I just sat down and watched all the key Derby prep races in our fine archives. No it’s not quite like NFL Films. Fred has a tape marked “horses only” and I shuttled through it. I’ve completely changed my mind on several horses after viewing the tape. If you can, please watch the big preps on youtube or somewhere else. There’s a big difference between digesting data on paper, and watching the races. I’ve gone out of my way this year to watch the Derby preps, but I’ve missed some. Here’s who I love now, based on what I saw this morning.
Ice Box was awesome in the Florida Derby. Rule set nice fractions and Ice Box had a Mine That Bird-like turn of foot, yet had to swing 6 wide, and flew up there for a photo finish. Love those fast closers.
Now that I know Awesome Act threw a shoe right out of the gate in the Wood, I watched the race again. He visibly limped the entire way, yet was monstrously game the whole way in losing to huge Derby fave Eskendereya. I loved everything Awesome Act had done until that race. Now I love him more.
Remember the route Mine That Bird took into the Derby? The Sunland Derby? You must be kidding. Well, check out the winner of the Sunland Derby this year. I dismissed it again, until I watched Endorsement blow by Conveyance. Endorsement is a tiny looking horse, like Summer Squall many years ago. But Endorsement is worth a serious look. Can lightning strike twice out of the Sunland Derby?
Lookin at Lucky got mashed into the rail in the Santa Anita Derby, and came back fast. That’s a great sign. But the horse who turned in the best performance of all the ones I watched was Setsuko. Closing fast and flying 5 wide, he looks like he could win the Derby. Too bad he’s probably not going to make the field of 20.
Oh yeah, Eskendereya looks great too. Love the way he runs away from the crowd, like Adrian Peterson on a touchdown run. But he’ll be 2 to 1. I’m trying to give you some alternatives, but they may all be running for 2nd place.
