Racetrack Lenny

What To Make of Yesterday

3 major stakes and the picture is getting clearer. At Santa Anita, Brother Derek, (1/2- Alex Solis) had everything his own way. With the scratch of Indy Wildcat, the only other early speed in the race was gone and Brother Derek took advantage winning wire to wire by 3-1/4 lengths. The final time was an excellent 1:48 flat. Point Determined (7/2- Rafael Bejarano) and A.P. Warrior (4/1- Corey Nakatani) came in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Closer Sacred Light stumbled badly at the start and lost all chance right as the gates opened. Brother Derek has established himself as the one to beat on May 6th. But, before the coronation, the race must be run.

Meanwhile at Hawthorne, the Illinois Derby was run at a mile and an eighth. Sweetnorthernsaint (6/5-Kent Desormeaux) was a runaway winner by nearly 10 lenghts in 1:49:4/5. While a slower time than the Santa Anita Derby, Sweetnorthernsaint had to overcome the far outside post and he tracked pace-setter Mister Triester ( 27/1- Brice Blanc). Blanc really slowed things down in the 2nd quarter which is why Mister Triester was able to safely hold the place spot. Other Ky. Derby hopefuls: Cause to Believe was sent off at 2-1 and ran evenly to capture 3rd. Racketeer, off at 4-1 and My Golden Song, off at 6-1 ran with the pace but came up empty in the stretch. Not a good sign when they want (and need) to go a mile and a quarter.

Aqueduct's Wood Memorial turned into a slop-fest as heavy rain, wet snow and sleet made for a most un-springlike day. Keyed Entry, who just got beat in the shorter distance Gotham, got sent off as the prohibitive 4/5 choice under Edgar Prado. Keyed Entry went right for the lead and set very swift fractions over the slop. Longshot Marco's Tale (20/1- Norberto Arroyo) applied steady pressure before tiring. At that point, 2-1 Bob and John took up the chase. Although West Coast based, Bob and John had no problem handling the off going and drew on even terms with Keyed Entry and began to pull away at the wire. Jazil (15-1, Fernando Jara), was dead last at the head of the stretch and closed like a bat out of hell to nail the place spot when he passed a rubbery-legged Keyed Entry. Deputy Glitters (9-1, Jose Lezcano) who has Derby hopes just didn't handle the off track and finished a tiring 6th after running 4th most of the way. Don't throw him out of your Derby wagers just yet.

That's it for now, may the horse be with you.

Racetrack Lenny

racetrack lenny went to the post at @ 5:56 PM