Hey…a full field of 13 horses and, at least at 3 pm Eastern time, no scratches
Let’s get right into it.
#2 Reach the World…..A fine one out of Tapit for Baffert, a seven time winner of this, with Mikey Smith aboard, who has won this once. Not the speedster, like some of these, but a class performer out of a Galileo mare, which means grass could be the future. His first venture into stakes and the stretch to 1-1/8 miles, distance should be no problem. Lifetime, the boy is 3/1-1-1 coming off a loss by a neck to well-thought of colt, Battle of Midway, who is competing in this. He broke his maiden in a blistering wire job at 1-1/16 miles by 3-1/4 L. It’s the only time he’s gone out, so maybe today Double B chooses the front running tactic?
#3 Battle of Midway….A sharp Smart Strike colt trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and looking ready for run off a nice win last out. BM finished third 8 lengths out in the San Vicente, his only stakes race, which was won by Iliad. Nakatani takes the reigns for a horse that could continue to improve and to grab a part.
#5 So Conflated….One for which trainer O’Neill had high hopes after winning the Cal Derby, only to come crashing in the Gotham after the long haul from CA to NY where, aside from grabbing the frequent flyer miles, he lost by 22 lengths. I say toss it, as Doug puts Mario G. back on at 15-1. Keep in mind that if he wins today, if shipping is an issue, then maybe the go to Kentucky won’t work. Just asking. I will look for a slice.
#6 American Anthem…..Six weeks ago or so, he was my Derby lean, and if you would have told me that this guy is 5-1 in the SA Derby, I might have taken out a reverse mortgage to bet him today. I still have no clue why he was so bad in the Rebel, aside from maybe the ship or the quirky Oak Lawn environment were factors. He threw a shoe too. Or, maybe 1-1/16 miles is just too long? I want to toss that race, but can’t, primarily because I am not convinced he can go well more than a mile. Baffert puts Marty Garcia on, a good thing, I think. Let’s see if he can come back today against the toughest he’s faced yet. Check the work for this. Stellar.
for the last 3/8 and a lowly 88 beyer for the winner gormley.. irap got a 93 for bluegrass win.. using beyer numbers sometimes works .....
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