Grade 2, $2 million United Arab Emirates Derby, about 1 3/16 miles (1,900 meters), Meydan, March 31, 2018
(100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth)
Winner: Mendelssohn, by Scat Daddy
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Owners: Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith
Beyer Speed Figure: 106
Brett Davis:
R1: 2-13-14-1
R2: 5-9-7-11
R3: 8-10-7-11
R4: 6-2-5-11
R5: 2-3-6-10
R6: 2-5-1-9
R7: 5-1-3-8
R8: 9-7-10-5
R9: 12-2-5-11
R10: 5-1-10-6
Best Bet: R3 N8 Star Shine
Longshot: R10 N10 Sky Melody
Best Play: R10 Q/QP 1,5,10
Paul Lally:
R1: 1-7-2-13
R2: 7-9-3-2
R3: 7-8-2-10
R4: 6-11-5-2
R5: 2-3-9-7
R6: 1-13-5-9
R7: 5-8-1-3
R8: 7-5-6-10
R9: 11-2-10-5
R10: 1-11-5-12
Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:51 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs
Race 5:
Halloween Horror (#3)
Has been steadily improving in recent starts and handled the distance despite not getting a great trip last time.
Should be in a stalking position and get first run on heavy favorite Control Group.
John Terranova has been enjoying a fantastic Aqueduct winter meet.
6-1 on ML
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Gulfstream Park | Race 14 | Post Time 6:36 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs
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Aqueduct | Race 3 | Post Time 2:21 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs
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First, Happy Easter and Happy Passover! We can take credit for suggesting gimmick plays last week because the three BreezeFigs horses finished 2-4-5 for exacta, super and super high five payoffs, but we will not gloat. In any case, it was another very good week for BreezeFigs maidens with 17 of them winning: Aqueduct (four, including a BreezeFigs exacta), Fair Grounds (two), Gulfstream (four), Parx, Santa Anita (three) and Tampa Bay (three).
Race 3:
Candy Promises (#4)
Was compromised by a wide trip over a track that featured an inside bias last time.
Has been subtly rounding back into better form, something that his published past performances don’t clearly indicate.
New trainer David Duggan (70 TimeformUS Trainer Rating) does a very good job with a small stable of runners.
4-1 on ML
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The term “big” doesn’t do justice to the kind of racing day we’ll see Saturday. It’s Florida Derby Day at Gulfstream, where that important Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Derby prep caps a card that includes six other stakes, one of which – the Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Mile – marks the return of 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.
