Notes - March 29

- The roles will be reversed in the Florida Derby as Barbaro draws the awful ten post, and Flashy Bull, stuck on the outside for the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth, gets an ideal spot in post two. Barbaro’s trainer Michael Matz took the draw in stride - "Heck, if he gets that for the Kentucky Derby we'll be happy." [DRF] He also knows that Barbaro has no need to win the Florida Derby. He has enough graded earnings, and can get the race he needs without necessarily being first under the wire.

It will be eight weeks – 56 days - since Barbaro’s last start when he goes to the post on Saturday. Since his debut race, his races have come off layoffs of 46, 43, and 34 days. Taking a look at Matz’s stats on Formulator, over the past year he’s won at 27% in the 31-60 day layoff category (24% without Barbaro’s three wins). If you narrow it down to the 55-60 day range, more applicable in this case, he has four winners and a second with ten such starters over the last 12 months. So he certainly is capable of keeping his horses sharp without racing, which he’s going to have to do to pull off a Derby win with this strategy. But this all assumes that Barbaro is in this class racing over a dry fast dirt track which he has never raced on before.

- The Wood has lost one contender and gained another, but the result seems to be a net loss. Strong Contender will opt for the Blue Grass instead, and that’s a bummer for us here in the Big Apple. As much as I’d like to consider him a serious Derby contender, it’s hard to believe that Ward can pull this off with a horse that will be making his third start just three weeks before the big race. Added to the Wood is Tampa Bay Derby winner Deputy Glitters. According to the Form, other horses considered definite for the Wood are Bob and John, Greeley's Legacy, Keyed Entry, Like Now, Scanlon's Song, and Showing Up.

- Nine out of the ten race card at Gulfstream on Wednesday were claming races, four of those of the maiden variety. I guess they’re saving the good races for Saturday. Thursday sees the return of Grade 1 winner (Frizette) Balletto (Timber Country), making her first start since running second to Sweet Catomine in the 2004 BC Juv Fillies; she had colic surgery last year. Her second dam is champion Althea.

- Walter is as hot as Jaromir Jagr (well, almost) with those two furlong baby races at Santa Anita, tabbing Erin’s Kristina ($6) today. Neil Drysdale took the finale with maiden winner Trade Only, graduating on the turf in her 4th start. She’s by Unbridled, out of a Danzig mare who is a half-sister to A.P. Indy.

- You gotta love those British bookmakers – Cashmans has installed champion Rock of Gibraltar, a seven time Group 1 winner, and second at 4-5 to longshot Domedriver in the 2002 BC Mile, as the 4-6 favorite to be the leading first year sire of winners in Britain and Ireland this year. He’s by Danehill, out of a Be My Guest mare, which makes him 3x3 to Northern Dancer. In addition, he has a 3rd cross of Northern Dancer’s dam Natalma via his half sister Spring Adieu, making him 4x4x4 to that broodmare.