Racetrack Lenny

2006 Triple Crown Journey

With the first daffodils poking their heads through the ground, thoughts turn to that first Saturday in May.

Thus far, Stevie Wonderboy, First Samurai, Brother Derek, and Achilles of Troy have stamped themselves as legitimate contenders on the triple crown trail. This weekend, one more can be added to the list: Bluegrass Cat. Bluegrass Cat, Johnny Velasquez up, won Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes run at a mile and a sixteenth at Tampa Bay Downs. Sent off as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite, Bluegrass Cat eked out a hard fought victory just starting to pull away about 100 feet from the wire to beat 63-1 Deputy Glitters. The time of the race was on the slowish side. Four other Derby contenders ran in this event: Laptop Computer, Hesanoldsalt, Pegasusbystorm and Blazing Rate. Of the four, Hesanoldsalt was the best. However, he finished 6th passing tiring rivals and showed little at 6/1. Laptop Computer, sent off at 9-1, set the pace and wilted in the stretch--not a good sign for a horse looking to go the Derby distance. Pegasusbystorm, off at 33-1, finished 8th and was never a factor. Blazing Rate, off at 9-1, showed nothing running last all the way until he passed a badly tiring Sweet Grass Creek. Off this race, I don't think the Derby winner will be coming out of Tampa Bay.

At Sam Houston Park, the Jim's Orbit was run at a mile. Derby hopeful Upstream off at 3/5, set the pace and tired to get 3rd. Given that the fractions were 24.18 and 48.66, it would seem Upstream will be up against it. Brick Fight, off at 41-1 won the race after running second all the way until pulling away in the stretch to win by 3-1/2 widening lenghts. Brick Fight's connections must be getting Derby fever by now.

Stay tuned. March promises a slew of prep races and that's when things start to get serious.

May the horse be with you!

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 1:26 PM