SLEW'S FAST HORSES FOR SAT. 04/13

Aqueduct - 1,4,5,6,8,10
Santa Anita - 1,2,3,4,6,8
Tampa - 3,10
Keeneland - 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
Pimlico - 7,8,10
Calder - 1,2,6,9,10,11
Parx - 5,8
Oaklawn - 6,9,11

It is a pretty full list. No Arkansas Derby though...

Today was a tough one. While Wise Dan sizzled, Grace Hall fizzled. On Fire Baby was ready after a long rest and the highest mutual payoff Slew had was $7.00 along with lots of rain and scratches.

As for Saturday, we have two Key Horses scheduled to run:

Let It Rock - TAM (10) 12/08/12 # 7
Hard Not to Like - KEE ( 9) GP 01/05/13 # 10

When you look at Keeneland's 9th race - The Jenny Wiley - It is Hard Not To Like Centre Court.

Well, wait...because Hard Not to Like AND Centre Court are two separate individuals. So I guess I have to hold the bold and say it this way:

It is hard not to like Centre Court! This 4 year old filly has not run a bad race in over a year. She went from breaking her maiden to winning the Gr.III Regret to winning the Gr.II Lake George in one easy step.
Add two good second place finishes in the Gr.II Lake Placid and the Gr.I QEII Cup followed by Gr.II wins in the Mrs. Revere and the Honey Fox and this filly by Smart Strike knows how to run a race and is one tough customer.

But then so is the daughter of Hard Spun and Key Horse, (let the bold roll) Hard Not to Like. The question is not if she is tough enough though...but is she good enough?

She has not shown either the precocity or the speed figs of Centre Court. But then her current works are certainly interesting. 5F on the turf in 59 2/5 and her last on the poly in 46 4/5 for 4F.

46 4/5 for 4F...What's up with that?

Best of 62 that day. On the POLY no less. Either she is so strong that Mr. Matz is trying to wring some juice out of her or she is so strong...period.

What I like most is the ML of 12/1. That should scare enough people off so her price is worth a shot, or at least worth working her into the exotics. I'd give a look to the Brazilian invader Old Tune as well. This one knows how to win and has done nothing wrong since emigrating to the good ol' USA. She runs for T. Pletcher and TNT Stud and apparently they saw something in her they liked.

She has rewarded them with back to back Gr.III wins in two starts for them here on the North American continent.

Not saying they will beat Centre Court...not saying they won't. But they top Slew's list for the Jenny Wiley and as long as the odds stay in my favor, I'll figure a way to work them in.

So enjoy the Saturday racing. And as always...

...good luck and good 'capping!