2019 Derby Trail: Bourbon War brings Belmont field to 10

[richard burch]

I'm liking this horse a lot....

Harvey Wallbanger



....and not for the great name. He looks like a fighter, closed to win at GSP, loves to go long, a win and a second at Churchill....lots to like

[Alabama Stakes]

Filled out nicely. He passes hosses like they’re standing still.

[Kasept]

Jay Privman, Oaklawn Park , 2019-03-16 - DRF Live Posted : Mar 16, 2019, 7:42 PM

Trainer Bob Baffert hoped for two wins rather than two seconds in divisions of the Rebel on Saturday at Oaklawn, but said he was happy with the way his colts Game Winner and Improbable performed and was "thankful" he had a place to go with them after the San Felipe was cancelled last week at Santa Anita.

"I'm just thankful I got to run them," he said in a phone interview Saturday. "They ran their races. They just got beat. Both ran big races off a layoff."

Baffert said both would return to Santa Anita to train. Game Winner will stay home for the Santa Anita Derby on April 6, and Improbable will go back to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby on April 13, he said.

[Kasept]

3/23 (FG): LA DERBY ~ 100-40-20-10

1) Roiland (Amoss/Graham) 12-1
2) Lemniscate (McPeek/B. Hernandez) 15-1
3) Limonite (Asmussen/J. Ortiz) 20-1
4) Sueno (Desormeaux/Lanerie) 8-1
5) By My Standards (Calhoun/G. Saez) 12-1
6) War of Will (Casse/Gaffalione) 6-5
7) Mr. Money (Calhoun/Beschizza) 20-1
8) Country House (Mott/Saez) 9-2
9) Bankit (Asmussen/I. Ortiz) 20-1
10) Spinoff (Pletcher/Velazquez) 8-1
11) Hog Creek Hustle (Foley/Mena) 12-1

[richard burch]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

Filled out nicely. He passes hosses like they’re standing still.

He's not scared to come up the rail either. I like that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFp2Uz09KVs

[Kasept]

UAE DERBY (100-40-20-10)

PLUS QUE PARFAIT (USA) Brendan Walsh
DIVINE IMAGE (USA) Charlie Appleby
DESERT ENCOUNTER (IRE) David Simcock
DERMA LOUVRE (JPN) Hirofumi Toda
VAN BEETHOVEN (CAN) Aidan O'Brien
ESTIHDAAF (USA) Saeed bin Suroor
WALKING THUNDER (USA) Ahmad bin Harmash
GOLDEN JAGUAR (USA) Ahmad bin Harmash
GRAY MAGICIAN (USA) Peter Miller
JAHBATH (GB) William Haggas
STUBBINS (USA) Doug O'Neill
SWIFT ROSE (IRE) Saeed bin Suroor
SUPERIOR (USA) Ahmad bin Harmash
GRECKO (ARG) Kenneth McPeek
MANGUZI (FR) Ali Rashid Al Rayhi

[Kasept]

SUNLAND DERBY (50-20-10-5)

1. Mucho Gusto (Joseph Talamo/Bob Baffert) 8-5
2. Anothertwistafate (Juan J. Hernandez/Blaine D. Wright) 3-1
3. Hustle Up (Shane Laviolette/Todd W. Fincher) 5-1
4. Wicked Indeed (Luis Contreras/ Steven M. Asmussen) 6-1
5. Cutting Humor (John R. Velazquez/Todd A. Pletcher) 8-1
6. Walker Stalker (Alejandro Medellin/Jose R. Gonzalez, Jr.) 15-1
7. Pasamonte Man (Ken S. Tohill/Joel H. Marr) 20-1
8. Collusionist (Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr./O. A. Martinez, Jr.) 25-1
9. Diamond Blitz (Kent J. Desormeaux/J. Keith Desormeaux) 15-1
10. Eye Cloud (Isaias D. Enriquez/Tracy A. Norris) 30-1

[Alabama Stakes]

Looks like plenty of speed signed on in this one. The break will be important. The 2 faves have looked good. I’m hoping Joe Rockhead is correct on Mucho Gusto being distance limited. Anothertwistafate might put them all to sleep, but could also get the dream trip and take them when he’s ready on the turn. He is so visually impressive I will let him be the focus and get a couple to close in behind to fill out the minors.

[Kasept]

5/4 (CD): KENTUCKY DERBY ~ Through 3/24

1. By My Standards (Calhoun/G. Saez) 100
2. War of Will (Casse/Gallalione) 60 ~ Questionable
3. Code of Honor (McGaughey/Velazquez) 54
4. Long Range Toddy (Asmussen/Court) 53.5
5. Tacitus (Mott/J. Ortiz) 50
6. Haikal (McLaughlin/Maragh) 50
7. Cutting Humor (Pletcher/Velazquez) 50
8. Game Winner (Baffert/Rosario) 45
9. Spinoff (Pletcher/Velazquez) 40
10. Omaha Beach (Mandella/Smith) 37.5
11. Mind Control (Sacco/Velazquez) 30
12. Country House (Mott/L. Saez) 30
13. Anothertwistofate (Wright/Hernandez) 30
14. Sueno (Desormeaux/C. Lanerie) 28
15. Improbable (Baffert/Van Dyke) 25
--- Mucho Gusto (Baffert) 24
16. Bourbon War (Hennig) 21
17. Somelikeithotbrown (Maker) 20
18. Outshine (Pletcher) 20
19. Euro slot
20. Japan slot

[Kasept]

4/6 (AQU): WOOD MEMORIAL ~ 100-40-20-10

Tax (Gargan)
Haikal (McLaughlin)
Mind Control (Sacco) ~ Bay Shore*
Joevia (Sacco)
Tacitus (Mott)
Durkin’s Call (Mott)
Final Jeopardy (Ja. Servis)
Grumps Little Tots (Ja. Servis)
Outshine (Pletcher)
Alwaysmining (Rubley)
Instagrand (Hollendorfer)

[casp0555]

Horse Racing Nation stating Gunmetal Gray is off the trail due to a training injury, I did not see anything in Bloodhorse though??

https://www.horseracingnation.com/ne...erby_trail_123

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by casp0555

Horse Racing Nation stating Gunmetal Gray is off the trail due to a training injury, I did not see anything in Bloodhorse though??

I guess it's hard for other outlets to acknowledge the origin of information. First reported by DRF team on site and written up by Steve Anderson: https://www.drf.com/news/derby-prosp...dylar-fracture

[casp0555]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I guess it's hard for other outlets to acknowledge the origin of information. First reported by DRF team on site and written up by Steve Anderson: https://www.drf.com/news/derby-prosp...dylar-fracture

thanks Steve...I found the DRF after I posted I read the surgery went well too, good news for sure

[Kasept]

3/30 (MEY): UAE DERBY ~ 100-40-20-10

1. WALKING THUNDER (USA) Ahmad bin Harmash
2. JAHBATH (GB) William Haggas
3. GOLDEN JAGUAR (USA) Ahmad bin Harmash
4. PLUS QUE PARFAIT (USA) Brendan Walsh
5. DERMA LOUVRE (JPN) Hirofumi Toda
6. DIVINE IMAGE (USA) Charlie Appleby
7. SUPERIOR (USA) Ahmad bin Harmash
8. GRAY MAGICIAN (USA) Peter Miller
9. RAZEENA (CAN) Doug Watson
10. AL HAYETTE (USA) Ismail Mohammed
11. VAN BEETHOVEN (CAN) Aidan O'Brien
12. STUBBINS (USA) Doug O'Neill
13. SWIFT ROSE (IRE) Saeed bin Suroor
14. MANGUZI (FR) Ali Rashid Al Rayhi

[Kasept]

Sacco makes smart one turn call with Mind Control who will bypass Wood for Bay Shore/Woody Stephens route..

[Kasept]

4/6 (AQU): WOOD MEMORIAL ~ 100-40-20-10

Tax (Gargan)
Haikal (McLaughlin)
Joevia (Sacco)
Tacitus (Mott)
Final Jeopardy (Ja. Servis)
Grumps Little Tots (Ja. Servis)
Outshine (Pletcher)
Overdeliver (Pletcher)
Not That Brady (Rodriguez)


4/6 (KEE): BLUE GRASS ~ 100-40-20-10

Win Win Win (Trombetta)
Signalman (McPeek)
Admire (Romans)
Mr. Ankeny (Romans)
Chase the Ghost (Stewart)
Chess Chief (Stewart)
Lucky Lee (John Servis)
Sir Winston (Casse)
Hoffa's Union (Casse)
Dream Maker (Casse)
Market King (Lukas)
Somelikeithotbrown (Maker)
Vekoma (Weaver)
So Alive (Pletcher)

Soldado (Pletcher)
Galilean (Hollendorfer)
Our Braintrust (Casse)


4/6 (SA): SANTA ANITA DERBY ~ 100-40-20-10

Game Winner (Baffert)
Roadster (Baffert)
Nolo Contesto (Sadler)
Extra Hope (Mandella)
Synthesis (Papaprodromou)
Instagrand (Hollendorfer/Prat)

Sparky Ville (Bonde)

[RHT2004]

Tacitus in a gallop.
Roadster.
And no clue at Keeneland. Really no one.

[moses]

Originally Posted by Kasept

4/6 (KEE): BLUE GRASS ~ 100-40-20-10

Soldado (Pletcher)
Country House (Mott)
Galilean (Hollendorfer)
Our Braintrust (Casse)

Wow...Mott is considering bringing Country House back after two weeks to run him in the Blue Grass?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by moses

Wow...Mott is considering bringing Country House back after two weeks to run him in the Blue Grass?

AR Derby more likely.

[moses]

Originally Posted by Kasept

AR Derby more likely.

Makes sense. Thanks Steve. I thought they might try the Lexington even though it’s fewer points since that field should be smaller and less talented than the Arkansas Derby but obviously they know better than I do.