Kentucky Derby 2012 – Union Rags vs El Padrino in Florida Derby

Union Rags wins the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

In what could be the most anticipated prep of the 2012 Kentucky Derby season, Union Rags will take on El Padrino in the G1 Florida Derby.

Union Rags will face 7 other horses besides El Padrino in the 1 1/8 mile race, but only Take Charge Indy looks like a credible threat.

Union Rags won the Fountain of Youth effortlessly back on Feb. 26, though his main competitor, Algorithms, was injured and scratched the day before. Since then, the big bay colt sired by Dixie Union has trained beautifully at Palm Meadows. Trainer Michael Matz says Union Rags should take a step forward from the FOY, and that he “is more mature mentally and physically than he was as a 2-year-old.”

Union Rags was installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite. Julien Leparoux will ride.

El Padrino enters the Florida Derby off a narrow victory in the Risen Star stakes on Feb. 25. The Todd Pletcher trainee has also trained well in the weeks since and looks to be a formidable foe for Union Rags. “It’s nice to know that he’s capable of sitting behind horses and taking some dirt when he’s down inside, and that when he gets in a situation that he needs to find more, he can come up with it,” said Pletcher.

El Padrino is the second choice at 2-1 and will be ridden by Javier Castellano.

Take Charge Indy skipped the Tampa Bay Derby after drawing an outside post to jump right into the thick of things in the Florida Derby. The talented colt was second to El Padrino in an allowance earlier this year, but he has yet to win at the level of stakes company seen this year. That allowance was his only start in 2012, and it will be 61 days without a race on Saturday – the layoff is definitely a  concern, but at least the son of AP Indy will be a fresh horse.

This race will answer part of the “distance question” that haunts many 2012 Kentucky Derby 2012 contenders, as well as boost much-needed graded stakes earnings with the $1 million purse.

The Complete Florida Derby Field:

Post	Horse	Jockey	Morning Line
1	Fort Loudon	Luis Jurado	20-1
2	News Pending	Rajiv Maragh	8-1
3	Take Charge Indy	Calvin Borel	5-1
4	Neck N’Neck	Edgar Prado	20-1
5	Z Camelot	Joe Bravo	50-1
6	Union Rags	Julien Leparoux	6-5
7	Bartolome	Jesus Castanon	30-1
8	El Padrino	Javier Castellano	2-1
9	Reveron	Elvis Trujillo	12-1

Kentucky Derby 2012 Contenders – Mark Valeski: Louisiana Derby 2012

Mark Valeski (on rail) in the Risen Star.

One of the most intriguing 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders is Mark Valeski. The bay colt by Proud Citizen nearly nipped the Risen Star out from under Todd Pletcher’s highly-regarded El Padrino last month, and now he is the 2-1 favorite in Sunday’s Louisiana Derby.

Most telling, El Padrino is not back to cement his dominance – instead, he is staying at Gulfstream for the Florida Derby.

Mark Valeski began his career at Delaware Park last July with a 4th-place effort behind Union Rags, but quickly began his winning ways in his next start. Given a breather at the end of 2011, Mark Valeski returned to the races in January with a score in an allowance race at Fair Grounds. He then jumped into stakes company in the Risen Star on Feb. 28. In that race, he showed intense grit and determination in holding off El Padrino until the very end. At the wire, the two horses were 4 lengths ahead of the field.

Joining Mark Valeski in the Louisiana Derby is stablemate Mr. Bowling, who won the Lecomte Stakes in January. He was unimpressive in the Risen Star, only able to finish 11th. Don’t count him out – he won the Lecomte in a game 3-horse finish.

Mark Valeski will break from the 8th post in the 14-horse field and will once again be ridden by jockey Rosie Napravnik.

Stay tuned tomorrow for more 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders in the Louisiana Derby.

Kentucky Derby 2012 Contenders – Went The Day Well, Daddy Nose Best

More Kentucky Derby 2012 contenders emerged this weekend at Turfway Park for the G2 Vinery Spiral Stakes and at Sunland Park for the G3 Sunland Park Derby.

2012 Kentucky Derby contender Went The Day Well wins the Spiral Stakes - Photo by Eclipse Sportswire

Went The Day Well followed the path taken by stablemate Animal Kingdom in taking the Spiral. The bay son of Proud Citizen drew off by 3 lengths in the stretch to defeat Todd Pletcher’s Holiday Promise and Heavy Breathing. Owned by Team Valor and trained by Graham Motion, Went The Day Well has proven just as versatile on different surfaces, taking a maiden race at Gulfstream Park on the dirt. Though his ticket is punched with the $282,000 in graded earnings, he is quite inexperienced – the Spiral was just his 3rd career start. It showed in the stretch, when he raced greenly as he passed frontrunner Heavy Breathing. Team Valor manager Barry Irwin stated after the race the colt would probably make another start before the Kentucky Derby in the G2 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 21.

Daddy Nose Best won the G3 Sunland Derby in another display of grit and toughness that will serve him well at Churchill Downs. The Sunland Derby was supposed to be a coronation for Bob Baffert’s Castaway, winner in his prior start of the Southwest Stakes. However, that wasn’t to be as Castaway hooked up with Todd Pletcher’s Ender Kneivel at the break and the two pressed a hot pace of :22 and a half in :46. Local horse, Isn’t He Clever grabbed the lead when those two tired, and it looked as if the son of Smarty Jones had the race. However, Daddy Nose Best, under jockey Julien Leparoux, made the perfect move and caught Isn’t He Clever in mid-stretch. The two matched strides and Daddy drew away easily to win by 3/4 of a length.

Daddy Nose Best is trained by Steve Asmussen for Cathy and Bob Zollars. He is sired by Scat Daddy, 2007 Florida Derby winner.

Daddy Nose Best is only the second horse to win 2 preps this Kentucky Derby 2012 season. He won the El Camino Real at Golden Gate Fields in February over a game Lucky Chappy. The other 2-time prep winner is Secret Circle, who has taken Oaklawn’s Southwest and Rebel stakes, and Alpha, who won Aqueduct’s Count Fleet and Withers stakes.

The 2012 Kentucky Derby contenders will sort themselves even more in the coming weeks as the big 6 preps go – the Florida, Louisiana, and Arkansas Derbies, the Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby and Blue Grass Stakes.

Rebel Stakes 2012 – Secret Circle + Sabercat Returns

Secret Circle tries to win again at Oaklawn Saturday in the Rebel Stakes.

It’s mid-March and Kentucky Derby 2012 contenders are still jumping onto the trail. Sabercat returns Saturday in the G2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The Steve Asmussen trainee was last seen making a big move along the backstretch in the Delta Downs Jackpot, which he won with ease. Since then, the son of Bluegrass Cat has been in training in Louisiana and California. He finally makes it back to the races for the 1 1/16 mile test.

It won’t be an easy return. Southwest Stakes Div. 2 winner Secret Circle returns to the scene of his last win on a mission to sweep the Oaklawn  preps for trainer Bob Baffert. Secret Circle won the faster of the 2 Southwests and appears to like the dirt at the Hot Springs oval.

Also lining up for the Rebel is Scatman, who nearly stole the Southwest from Secret Circle, as well as Reckless Jerry and Jake Mo, 2nd in the 1st Southwest Stakes division.

Atigun comes in from a Florida allowance race for trainer Ken McPeek. Oaklawn fixture D. Wayne Lukas sends out Optimizer, who has run well on turf and synthetic, but has yet to take to the dirt.

An intriguing longshot is Najjaar. The son of 2006 Belmont winner Jazil has taken after his sire in a big way – he is a dead closer. Najaar is unbeaten at Oaklawn and he steps up to stakes company for the first time.

Another under-the-radar horse in the Rebel is Cyber Secret. He is poor run in the Southwest was chalked up to the long layoff just prior. But this time, Cyber Secret is primed for a good effort.

Secret Circle is by far the fastest horse in the field, but distance questions and a stiff competitor in Sabercat could spell an upset. With deep closers Jake Mo and Najjaar ready to take advantage of a quick early pace, it’s going to be a very fun one to decipher.

Our picks – Sabercat/Cyber Secret/Najaar

Full report after the race – it’s getting real on the Kentucky Derby 2012 trail!

 

Kentucky Derby Halftime Report – Top 5 Contenders

Here are my Top 5 Kentucky Derby 2012 contenders!

Alpha wins the Withers

5. Alpha – This Bernardini colt has been based in New York up to now for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Darley Stable. Alpha was an uninspiring 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but returned with wins in Aqueduct’s Count Fleet and Withers stakes. Seeking stiffer competition, Alpha is now training in Florida for a possible run at the Louisiana Derby or possibly a return trip to New York for the Wood Memorial. Some have criticized his slow final times and the quality of his New York competition, but Alpha has improved with each race and could be a major threat on Derby Day.

El Padrino noses out Mark Valeski in the Risen Star.

4. El Padrino – Trainer Todd Pletcher’s best Derby hope is this flashy son of Pulpit. The colt broke his maiden at Belmont last fall, then ran 3rd in the Remsen. After easily taking an allowance at Gulfstream, he trained up beautifully to the Risen Star stakes. There, his mettle was tested by the gutsy Mark Valeski as the two powered down the long Fair Grounds stretch. El Padrino prevailed by a nose, and jumped to the top of many Derby lists. He has grit, talent and speed, and could be Pletcher’s second Derby winner.

Creative Cause scores in the San Felipe.

3. Creative Cause – The top of the California Derby contenders is this grey son of Giant’s Causeway. All along people have said that he will relish the distance as races stretch out to the 1 1/4 mile Derby, and he has not disappointed. His 3rd-place finish in the San Vicente wasn’t a bother, because he was just starting to roll at the end of that 7-furlong race. As he powered home in the 1 1/16 mile San Felipe last Saturday, he became many people’s number one Derby pick. Trainer Mike Harrington has never started a horse in the Kentucky Derby in his 30+ year career, but with Creative Cause there may be a lot of firsts to come.

2. Hansen – The white wonder scored in his gut -check race, the Gotham. He proved he could relax off the pace and make

Hansen Wins Gotham Stakes

a sustained move to win. He even went wide most of the race! There’s still a question of how he will handle the ever-lengthening distances, but the horse has proven to be a tough competitor. His next race will show even more, and that is possibly the Illinois Derby or the Wood Memorial. Whatever happens, owner Kendall Hansen has said the ultimate goal is the Derby.

Union Rags wins the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

1. Union Rags – Since his smashing return in the Fountain of Youth, Union Rags has done everything right – training well at Palm Meadows, making every step an easy one. As with all of the contenders, his distance prowess has yet to be revealed. Sire Dixie Union hasn’t produced much in the way of classic winners. His style of running and talent show no limits. He is handled expertly by trainer Michael Matz, who knows a thing or two about getting a horse to the Kentucky Derby. Union Rags’ next race will be the Florida Derby, and then he will most likely be the favorite for The 2012 Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby 2012 Halftime Report

It's Halftime on the Kentucky Derby Trail!

It’s about 7 weeks until the 2012 Kentucky Derby! Yeah! Here’s my list of top horses to watch, since lists are so much fun! This is the first 5, and tomorrow I’ll release the Top 5!

10. Howe Great – Team Valor and trainer Graham Motion took the offbeat path to the Derby last year with Animal Kingdom, and it paid off. This year, the group has a talented turf horse in Howe Great. The bay colt is sired by Japanese star Hat Trick. Hat Trick set a Japanese record for the mile and was a multiple G1 winner of over $3 million. He is the only champion son of Sunday Silence at stud in the US. Sunday Silence, of course, won the 1989 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Howe Great was won 4 of 5 lifetime, including the G3 Palm Beach stakes last weekend. Though he has yet to face the top dirt horses of his generation, he certainly has the genes to thrive on either surface.

9. Gemologist – Todd Pletcher’s stable is bubbling over with stars, and Gemologist is just one on this list. The Winstar Farm-owned son of Tiznow has a win over the Churchill strip in the KY Jockey Club stakes, but since then he has been dormant. He is scheduled to make his first start of 2012 in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The late start is a concern, but his connections know how to get a horse to the Derby, having won the race with Super Saver in 2010.

8. I’ll Have Another –  This big chestnut colt came into his own in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, shocking the field that featured Creative Cause, Liaison and Sky Kingdom. Trained by Doug O’Neill for Paul Reddam, I’ll Have Another is an intriguing member of the California Derby contingent. Sired by 2005 Travers winner Flower Alley, I’ll Have Another has been called “just a sprinter” – however, his damsire is Arch, a classic influence as well. The connections thought enough of him to ship him to Saratoga last year, where top juveniles make their debut. He could surprise come May 5.

7. Sabercat – The Delta Jackpot winner has been off the radar since December, but he is set to make his 2012 debut in the Rebel Stakes this Saturday. Trained by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds, Sabercat is 3-for-6 lifetime and has $600,000 in graded stakes earnings, guaranteeing him a spot in the gate at Churchill Downs. The dark bay colt is sired by Bluegrass Cat, who was 2nd in the 2006 Kentucky Derby.

6. Secret Circle – Bob Baffert’s barn is stuffed with Derby contenders this year. Secret Circle leaped on the scene with his victory in the BC Juvenile Sprint last year. He is a speedy son of Eddington who has fared best at shorter distances, however, he was able to stretch out in the 1 mile Southwest Stakes Division 2 on Feb 20. He actually ran the mile faster than his also-victorious stablemate, Castaway. He’s definitely one to watch as the trail runs closer to The 2012 Kentucky Derby.

Stay Tuned for the rest of my Top 10 Kentucky Derby 2012 contenders!

Derby Trail Gets Serious: Tampa Bay Derby & San Felipe

This weekend’s stakes along the Kentucky Derby 2012 trail are pivotal for the contenders – the Tampa Bay Derby and San Felipe.

Creative Cause comes back in the San Felipe after a 3rd-place finish in the San Vicente. The Mike Harrington trainee faces 9 others in the 1 1/16th mile test at Santa Anita. Bob Baffert enters 2 to take on the favorite: impressive maiden winner Bodemeister for Zayat Stables and Liaison for Arnold Zetcher. Bodemeister steps up to stakes company for the first time, while Liaison tries to bounce back after an uninspiring effort in the Bob Lewis stakes. Rousing Sermon, 3rd in the Bob Lewis, is coming in sharp for Jerry Hollendorfer.

Empire Way, brother to Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic winner Royal Delta, is getting some buzz online, but will probably be a good price in the field. Also in the San Felipe is Blingo, from the John Sherriffs barn for owners Jerry and Ann Moss.

The San Felipe will be a class test for many of the colts on the Derby trail, especially Liaison, who flashed such brilliance at two.

Meanwhile, in Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby has attracted 12 horses, topped by Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Battle Hardened. Battle Hardened broke his maiden winning the Sam Davis, and the son of Giant’s Causeway is trained by Eddie Kenneally for Michael Tabor. Also in the Tampa Bay Derby is Spring Hill Farm, who gave trainer Todd Pletcher his 3,000th win.

Take Charge Indy is entered but is set to scratch, according to trainer Pat Byrne. The colt will instead point for the Florida Derby.

This marks the halfway point in the Kentucky Derby 2012 trail – the run for the roses is only 57 days away!