Aqueduct | Race 4 | Post Time 2:44 p.m. (ET)
Purple Divine (#4) is obviously the one to beat after twice running well against tougher fields since the claim by Ilkay Kantarmaci. She had performed better than it appears when she just barely lost to a couple of today's rivals on Feb. 27, making the first move into a fast pace before drifting down to a dead rail late. I have no major knocks against her other than the likely short price.
Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:53 p.m. (ET)
Chad Brown's first-time starter Bishop Booming (#6) is an intriguing newcomer, but it's no small feat debuting over a mile on dirt. I can understand why he's been targeted at a dirt route, as he appeared to have a huge stride in his 10 1/5 OBS April workout last year. It's taken him a while to get to the races, but Yaupon is a 19% debut sire and there's a ton of stamina on his dam's side.
Having failed in my quest to gain the open Kentucky Derby mount on Commandment – I concede that Luis Saez is a stronger finisher than I am – it is back to touting Saturday stakes races. Surprisingly limited menu this week. We’re keeping it to two venues.
Apple Blossom
Zenyatta won two Apple Blossoms. So did the great Argentine import Paseana, who wasn’t as good as the other Ron McAnally-trained, Argentina-bred Apple Blossom winner, Bayakoa. Azeri landed three in a row, 2002-04.
Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 3:48 p.m. (ET)
Kavanaugh (#2) is obviously the horse to beat after racing competitively against starter-allowance foes last time. It wasn't the toughest field for that level, but he still earned the best TimeformUS Speed Figure of his career. The only legitimate knock against him is that he did seem to improve going two turns, and I wonder if he'll maintain that form turning back to a one-turn mile here.
RACE 8: MOHAVEN stands out off her fine juvenile form that included a seven-furlong stakes victory with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure at Del Mar. Trainer John Sadler is putting blinkers back on following a failed turf experiment in her season opener, a race you can draw a line through. (1)
First the Blue Grass lost Derby favorite Paladin, and then it lost Rebel winner Class President. The race has lost luster.
Iron Honor looks like he’ll win the Wood as the favorite.
We’ll try to find a winner of the day’s third Derby prep and unearth something in two of Keeneland’s other stakes.
Madison
Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 3:26 p.m. (ET)
Lotsa Trouble (#5) is the one to beat as he returns on short rest to contest this starter allowance. That victory one week ago came for a $25,000 claiming tag, and each of his last three wins have been earned in claiming races. He did get a pretty strong pace setup in that most recent start and unleased his typical strong finish to get up on the wire. Stretching back out to a mile should suit him, but he is being asked to run a big race for the third time in just 16 days.
