RSS Feed for this Blog

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Odds and Ends

No Derby on the horizon for Lexington winner Derby Kitten; the $120,000 winner's share leaves him well short of what would be needed to crack the top 20. One might argue that a stakes win on Polytrack for a horse whose only other win came in a maiden claimer on turf doesn't deserve to be in the race anyway, just as you might argue that a guy who didn't see fit to vote in primaries for 21 years shouldn't be running for president (he was no doubt too busy bankrupting his casinos). But I'm sure that Ken Ramsey would run the horse if he could, and why the hell not this year, really. The horse is improving and Beyered over 90; hell, that should make him a contender this year, even if he's been racing over Donald Trump's hair.

The Jerome, back, though at the Big A, after a year's hiatus, is still a Grade 2, but that's surely based on its illustrious history. For many years, it was the Labor Day feature at Belmont, run in front of 40-50,000 people, and won by the likes of....well, the list of notable names is too long to go into here. Time will tell if Adios Charlie, who earned a Beyer of 98 in his third career start, and his first against winners, will add or detract from the race's legacy. But maybe if NYRA takes some of that slots money and pumps up the purse, it can supplant the Lexington as the main last-chance shot for the Derby, since it is run on natural dirt (though only at a one turn mile for now).

- Pletcher said that Uncle Mo's appetite is "the best it's been since the Wood." But what does that mean? How bad has his appetite been, exactly? "Normally, I maybe would have worked him today, but I decided to give him a couple of more days just to continue to let the medication kick in." What kind of medication, precisely? With what possible side effects? This is really ridiculous. There's enough public money at stake here so that the stewards or the track vet should be the ones issuing medical reports, not the trainer, even if it was one with a totally clean record. But who cares about the public's money anyway?

- In the 5th at Keeneland on Saturday, Jealousofmyboogie ($6.60) was a hot number in his debut start since June, a distant 5th place finish at 11-1 at Monmouth (in a race which has now produced five subsequent winners). Son of the champion sprinter Speightstown is a half brother to the crack sprinter Diabolical, who's a son of the champion sprinter Artax.

10th race first-out winner Et Al ($25.20) is by the fine debut sire Tale of the Cat. This three-year old colt is inbred 5x5 to What A Pleasure through his sons Foolish Pleasure and Honest Pleasure; can't say I've ever seen that in a pedigree before. He's a half-brother to the grassy stakes winner New Edition; and his second dam is a half to Halory Hunter, who won the Blue Grass at the same track, though on a very, very different surface.

8 Comments:

steve in nc said...

I think any "public" that bets on Uncle Mo at this point gets what it deserves. Knowing the horse is having problems is enough for me and I will disregard the positive comments about his recovery that are sure to come in the next 2 weeks. I don't need to know the meds.

Figless said...

I am starting to think this is the year I carefully select four 20-1 shots or higher with proven dirt track form who have the pedigree to get the 10f and bet them all to win.

Then box the four of them in the SF and TRI just in case.

Better than taking 6-1 on one of the alleged favorites.

Figless said...

Mo is probably on long acting antibiotics and Omeprezole, generic Prilosec.

Pletcher is waiting for the infection to be totally eradicated and the ulcer meds to kick in, which takes about two weeks at least in a human.

Anonymous said...

A favorite has not won a Derby prep this year. In other words, the favorite is going to win the Kentuciy Derby! My guess is it will be Nehro. He will pay $15.60 -- A 39-1 shot will be second and Dialed In will be 3rd. The exactor will pay $492.60. The triple will pay $2,945. -jp

jeff said...

I'm of the same mindset as jp, though I've got Mucho Macho Man in the second spot under Nehro. At least with Nehro, you feel there's a possibility he might explode down the stretch and look somewhat impressive. If you excuse MMM's last because of the shoe, he has the feel of a horse ready to move forward and emerge slightly in front of a fairly indistinguishable group.

El Angelo said...

There's a point where if Uncle Mo gets enough press and his odds creep up that he becomes a good play. I don't love him, but if he manages to get to 10-1 or so, he's actually good value. All the more reason why taking anything under 5-1 on a horse besides "field" in the future bets is crazy.

Alan Mann said...

Nehro does look pretty good, doesn't he? I would not be totallyshocked if he is indeed the favorite or close to it. But how can you have a favorite in the Derby who has never even won a stakes race??? This horse is eligible for an entry allowance race!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'll take Midnight Interlude. Oh wait, they haven't drawn post positions yet?