Horse Racing From A Girls Eyes

19. Vinceremos Pioneerof The Nile- Kettle's Sister by More Than Ready Career Statistics: Starts: 5 Firsts: 2 Seconds: 2 Thirds: 0 Earnings: $225,266 Connections:  Jockey: Julien R. Leparoux Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher Owner: WinStar Farm LLC and Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC Derby Points: 20  Class: Worries abot class here as the Tampa Bay Derby field hasn't really proven themselves elsewhere. He looks like another Derby flopper and the only chance he has is if some of the others get horrendous trips or don't show up. He will probably be around 40-1 post time, and he probably deserves those odds. He hasn't shown anything that would make me even consider him a live long shot here.  Pedigree: By red hot sire Pioneerof The Nile that gives him a dose of speed and stamina. He's out of a Maryland bred mare who never won a race, and competed at the claiming level. His broodmare sire More Than Ready was a horse who did his best running in sprints a...

16. Medal Count Dynaformer- Brisquette by Unbridled's Song Career Statistics: Starts: 7 Firsts: 3 Seconds: 1 Thirds: 0 Earnings: $261,600 Connections:  Jockey: Robby Albarado Trainer: Dale L. Romans Owner: Spendthrift Farm LLC Derby Points: 40  Class: I really love the way he ran in the Bluegrass for him to come back eight days after the Transylvania Stakes, and run that huge second in the Bluegrass was pretty spectacular to say the least. He showed his ability that day, but there are some serious worries about his ability on dirt. His synthetic and turf form is remarkable, but his dirt form is less than spectacular. Needless to say he did break his maiden on dirt at Ellis Park so he at least can run on it.  Pedigree: He gets a good dose of stamina from his sire Dynaformer. His mother Brisquette was a sprinter who preformed on both dirt, and turf which gives him speed on the bottom. That kind of cross kind of scares me I like to have speed on top...

13. Tapiture Tapit- Free Spin by Olympio Career Statistics: Starts: 7 Wins: 2 Seconds: 2 Thirds: 2 Earnings: $490,838 Connections: Jockey: Joel Rosario Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Derby Points: 52  Class: He's a talented horse, but I feel like many before him he may be restricted in distance. His pedigree doesn't pack much of a punch when it comes to stamina. Not to mention the fact that this horse is incredibly difficult to rate off the pace which is what he would have to do come Derby day. The pace is to hot for him to not come from way out of it or mid pack. Every time they have tried to rate him he always throws his head up in protest. There's no question about his talent it's whether or not he will be able to get the distance and with his rating problems I would bet that he won't get the distance. Pedigree: Another colt with Tapit on the top. Tapit's influence on Tapiture's pedigree is that he gives th...

10. We Miss Artie  Artie Schiller- Athena's Gift by Fusaichi Pegasus  Career Statistics:  Starts:8  Firsts: 3  Seconds: 2  Thirds: 0  Earnings: $609,000  Connections:  Jockey: John R. Velazquez  Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher  Owner: Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K.  Derby Points: 60  Class: Worries here about his class on dirt. He hasn't shown much on dirt as he shouldn't his pedigree screams turf. Churchill does tend to play like a synthetic track, and lots of synthetic type horses do take to the track well. This horse on the other hand doesn't seem like much on synthetic or dirt. His effort in the Spiral was less than spectacular, and it has proven to be a pretty unsatisfactory prep as the horses he was struggling to get by all ran up the track in the Bluegrass Stakes. Though there is no doubt he is talented his best running will be done on the grass and at distances up to a mile and an ei...

Deeper Look Number Three  7. Hoppertunity  Any Given Saturday- Refugee by Unaccounted For  Career Statistics: Starts: 5 Firsts: 2 Seconds: 1 Thirds: 0 Earnings: $610,720  Connections:  Jockey: Mike E. Smith Trainer: Bob Baffert Owner: Watson, Karl, Pegram, Michael E. and Weitman, Paul Derby Points: 95  Class: Some question his class, but I don't have any doubt in my mind about his ability. His race in the Santa Anita Derby was nothing more than a paid workout which is just what he needed. Remember Baffert took a similar approach in 1998 with Real Quiet who also ran into a freaky speed horse named Indian Charlie in the Santa Anita Derby a couple weeks later Real Quiet was a Derby winner and Indian Charlie wasn't. Hoppertunity wasn't asked for much in the stretch run yet he still managed to draw away from Candy Boy and gain ground on California Chrome in a hand ride not to mention he steam rolled past California Chrome in the gallop out. It...

Deeper Look Part Two  4. Wicked Strong  Hard Spun- Moyne Abbey by Charismatic  Career Statistics: Starts: 6 Firsts: 2 Seconds: 1 Thirds: 1 Earnings: $704,610 Connections:  Jockey: Rajiv Maragh Trainer: James A. Jerkens Owner: Centennial Farms Derby Points: 102  Class: Though I don't question his class I do question his ability outside of New York, as his only two good stakes performances were around two turns at Aqueduct. He had real trouble shipping into Florida, and didn't seem to like it there one bit as he put in dismal efforts in both his starts there. Blame it on the surface or the ability of the horse, but I can attest for him that the surface was incredibly speed favoring this year, and that could of played an important role in his dismal efforts down at Gulfstream Park.  Pedigree: Hard Spun was a classy, and tough individual at any distance, and he seems to pass that quality on to his foals. Wicked Strong's mother was a claimer...

Taking a Deeper Look Part One  In these installments I'll be looking at the derby canidates, and giving an opinion on thier class, pedigree and whether or not they are a pretender or a contender; when it comes to the Derby.   1. California Chrome  Lucky Pulpit- Love the Chase by Not For Love   Career Statistics:  Starts: 10 Firsts: 6 Seconds: 1 Thirds: 0 Earnings: $1,134,850 Connections:  Jockey: Victor Espinoza Trainer: Art Sherman Owner: Coburn, Steven and Martin, Perry Derby Points: 150  Class: No questions here at all about his class he is one of the most talented horses of this three year old crop by far. Only worries I have for this one is how hot the pace looks like it will be this year. He may not be able to rate off the pace as the only time he took dirt he ran sixth against average California bred stakes company. He usually breaks well though so if he gets off good he may be able to find a good stalking trip i...

Derby Six for 4/12/14  1. Hoppertunity  Any Given Saturday- Refugee by Unaccounted For Career Statistics Starts: 5 Firsts: 2 Seconds: 1 Thirds: 0 Earnings: $610,720  Connections: Jockey: Mike E. Smith Trainer: Bob Baffert Owner: Watson, Karl, Pegram, Michael E. and Weitman, Paul Derby Points: 95   He got exactly what he needed out of the Santa Anita Derby he didn't need the win. His solid second was very easy and he was hand ridden the entire stretch and yet still drew off and made ground on California Chrome in the gallop out. That kind of performance should set him up really well for a winning performance come Derby day I'm starting to get flashbacks of Real Quiet with this one. Even though Bayern didn't exactly boost his reputation I feel this one is breed more for distance than Bayern and strictly breeding and experience was Bayern's problem in the Arkansas Derby. I strongly feel this is one of the better three year olds in training and...

Derby Six for 4/7/14  1. Hoppertunity  Any Given Saturday- Refugee by Unaccounted For Career Statistics Starts: 5 Firsts: 2 Seconds: 1 Thirds: 0 Earnings: $610,720  Connections: Jockey: Mike E. Smith Trainer: Bob Baffert Owner: Watson, Karl, Pegram, Michael E. and Weitman, Paul Derby Points: 95  He ran a very credible race in the Santa Anita Derby he was really moving coming for home and possibly if the hole at the top of the stretch had opened sooner he may have been able to collar California Chrome and possibly could have won the race. He galloped out really well which only makes me believe he really be able to handle a mile and a quarter and seeing as he seems to be the most tactical horse on he Derby trail up to this point he remains my number one pick for the Derby. Race Shown: 2014 Santa Anita Derby  Race Finish: 2nd  Race Link: http://youtu.be/a10u6V_Ldus  2. Wicked Strong  Hard Spun- Moyne Abbey by ...