grade 1 winner Lion Heart, who breaks from post 6, lost by a neck in the San Rafael at Santa Anita last month, but posted a 104 Beyer. Mike Smith rides again.
Birdstone, considered an early, top contender before running fifth in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park, drew the inside post. However, he was scratched Thursday because of a high white cell blood count.
Action This Day, 2003 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner who comes off an injury in the San Felipe on the Left Coast while finishing seventh, is 9-2 and breaks from post 2 with David Flores aboard.
Early second co-choices at 4-1 are Preachinatthebar, who posted a 101 speed figure winning the San Felipe at Santa Anita with Javier Santiago in the saddle, drew post 8, and The Cliff's Edge, third in the Florida Derby with a 100 Beyer despite a troubled trip, breaks from post 3 as Shane Sellers returns.
The remaining field in post position order are:
4. Lime House, Jose Santos, 6-1
5. That's an Outrage, Mark Guidry, 30-1
7. Mustanfar, Richard Migliore, 15-1
9. Breakaway, Robby Albarado, 12-1
Eleven go in the $750,000 Wood Memorial, but only the early top two choices have triple-digit Beyers: Master David (100) at 5-2, freshened after injuries following his triumph in the Sham, who breaks from post 5 with Alex Solis up; and Eddington (101) at 3-1, third in the Gotham, who drew post 8 and will be guided by Jerry Bailey.
Value Plus, runner-up in the Florida Derby, is 7-2. He breaks from post six and John Velazquez has the mount.
Others in the field:
1. Royal Assault, Javier Castellano, 20-1
2. Tapit, Ramon Dominguez, 8-1
3. Consecrate, Jorge Chavez, 12-1
4. Swingforthefences, Shaun Bridgmohan, 10-1
7. Little Matth Man, Pablo Fragoso, 15-1
9. Sinister G, Paul Toscano, 15-1
10. Hornshope, Mike Luzzi, 30-1
11. Cuba, Aaron Gryder, 30-1
The $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn features undefeated Smarty Jones, who posted a 106 speed figure taking the Rebel Stakes for his fifth victory. The early 7-5 favorite in the 11-horse field breaks from the outside post.
Go To Page:
1
2
The copyright of the article The Final Four Preps on the Road to Louisville in Horse Racing is owned by . Permission to republish The Final Four Preps on the Road to Louisville in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
