1. Classic Empire (Pioneer of the Nile by Empire Maker and Sambuca Classic by Cat Thief by Storm Cat) 30
Next Race: Bluegrass Stakes/San Felipe?
Trainer: Mark Casse
G3 Bashford Manor, 6 furlongs
G1 Breeders Futurity, 8.5 furlongs 10
BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 20
3rd G2 Holy Bull, 8.5 furlongs2
I cannot fault the horse learning he had an abscess. Those who know me know I have a hard time taking a horse down after a less than stellar performance. I think the Bluegrass Stakes would be the best place for him. He loves the track. He would be near Churchill Downs. And he already has 2 G1 wins so missing the G1 Florida Derby would not be much of an issue. You want to place him in the best position to win and that race would do it. Racing at Gulfstream Park does not do that. With all the rain out West, I do not think it makes sense to ship him there just to ship back for the Derby. If he misses again in the Bluegrass finishing 4th or worse by the same margin, then he can simply be vanned to Ashford and retired, but I expect a big performance there that will put him at the top of the pack. To me, he is still the best 3 year old in training. But he cannot afford another misstep. If the abscess does not heal well, then they may as well
2. Irish War Cry (Curlin by Smart Strike and Irish Sovereign by Polish Numbers by Danzig)
Next Race: Sam F. Davis?
Trainer: H. Graham Motion
Marylander Stakes, 7 furlongs
3. McCraken (Ghostzapper by Awesome Again by Deputy Minister by Vice Regent by Northern Dancer and Ivory Empress by Seeking the Gold by Mr. Prospector) 10
Next Race: Tampa Bay Derby, 9 furlongs
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Sam F. Davis, 8 furlongs
Kentucky Jockey Club, 8.5 furlongs 10
Street Sense, 8 furlongs
Haskin has him top ranked. A case can certainly be made for that. I need to see him win at more than a mile at 3. I think he will relish the distance, but until he does it against increasingly better competition I cannot list him first. I do really like his trainer, though. And believe he is a top class horse.
4. Mastery (Candy Ride by Ride The Rails by Cryptoclearance by Fappiano and Steady Course by Old Trieste by A.P, Indy) 10
Next Race: San Felipe/Rebel Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
Trainer: Bob Baffert
G3 Bob Hope Stakes, 7 furlongs
G1 Cash Call Futurity, 8.5 furlongs 10
I really like him. Winning at 8.5 furlongs at 2 is a big thing for me. This is why he stays and Practical Joke moves down. I thought he beat a nice horse in the Cash Call.
5. Gormley (Malibu Moon by A.P. Indy and Race To Urca by Bernstein by Storm Cat) 20
Next Race: San Felipe Stakes/Rebel Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
Trainer: John Shirreffs
G1 Frontrunner Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 10
G3 Sham Stakes, 8 furlongs 10
Who stays in SoCal? Seems like a classy horse. Overcame poor performance in BC Juvenile. Seems like Shirreff's number one, but who knows.
6. Mo Town ( Uncle Mo by Indian Charlie by In Excess and Grazi Mille by Bernardini by A.P. Indy) 10
Next Race: Risen Star Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
Trainer: Anthony Dutrow
G2 Remsen Stakes , 9 furlongs
He is training well and cannot be held back any further. This is a nice field. I hope he does well. He is the only horse with a 9 furlong win of this crop of three year olds so I see him as the class of the field in the Risen Star.
7. El Areeb (Exchange Rate by Danzig and Feathered by A.P. Indy) 20
Next Race: Gotham Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
Trainer: Cathal Lynch
James F. Lewis Stakes, 7 furlongs
Jerome Handicap, 8 furlongs 10
Withers Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 10
Some question his competition which is fair. But he has beaten all comers by open lengths. His breeding cannot be faulted at all.
8. Gunnevera (Dialed In by Mineshaft by A.P. Indy and Unbirdled Rage by Unbridled) 10
Next Race: Fountain of Youth
Trainer: Anthony Sano
G3 Delta Jackpot Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 10
2nd G2 Holy Bull, 8.5 furlongs
I have to move him up. He is just a nice horse. Perhaps not as classy as his competition, but still a nice blue collar horse who always tries.
9. Royal Mo (Uncle Mo and Royal Irish Lass by Saint Ballado by by Halo by Hail To Reason) 10
Next race: Rebel Stakes/Santa Anita Derby?
Robert B. Lewis Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 10
Where does he go next? I wonder if he may point to the Sunland Derby with his Robert Lewis win. It worked for Firing Line to get him to the Derby.
10. One Liner (Into Mischief by Harlan's Holiday and Cayala by Cherokee Run by Runaway Groom by Blushing Groom back eventually to Nasrullah) 10
Next Race: G2 Rebel Stakes, 8.5 furlongs/G1 Florida Derby, 9 furlongs?
Southwest Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
I have no Pletcher horses so I had to add one. I also like the breeding on the bottom. Cherokee Run usually breeds for sprint speed, but did come in second in the Preakness Stakes. He did win at Gulfstream Park so that may be a possibility. Or he could point to the Wood Memorial.
11. American Anthem (Bodemeister by Empire Maker and Indy's Windy by A.P. Indy)4
Next Race: Rebel Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
2nd Sham Stakes
Tie 12.
Practical Joke (Into Mischief by Harlan's Holiday and by Halo Humor by Distorted Humor) 14
Next Race: Holy Bull , 8.5 furlongs or Risen Star, 8.5 furlongs?
Trainer: Chad Brown
G1 Hopeful, 7 furlongs
G1 Champagne, 8 furlongs 10
3rd BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 4
Lookin At Lee (Lookin At Lucky by Smart Strike and Langara Lass by Langfuhr by War Front) 12
Next Race: Rebel Stakes, 8.5 furlongs?
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Ellis Park Juvenile, 7 furlongs
2nd Iroquois Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 4
2nd Breeders Futurity, 8.5 furlongs 4
4th BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 2
3rd Southwest Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 2
He was taken out by Uncontested early so he deserves to stay. Next out he will have to show up. He could just be one of those unlucky horses, but we shall see.
On The Edge
No Dozing (Union Rags by Dixie Union by Dixieland Band by Northern Dancer and Stay Awake by Pulpit by A.P. Indy)
Next Race:
Trainer: Arnaud Delacour
Snap Decision (Hard Spun by Danzig and Salute by Unbridled)
Next Race:
Trainer: Claude McGaughey
Half brother of Mr. Speaker. Have to instantly like.
Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holliday by Harlan by Storm Cat and Pull Dancer by Pulpit)
Next race:
Trainer: William Mott
3rd BC Juvenile Turf, 8 furlongs
Summer Stakes, 8 furlongs
If he tries dirt, and wins he will join the list. But he does not even seem to be in training so that may be a long shot at this point.
Cool Arrow (Into Mischief by Harlan's Holiday and Phoenicia by Mr. Purpple by Deputy Minister)
Next Race: Risen Star, 8.5 furlongs
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Springboard Mile, 8 furlongs
Hate to take him down before he has raced at 3, but too many other good performances to ignore.
