Racetrack Lenny

Easter Weekend Longshot Parade

The Kentucky Derby will be one of the better betting races in recent memory. No one is dominating thus far and everyone will want a shot at the roses. Might we have another year where the favorite is 6/1? We might!

Proud Accolade ran Saturday (3/26) in the Rushaway Stakes, an ungraded 1-1/16th mile event at Turfway Park. Better to run in a glorified allowance race than try real competition in the Grade 2 Lane's End Stakes. Sent off as the prohibitive public choice at 2/5, with Jerry Bailey aboard, Proud Accolade faced a muddy track. Longshot Daddy Joe (15-1) set the pace and just got nipped at the wire by late running Cat Shaker who lit up the board with a $79.80 win mutuel. Nice exacta at $887. The fractions were smoking for a muddy track (22.4, 46.2, 1.11.1); yet, Daddy Joe nearly wired the field. Proud Accolade was a menacing 4th at the 3/4 pole and loomed boldly at the far turn before he gave way and finished a well beaten 6th--beaten by better than 12 lenghts. To those who backed Proud Accolade with reckless abandon at 2/5, remember: "hardly a man is still alive who made the mortgage at 2/5". One never knows if Derby bound horses are out for real or out for a real workout. I think we are discovering that Proud Accolade has problems getting beyond a mile. He also may not have cared for the off-track. One more chance; but, his chances are fading.

The Lane's End, run on the same card at 1-1/8th miles, gave us a look at Mr. Sword, Magna Graduate, Andromeda's Hero, Texcess and Spanish Chestnut. Spanish Chestnut was sent off as the 2-1 favorite and, just as he did last time out, he led the field through some decent fractions before giving way at the top of the stretch. He finished 6th beaten a dozen lengths. It's becoming pretty obvious that this horse is a sprinter. Mr. Sword was 6th most of the way, made a sweeping move on the far turn, took the lead at the 3/4 pole, led by 2 lenghts in the stretch and tired late. Maybe the muddy track took a bit out of him. The others finished out of the money with Texcess finishing last beaten over 30 lenghts. Instead, previously unmentioned Flower Alley, off at 10-1, got into the Derby picture with a nice come from behind win.

Other races- Malibu Moonshine won the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park by a neck. High Standards won the San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita by a little more than a length.

Good news- Afleet Alex was not injured in his loss last week. He came out of the race with a respiratory tract infection and is on antibiotics. He is expected to be back in some light training by the middle to end of this coming week. So, ignore his last race. With the last race thrown out, Afleet Alex has been in the money in every one of his starts.

Happy Easter to all,

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 8:06 PM