Racetrack Lenny

WOW

Well, we finally got one of those breakthrough performances we were looking for in this pre-Derby season, and it came out of the Wood Memorial at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack. Bellamy Road (5/2) with Javier Castellano broke like a rocket and never looked back. He won by 17-1/2 (yes, seventeen and a half) widening lenghts setting a stakes record-the fastest Wood run in its 81 year history. Bellamy Road also tied the 1-1/8 mile track record set by Riva Ridge in 1973. It was IMPRESSIVE. Bellamy Road looks like the real deal and will likely be the Derby favorite. Survivalist just had enough to edge out a game Scrappy T who tried to keep up with Bellamy Road early and yet hung on for the show spot at 12-1. As for the others, none belong in the Derby. My pick, Naughty New Yorker, looked very common staggering home 5th.

The Bay Shore at 7 furlongs at Aqueduct, saw Lost In The Fog go off at .15 to the dollar and cruise home for the easy victory. His connections have already said they have no Derby plans. They will keep their horse sprinting. He is a good one.

The Illinois Derby at Hawthorne saw Greeley's Galaxy, Kent Desormeaux up, win by 9-1/2 lengths in 1:49-2/5. Before we get too excited, Bellamy Road covered the same distance in 1:47 flat over a super fast track at the Big A. One of my picks, Monarch Lane ran evenly to be 2nd. My pick, Rikman, went off just shy of 6/1 and raced mid-pack all the way around to get 4th. A disappointing performance. The biggest disappointment was Kansas City Boy. Prompting the pace being set by longshot Daddy Joe, K.C. Boy just ran out of gas on the far turn and staggered home last. Goodbye Derby for him.

At Santa Anita, we confirmed that there will not be a girl against the boys in the Derby. Sweet Catomine, off as the even money favorite with Corey Nakatani up, could do no better than 5th with no excuses. Yes, she was soundly bumped on the backstretch; but, as the field turned for home, she was 5th just 3 lengths off the lead and making a menacing move before flattening out. She just got tired. It was a paceless race and for those who bet my longshot special- General John B, you got rewarded when he finished 2nd at 64-1. He paid $40.40 to place and $15.60 to show.

Wilko ran a nice race with Frankie Dettori back on board. He was 8th in the early going and closed to get 3rd, just missing by a 1/2 length. However, keep in mind that the Santa Anita was covered in 1:49 while the Wood got negotiated in 1:47. Big difference.

So, my early Derby favorite- Sun King-has some real competition and may get sent off as the 3rd or 4th choice. Winning the Tampa Bay Derby at 1-20 odds against a cheap allowance field may not have been the tightener he needed. Bellamy Road got a real test and passed it with an A+.

All I could say when I saw Bellamy Road's performance yesterday was WOW. Wow, indeed.

Be well,

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 6:50 PM