ARCADIA, Calif. – As winter neared, the weather forecast for Southern California was dire. El Nino was coming, and with it the rain. But except for a brief spell of showers in January, Santa Anita largely has been spared a wet, wild meet.
That may change this weekend.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Light on experience and seemingly long on potential, eight 3-year-olds with mostly modest accomplishments will try to take the next step toward the Kentucky Derby in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – It’s a bit hyperbolic – at least for now – but when a big field of 3-year-olds turns for home Saturday in the Blue Grass Stakes, they’ll go down the same path that legends such as Northern Dancer, Spectacular Bid, and Street Sense took to the Kentucky Derby.
Saturday is the biggest day of the Kentucky Derby prep season, with three Grade 1, $1 million stakes – the Santa Anita Derby, the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, and the Blue Grass at Keeneland.
Keeneland has two additional Grade 1 races – the $500,000 Ashland and a strong renewal of the $300,000 Madison. The Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, featuring the sensational Songbird, is the top undercard race in Arcadia, Calif. And the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter is the primary supporting feature at Aqueduct.
Blue Grass Stakes
Nyquist has never lost and has run really fast exactly once. I admit to being confused because I love watching this colt run, I like his toughness, and I admire his versatility. But the Beyer Speed Figure of 94 for his win in the Florida Derby does not give me the confidence to feel really comfortable with the Kentucky Derby favorite as he heads for Churchill Downs. Perhaps this is one of those horses who runs just fast enough to win. I am keeping an open mind, but I was hoping for a 104 Beyer.
Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist's return to training at Keeneland has been delayed by an elevated white blood cell count.
Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill, said that Nyquist has displayed no outward symptoms of illness, such as an elevated temperature or leaving feed. However, routine blood work showed the elevated cell count. Nyquist shipped to Keeneland Sunday after winning the Florida Derby the previous day. The Kentucky Derby is on May 7.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – As Shagaf walked back into the barn following a Wednesday morning gallop at Belmont Park, trainer Chad Brown couldn’t help but gush over the physical appearance the colt made.
“He has the look of a Derby horse,” Brown said.
On Saturday, Shagaf will try to take on the look of a top Kentucky Derby contender when he heads an eight-horse field entered in the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial.
ARCADIA, Calif. – The first time Gary Stevens won the Santa Anita Derby, back in 1988 on the filly Winning Colors, Bob Baffert was in his apartment in Belmont Shore, Calif., watching the race on television, awaiting that night’s Quarter Horse racing at Los Alamitos.
“I remember seeing her win the Santa Anita Derby and thinking, ‘Wow,’ ” Baffert said.
“No one was going to beat her that day,” Stevens said.
In the 28 years since then, when it comes to the Santa Anita Derby, it’s been hard to beat Stevens or Baffert.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Carpe Diem won the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes for Todd Pletcher last year at 2-5, it was the first time in 12 years that the favorite had won the Keeneland showcase.
Pletcher has the 5-2 morning-line choice in Zulu for the 92nd Blue Grass on Saturday, but with a full gate of 14 3-year-olds expected, a win by something other than the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile race would not be a big deal.
Danzing Candy
By Twirling Candy-Talkin and Singing, Songandaprayer
There’s a little bit of everything in San Felipe Stakes winner Danzing Candy’s pedigree – turf and dirt, sprinters and stayers. The colt, by promising young sire Twirling Candy, has emerged as one of the West Coast’s leading Kentucky Derby candidates entering this weekend’s Santa Anita Derby.
