Newsflash

So I will start off by apologizing for not writing in weeks.  It's been a crazy time, and now I feel like I have so much to say!  Each year, my Derby Fever seems to hit me a bit harder, and with so many horses in the Graded Stakes earnings, I found myself holding my breath.

News broke yesterday that Eskendereya will not be running in KD136...  Guess it's another year of me wondering "what might have been"...  Pletcher stated that he was "not lame, just off" on his left foreleg, according to Daily Racing Form.  Hopefully the swelling goes down and its not something that will end his career.  Still lovin' this horse, so wishing him a speedy recovery.

In light of that, Valazquez became available, and gave Devil May Care the push to run in the Derby rather than the Oaks.  Pletcher confirmed this morning that the filly will not be cross- entered in the Oaks.  I'll admit to be being a little biased, I searched Devil May Care on bloodhorse.com, only to find my name... Kelli's Ransom.  Pair that with her being the only filly in the race... pretty sure I found a piece of my exotic bets.

Rule is also now off the Derby Trail, stating that they were not overly pleased with his progress at Churchill. 

Its funny how technology has progressed.  I remember last year checking my email and select racing websites three or four times a day to see the progress... this year I have an iPhone and an app that automatically send updates to my phone.  Haven't quite decided if its a blessing or a curse! ;)

I'm sure as the week progresses you will see more and more posts from me...
Happy Handicapping,

Kelli

I've started writing this blog three times so far, and because of some technology issues, I'm starting from scratch yet again.  Maybe it had to do with me having so many screen open- between YouTube and past performance sheets, my notes, other articles... I'll admit it once again, I've caught the Derby Fever.  By now... I usually know who I'll be cheering for the first weekend in May... but not this year. With only four weeks until Derby, I feel like I have more questions than answers.  Hopefully, this weekend will clear some of it up for me.

Let's start with the Wood Memorial.  Eskendereya is the clear front runner, but the fact that we have only seen some of these horses run once this year, it shakes my confidence.  Don't get me wrong, I get the warm fuzzies watching his race replays.  I like this horse.  His performance this weekend will show if he is the real deal.  He will be facing some stiff competition, two standouts for mebeing Schoolyard Dreams and Awesome Act.  This is a race that trying to handicap has cost me two pots of coffee, a highlighter, and quite a few exasperated sighs.  Probably not a race I'll bet, but definately one I'll be watching.

Moving on to the Santa Anita Derby... the battle of Sidney's Candy and Lookin At Lucky.  Like I said last week, I'm a fan of the Baffert/ Gomez combination, and I expect big things from Lookin At Lucky.  I may have picked him for my RTTR stable based on the jockey/trainer combination, but so far its working for me!  My triactor key will be Lookin At Lucky in front of Sidney's Candy, Setsuko and Caracortado.

Lastly of my picks for the week, the Illinois Derby.  There doesn't seem to be any true speed horses in here.  I think Yawanna Twist is one of the most intriguing Derby contenders in this race,  coming second to Awesome Act in the Gotham.  Boulder Creek will be making his dirt debut, which I hope will prove fruitful after a sixth place in the Sham Stakes... on paper he doesn't look great, but this is another horse I've liked from the beginning.  The only other horse I had to keep in my picks was Backtalk, his workouts haven't been impressive, but he looked good his first start of the year.  My pick for the triactor box will be Yawanna Twist, Boulder Creek and Balktalk.  Turf Melody on paper seems to be a closer, but is having his eleventh start at his eleventh track (one of them being Woodbine).

Tomorrow is also Standardbreds Forever Day at Northlands Park, and starting at noon you can get your picture taken with the 2004 Horse of the Year in Alberta, Disagreement.  There is also a harness handicapping contest at Northlands on April 10th a chance to win a  2010 Dodge Challenger and up to $1000 in cash. 

Happy Handicapping,

Kelli

Last Updated on Friday, 26 March 2010 23:04

First off, I have to say… WOW!  Have you looked at the results of April’s Feature Poll?  Seems to be a bit of healthy competition going on in South Edmonton between Post Time at Fitzgerald’s and Suzy Cue’s… Just so everyone knows- the voting closes on Monday, March 29^th at 9:00 am.  Kudos to both sites for rallying the troops!

Dubai World Cup, Sunland Derby, Louisiana Derby, Lane’s End Stakes, live racing at Northlands, Hong Kong Saturday night… another big weekend ahead of us! While I admit to being a sleepy head, for those of you that aren’t, there are a few theatres opening early on Saturday to catch all the Dubai action.  I’m going against grain and cheering for Richard’s Kid in the big race.  I’m a fan of the Baffert/ Gomez combination and thinking it will have a better return than the heavily favored Gio Ponti.  Will also be watching Gomez in race 6 when he is up on Courageous Cat.  He has done well on this colt his last two starts out. 

 My Derby Prep Race Picks:

• Sunland Derby: Tempted to Tapit.  Beat out some promising horses to finish second to Discreetly Mine in the Risen Star Stakes in Fairgrounds last month, curious to see how this gelding does in a bit longer race.

• Louisiana Derby:  It comes down to two horses for me in this race.  Discreetly Mine, the 7/2 Pletcher favorite, and Fly Down, the Zito trained 8/1 morning line.  Came from 7 lengths behind to win a 1 1/8 mile allowance race his last start out in Gulfstream, so definitely might be worth a shot.  Last race out paid 11.20 to win, lets hope that he is underestimated in this field of proven horses.  Also will be keeping an eye on Hotep, the Canadian of the field.

• Lane's End Stakes:  I found it hard to ignore Vow to Wager in this race... but with 20/1 odds he would be easy to overlook.  Seems to have proven himself at Turfway already, so hopefully he will catch a good price when he wins the Lane's End on Saturday!

Have a great weekend,

Kelli

Last Updated on Monday, 22 March 2010 11:33

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring, so I’m officially chipper… I’m in a good mood… I might even go as far as to say “TGIF”.  We can look forward to some great harness racing over the weekend at Northlands (tonight’s post time is 6:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday at 1:00 pm).  I’m excited to watch tonight’s card, especially Race 9, to see if Starring Role continues to print money for fans. 

I’ll also be watching Woodbine to see if Lil Bit Lil Bit takes the Apache Series Final (Race 6).  Went wire- to- wire Leg 1, and 1 ½ lengths ahead to win Leg 2, will go off as a heavy favorite, but definitely a race to watch.  Hard to believe he was bought in an auction for $800.
 
I’m also pretty excited for Saturday’s card at Gulfstream.   There is definitely a talented crop of 3 year olds this season!  Full disclosure:  I may have caught the Derby Fever… and I may be contagious.  Gulfstream is hosting five graded stakes races in a 12 race program, starting in Race 7. 

The Florida Derby (Race 11) made me glad I added three more horses into my Road to the Roses stables.  The Florida Derby will be the first time trainer Todd Pletcher’s Rule had gone beyond 1 1/16 miles (race is 1 1/8 on the dirt), yet he is still listed as the Morning Line favorite at 5/2.  This race will also include a stakes debut for Lentenor, full brother to Barbaro.  A win or place in this race would give Lentenor enough graded- stakes earnings to run in the Kentucky Derby.  Lentenor has a morning line of 6/1, and is trained by Michael Matz, who also trained Barbaro.

Other horses I’ll be watching in Saturday’s Gulfstream card? 
• Race 7, Bonnie Miss Stakes- Amen Hallelujah, who won the GII Davona Dale by 6 ¼ lengths.
• Race 8, Rampart Stakes- Unrivaled Belle, who will get her chance to shine on the dirt. (she had three consecutive wins on the dirt last year, followed with a fourth on the synthetic surface in Santa Anita’s La Canada)
• Race 10, Swale Stakes- D’Funnybone, an obvious favorite after his performance in the Hutcheson, and one of my “power horses” in my RTTR stable!

Happy Handicapping, have a great weekend,
Kelli