A few days late on my update, but what's a few days when no one reads this but me?
You guys will be sorry once I give out the winning superfecta on May 4th... and to prove it I hit 6 winners from 12 races at the Fair Grounds last Saturday, plus 2 other placings.
https://thoroughbredracingfans.com/forum/index.php?topic=1292.0



Now, speaking of the Fair Grounds there was a Derby prep race worth 50 points to the winner there on Saturday: the Risen Star stakes. It was won by a horse named Girvin, who I picked, but I won't necessarily pick him if he gets in the Derby gate. Not sure his pedigree will see him last a mile and a quarter and he's a little behind the 8-ball with preparation (Sensei says: a late start means you give up experience to your foes!). But he was a worthy winner in his race Saturday and now (temporarily) sits atop the Derby points standings, which can be found here: https://www.drf.com/news/kentucky-derby-2017-point-standings


Incidentally, horses # 4, 8, 13 and possibly a few others run in prep races this coming weekend in Florida. And #13 (in particular) has a real shot to vault to the top of the standings with a win!

I don't know much about horse racing, but I like your posts. They are pretty interesting. How long have you been into horse racing?

Been following the horses since ~1981 when I saw my first Kentucky Derby... for a variety of reasons it's a dying sport, but I am a lifelong fan!!

Very cool

Same here, Peep, don't know well anything about it other than what I've seen in movies, but your posts are interesting.

And now, breaking news:
McCraken, considered by most pundits to be the current 1st or 2nd futures favorite for the Derby, has sustained a "minor injury" and will miss his next race. I've seen it before... and it doesn't bode well for his chance at the Roses:
https://www.drf.com/news/mccraken-miss-tampa-derby-minor-injury

As of right now I'm looking at...
Classic Empire
Irish War Cry
One Liner
Mo Town
...for my trifecta winnings, Peeps.

Hmmmm... you sure about that after Irish War Cry;s race yesterday? He tanked for no apparent reason. I fully expected him to win that race since he'd beaten a number of those horses in the previous race. Hopefully he bounces back.

The prep race that went in NY was upset too, but I expected that favorite (El Areeb) to lose based on his form. This weekend sort of upended the standings.

Classic Empire needs to get rid of the foot abscess before he can move forward again.

Irish War Cry didn't show up at all...didn't he? Still got 2 months of observing before final choices.

Yep, IWC still has time to bounce back.

Also, watch how the 2nd place finisher in the Gotham Stakes comes back. Cloud Computing was making only his 2nd career start, tracked a pace that did both frontrunners in, and then couldn't hold off a horse that benefited closing into the fast pace and also had a profound experience edge. Not saying he'll win or even make the Derby field, but I think Cloud Computing has the early makings of a serious race horse.

Did Go Argento win Peeps? Go Dario, go Dario...

Yes! I posted in the shout box... it was a female horse and she won at ~15/1! I made about 50 bucks and promptly lost it yesterday playing a track in Florida that I suck at!

Go Asia Argento?

there you go!

Congratulations on your win! With a name like that, how could it not be lucky? I really like that you are doing this. It's cool to learn about.

Thanks Onyx!
I love talking racing with people (even moreso when it's in person and at the track). It's my favorite hobby...

Only 60 days until the Kentucky Derby!

This week's updated points standings and race information can be found here:
https://www.drf.com/road-kentucky-derby

Both favorites were upset this wekeend in preps.

Down in Florida Irish War Cry went down without apparent excuse. That race was won nicely by Gunnevera, who got a perfect pace setup. This is a classy, consistent horse who will most certainly get the Derby distance of 10F, but his running style will likely put him in a tough spot come Derby day. Being a dead closer means he'll have to weave through traffic and will likely encounter traffic during the race. Many a fine closer has failed in the Derby for this reason.

Up in NY the favorite, El Areeb, also failed and the winner also capitalized off a pace set up. At this stage El Areeb looks to have distance limitations and I would not consider him a top Derby prospect. J Boys Echo (perhaps the worst name of any Derby hopeful) won the race after sitting an absolutely perfect trip. He is improving, has a nice pedigree, and won an honest race, but I need to see him do it when he encouters some adversity. The 2nd place horse in that rface Cloud Computing I think is one to keep an eye on, but probably for races further down the road like the Travers Stakes.

What's a Derby post without a mint julep?

Looks good to me, beatnik!
I've even got a sealed, commemorative bottle of Woodford Reserve from 2015 when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown. I'm hoping it's worth some $ someday. If not, then down the hatch it goes!