Racetrack Lenny

March Madness- Part II

Barbaro is a grass horse. Barbaro has never run on a fast track. Barbaro only ran once on a sloppy track when a race was rained off the turf. What is Barbaro doing in the Florida Derby? Winning it is what he was doing. Sent off as the 8/5 favorite under Edgar Prado, Barbaro stalked the swift pace made by Sharp Humor (6-1 with Mark Guidry) and prevailed by a 1/2 length after a very long drive. Sharp Humor was not disgraced in any way. Thought to be only a 7 furlong sprinter, he held well at the 1-1/8 mile distance nearly pulling it off wire to wire. So, grass or no grass pedigree, Barbaro seems to be a legit contender a month from now.

Other Derby hopefuls in the Florida Derby were Sunriver, 4-1, who finished 3rd 3-1/2 lenghts off the lead. Hesanoldsalt, sent off at 39-1 and running an even 4th before retreating to finish a tiring 5th. Flashy Bull (4-1, Rafael Bejarano) showed nothing cantering about the track to finish a very non-threatening 7th. Finally, stone closer Rehoboth, under new jock Javier Castellano and sent off at 9-1, broke slowly and then got slower as the race progressed finishing dead last. Rehoboth's last race was a troubled 5th when he was making a move; maybe that effort took something out of him. The horse is regressing at the wrong time.

Meanwhile at the WinStar Derby at Sunland Park, 4/5 favorite Wanna Runner (Victor Espinoza) ran off with it by 4 widening lenghts. Doctor Decherd, a prominent Derby hopeful earlier this year, turned in a dismal effort finishing 8th beaten 28 lenghts. Sent off at 7/2 and sitting behind a blistering pace, there was nothing in the tank when it came time to run. Maybe there is something physically wrong. It was just too bad an effort to be true.

Well, I thought I would have some money for Derby day. Alas, LSU could not get around the UCLA defense and LSU went down to defeat. So, I will have to find betting monies elsewhere.

May the horse be with you.

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 7:18 PM