Will Whitney Winner Lead Too?

From a wagering standpoint, the 2011 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) is Hall of Fame material. Eleven older horses are set to go 1-1/8 miles at Saratoga in the Whitney with the favorite at 4-1 odds in the morning line. The second choice is at 5-1 and three others have been given the third choice odds at 6-1.

Although a long shot winner in the Whitney would push an already confusing division into near boredom, there are plenty of horses who could take a legitimate step to the front of the older horse class with a win Saturday. But as the morning line indicates, this bunch is still very much close together in the race for any year-end honors.

Giant Oak (photo), the second choice in the morning line at 5-1 odds, has most credentials this year among his foes, as the only Whitney starter with a grade 1 win around two turns on a main track this year. But that win came in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park in early February and is quickly becoming a distant memory. Since the Donn win, Giant Oak has been third in the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) behind fellow Whitney entrants Mission Impazible and Apart. He then was on the losing end of a five-horse blanket finish in the Alysheba (gr. II) and fifth again behind long shot winner Pool Play in the grade 1 Stephen Foster, both at Churchill Downs.

Flat Out gets the Saratoga handicapper’s favoritism at 4-1 off of a nice win in the grade 2 Suburban at Belmont, after finishing sixth in the Foster and second behind Awesome Gem in the grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap. Trained by Midwest mainstay Charles Dickey, Flat Out is just beginning to earn some name recognition. The now 5-year-old horse had one win against optional claimers last year in one start. Before that, his last win was in the Smarty Jones Stakes in January of ’09 at Oaklawn while trying for the Kentucky Derby.

To characterize this group of Whitney entrants as under accomplished, is vastly unfair however.

The Nick Zito-trained Morning Line won the grade 1 Carter Handicap at seven furlongs in April, but then weakened to finish fifth in the grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. That performance was a bit surprising as distance has never been a challenge to the son of Tiznow. The 4-year-old Morning LIne won the grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby and an allowance race at Saratoga last year, both at nine furlongs.

The 6-year-old Tizway is another late developing son of Tiznow trying for summer fame in the Whitney. Tizway did not break his maiden until late in his 3-year-old year and didn’t win his first stake until June of last year when he won the grade 2 Kelso at Belmont Park. The James Bond trainee looked impressive in his front running victory in the grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont at one mile May 30 over Rodman, also a Whitney entrant.

Distance should be no trouble for Mission Impazible who won the Louisiana Derby and New Orleans Handicap, both grade 2, nine furlong races at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. And in his last start, the 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song was just a neck short of Pool Play in the Foster at Chruchill Downs, also at 1-1/8 miles on the main track.

So there is nothing that says the Horse of the Year can’t come out of the Whitney Handicap. The last winner of the golden Eclipse Award to pass this way was Invasor, the Whitney Handicap winner and 2006 Horse of the Year.

Another interesting Whitney happened in 1978 when trainer John Vietch used the Whitney to prepare Alydar for the Travers and yet another race against just inaugurated Triple Crown winner Affirmed. Alydar won the Whitney by 10 lengths, while Affirmed was nearly been upset by Sensative Prince in the Jim Dandy. They met in the Travers, and although Affirmed crossed the wire first, he was disqualified and placed second behind new winner Alydar for interference.

Five-time Horse of the year Kelso (photo) was also fond of the Whitney Handicap, winning the race three times between 1961 and 1965. Ironically, the great gelding’s last Whitney victory in 1965 did not result in his sixth Horse of the Year title. Instead the trophy went to Mocassin, the only 2-year-old filly so honored in North American thoroughbred racing.

There is no Kelso, Alydar or even one as accomplished as Invasor in this 2011 Whitney. But nobody should be scoffing at the credentials Flat Out, Giant Oak and the like either. Quite frankly, asking for the second coming of another Kelso is a bit pretentious anyway. Don’t you think?

This Whitney will tell if any from Saturday’s group can be mentioned in the upcoming divisional championship discussions of the late Summer and Fall of each year. Right now, that’s all horse racing fans can ask. Blind Luck and Havre de Grace are doing their parts in keeping the female Horse of the Year “three-peat” alive while the males at both the 3-year-old and older levels continue to beat each other up round robin style.

There are plenty of bigger races for older horses coming up. Del Mar has the Pacific Classic later this month and Saratoga still has the Woodward on Labor Day weekend. Belmont has the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Santa Anita has the Goodwood in October, all grade 1 prep races for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic to be run at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of November.

It just that it’s getting very close to a time when somebody needs to step out of the pile.

Foster Continues Older Horse Race For Honors

One of the best cures for post Triple Crown blues happens Saturday at Churchill Downs as the Stephen Foster Handicap presented by Abu Dhabi (gr. 1) acts as the unofficial kick-off to the second-half of the season for older males and many times, the race for the covenanted Horse of the Year Award.


While only Curlin (photo left) in 2008, St. Liam (’05) and Black Tie Affair in 1991 have been named Horse of the Year after winning the Stephen Foster, the 1-1/8 mile race on the main track has only been given the grade 1 status since 2002, some 20 years after the first running of Churchill Downs’ main event for older horses in 1982. While they have missed the golden Eclipse Award at the end of the year, recent Foster winners were division notables including Blame last year, Macho Again in 2009, Street Cry (’02), Victory Gallop (’99) and Vanlandingham in 1985.

The race for top older horse in North America certainly looks up for grabs less than six months into the year and the Foster - named for the composer who wrote "My Old Kentucky Home" among other notable songs - will likely clarify the division. Foster high-weight Giant Oak took the early lead among the older horses this year, winning the Donn Handicap (gr. 1) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 9. However, the 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway has since finished third in the New Orleans Handicap (gr. 2)in March behind fellow Foster starter Mission Impazible; then fifth in the Alysheba Stakes (gr. 3) at Churchill May 6. Alysheba winner First Dude will not return for the Foster, but Regal Ransom (photo right) and Equestrio, second and third in the Alysheba respectively, have both returned for the $500,000 Foster.

Santa Anita Handicap (gr. 1) winner Game on Dude is also among the tops in the older horse division, but will not race in the Foster after finishing third behind Awesome Gem and Flat Out in the Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) May 30. Awesome Gem will also not make the 17-day turnaround from Texas to Kentucky, but Flat Out has, and will again try for an upset in the Foster.

The West Coast will have good representation in the Foster however, as Crown of Thorns comes to Churchill after winning the grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park May 7. Once considered a candidate for the 2008 Kentucky Derby, Crown of Thorns was sidelined by injury and missed most of his sophomore year. In the last three years, the now 6-year-old son of Repent, spent his career running second in graded sprints in Southern California before stretching out and winning the 1-1/6 mile Mervyn LeRoy.

Interesting, the Foster also has the last two winners of Louisiana Downs' Super Derby (gr. II) in last year’s winner Apart and 2009 victor Regal Ransom. Apart comes into the Foster off of a win in the grade 3 William Schaffer Memorial on the Preakness undercard four weeks ago and will be saddled by trainer Al Stall Jr., who looks for his second consecutive Foster after winning last year with Blame.

Regal Ransom has a good chance to get the early lead in the Foster, a race with no real speedsters. According to Todd Pletcher assistant Michael McCarthy, Mission Impazible will also be more comfortable among the front runners but will have to try to get there from the far outside, number 11 post position. Longshot Worldly should also have a good chance to get near the front from post four with nearly every other contender trying to negotiate a comfortable stalking position down the backside.

Both Giant Oak and Mission Impazible had troubled trips in the Alysheba and will be looking for a little more racing luck in the Foster. Should either get position and a desirable trip, they both should be dangerous. It’s just that Mission Impazible will be making his move from much closer to the pace while Giant Oak figures to be closing from further back.

Stephen Foster Picks
#6 – Regal Ransom
#10 – Giant Oak
#3 – Apart

An Awesome Lookin Exacta

1. Lookin at Lucky (3-1) – Definitely battle tested with significant trouble in his last two races in the Rebel (gr. 2) victory and the third in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. 1). His unlucky draw into the inside post will be helped by Ice Box, who is next door in hole #2 and likely to fall back quickly, giving Lookin at Lucky a little space. He also has the ability to launch his rally from any location in the pack (he raillied from 10th to just miss by a head in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) so if he gets shuffled back early, he can still roll from far back late. If you’re a fan, then 3-1 odds Saturday may be the best value you’ll ever see on this horse for a while. He's a potential super star who has looked great in the mornings. If he goes to 7-2 or higher, he’ll be irresistible.

2. Ice Box (10-1) – The winner of the Florida Derby (gr. 1) has many things going for him - not the least of which is the likely pace in this year’s Derby. He is one of two big closers (along with long shot and Ark. Derby winner Stately Vicor) in a year filled with front runners who are likely to insure an early fast pace. He is trained by 2-time Kentucky Derby winner Nick Zito and although the Florida Derby may not have been that strong, he ran down the leaders on his left lead. Traffic and the 6-week gap since the Florida Derby will be his biggest obstacles. I’m siding with the obstacles.

3. Noble’s Promise (12-1) – A bridesmaid to Lookin at Lucky in his two starts just previous to a disastrous Arkansas Derby that almost cost him a trip to this Derby because of cuts and bruises suffered at Oaklawn. It was also later discovered that Noble's Promise had lung infection that week that has also since been irradicated. Had a big work over the Churchill Downs mud Monday so it appears he’s recovered and ready.

4. Super Saver (15-1) – Second as the front runner in a suspect Arkansas Derby (gr. 1). If he couldn’t hold on as the speed in Arkansas, he's not likely to do it in Kentucky.

5. Line of David (30-1) – A long shot winner of the Arkansas Derby and a winner of three straight as an intriguing speed horse that is improving with distance. Will need some breaks and a slow pace to have a chance. A half-mile in 47 seconds ala 2002 winner War Emblem will be a plus, but that scenario is not likely this year with all the competing gas.

6. Stately Victor (30-1) – He won the Blue Grass (gr. 1) on Keeneland’s Polytrack at 40-1 odds. His other win came against maidens. Distance won’t be the problem with this horse with 7 of 8 races at 1-1/16 miles or further. Talent may be the challenge.

7. American Lion (30-1) – Won the Illinois Derby (gr. 3) as the front runner on a Hawthorne track that may have favored his style. In much the same boat as other speed horses needing some luck and a slow pace but his ability to lay back in second/third might come in handy if he can rate in the Derby. At big odds he stays on the bottom of my superfecta, and not much else.

8. Dean’s Kitten (50-1) – He looks like a turf horse that took to the Polytrack at Turfway and defeated a weak Lane’s End (gr. 2) group. Just not much I like about this horse.

9. Make Music For Me (50-1) – The second to last horse to get into the Derby Wednesday morning and eight lengths behind Stately Victor in the Blue Grass in his last race. Doesn’t mind being behind the front runners and making a late move, but his only win came on grass in an ungraded stakes in California.

10. Paddy O’Prado (20-1) – He looks like another turf horse who adapted well to Keeneland’s Polytrack and ran a second in the Blue Grass behind Stately Victor. Not sure that will translate in the Kentucky Derby but he has looked good in the mornings this week.

11. Devil May Care (10-1) – Will be trying to become only the fourth filly to win the Kentucky Derby in 136 years so odds are against her. Word has it she’s been training the best of Pletcher’s army and put in nice final work Saturday to convince the trainer to let her go. Six weeks since her nice win against fillies in the Bonnie Miss (gr. 3) in Florida raises additional questions, although a very nice race and one of the few in this field to achieve a triple digit Beyer Speed Figure (100 in Bonnie Miss.) Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez won the Belmont with the filly Rags To Riches and I’m sure they’d like to each pick up the first Derby victory with another female.

12. Conveyance (12-1) – Strategy will be to go to the lead and let the others try to catch him much like Baffert trainee War Emblem in the 2002 Kentucky Derby win. Undefeated until second in Sunland Derby (gr. 3), a race in which Baffert said he was not on his game. His sire, Indian Charlie, couldn’t run successfully at 1-1/4 miles so that is a concern along with others who want to run on the lead. He has been impressive in his works, but I’m not going to play him at 12-1 odds.

13. Jackson Bend (15-1) – A distant second to once Derby favorite Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial who has worked very well at Churchill. Nick Zito, who can win Derbies and pull upstets in Triple Crown races will need all of Zito’s talent and luck to adorn the blanket of roses.

14. Mission Impazible (20-1) – My favorite of the Pletcher horses with a stalking running style, a good work at Churchill Saturday and comments from the trainer about this horse’s “improvement.” On paper there are additional signs of him getting better so he has all the right ingredients of a horse perhaps “peaking at the right time,” (A most important spice with intentions of cooking on Derby Day.)

15. Discreetly Mine (30-1) – Pletcher’s “Anti“ Mission Impazible who looks like he might have peaked in his Risen Star (gr. 2) victory in February then a fourth in the La. Derby. Another speed horse that is not even on my top tier of front runners.

16. Awesome Act (10-1) – British invader who crossed the pond to finish 4th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November before going home for the winter. Flew back to United States to win the Gotham Stakes (gr. 2) in New York before finishing third to Eskendereya in the Wood when losing a shoe after stumbling out of the starting gate. Works have not been great but I like his chances at double digit odds and will be my top choice on some trifecta and superfecta tickets.

17. Dublin (12-1) – Came home a weak third in the Arkansas Derby which didn’t concern me as Lukas may not have wound him real tight for that race. But his training at Churchill Downs has not been as sharp as what I would have liked. I kept thinking this horse would give me something to hang a wager on… but no to the any positive signs and no to getting 12-1 when I think there’s better value elsewhere.

18. Backtalk (50-1) – The Brock Talk has been a fan of this horse since we began following him shortly after he broke his maiden in June. He is the final horse to qualify for this Kentucky Derby and the 50-1 odds are certainly fair after a dull third in the Illinois Derby. He is by Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones and will benefit from his stalking running style and if can show the quick turn of foot he had in winning a minor stake at Delta Downs in Louisiana. According to trainer Tom Amoss, if it rains Saturday, 100,000 fans will be upset, but Backtalk will be happy.

19. Homeboykris (50-1) – You may hear or read about horses who are 50-1 in the Kentucky Derby when they should be 100-1. Homeboykris is just such a horse with his last win coming in October in the grade 1 Champagne. While a nice victory, it was seven months and his last race, a loss in a non-stake race at only one mile, was more than two months ago.

20. Sidney’s Candy (5-1) – I’m not one to put too much into post positions, especially with a horse like Sidney’s Candy with a ton of speed who will have the entire field to his inside as jockey Joe Talamo picks a spot for him to negotiate the first turn. Although trainer John Sadler says the horse will also rate just fine, he appears to be the best of the speedsters by quite a margin and an expected improvement off of the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita keeps him among the best even with the outside starting point. He has the breeding to run all day and looked good while extending his lead in the Santa Anita Derby. His morning works have been fast enough but reports are not glowing as to how he looked doing it under more than expected urging from the rider. He’ll be second and third on a lot of my tickets, but not on top.

The Revolving Door Has Begun To Spin In Kentucky Derby

The revolving door into and out of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. 1) has begun to spin rapidly and decisively starting with the Saturday defection of prohibitive favorite Eskendereya (photo) due to "filling" in his left front leg. Trainer Todd Pletcher said while announcing the decision that "the horse is not lame" and he's hoping the injury, which he likened to a sprained ankle in a human, isn't career-threatening. Eskendereya is receiving antibiotics while resting comfortably in his stall at Churchill Downs and will undergo a thorough examination when the swelling subsides according to reports.

Pletcher, who also trains Derby hopefuls Devil May Care, Discreetly Mine, and Mission Impazible also lost Rule from the Derby trail Monday in a joint decision with owner Bill Casner of WinStar Farms. Stressing there are no physical problems with the earner of $791,700 with wins in the Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (gr. 3), Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. 3), and Jean Lafitte Stakes and a third in the Florida Derby (gr. 1), Casner said the decision was based more on Rule's unsatisfactory training this week at Churchill Downs.

Prior to the defection of Eskendereya, it is thought that Pletcher was on the fence about running the filly Devil May Care in the Kentucky Derby. However, Eskendereya's loss is apparently Devil May Care's opportunity as Pletcher confirmed Monday he is running Devil May Care against the boys. With Eskendereya out of the Derby, jockey John Velazquez will be free to ride Devil May Care which may have had an impact on the decision.

Only three fillies have won the Run for Roses, the last being Winning Colors in 1988. Regret (1915) and Genenuine Risk (1980) are the only two. The last filly to race in the Kentucky Derby was Eight Belles, who finished second behind Big Brown in 2008. Only four fillies have tried the Derby since Winning Colors' victory including Eight Belles, Serena's Song (16th in 1995), and in 1995 Excellent Meeting (5th), and Three Ring (19th).

Pletcher, a four-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation's leading trainer, is looking for his first Kentucky Derby victory after trying with 24 horses in previous Derbies. Velazquez is 0-9 in Derby mounts in perhaps one of the most successful teams to have not yet won a Kentucky Derby. However, Pletcher and Velazquez teamed up in the 2007 Belmont Stakes (gr. 1) with the filly Rags To Riches to defeat eventual Horse of the Year Curlin. Rags to Riches was only the third filly to win the third jewel of the Triple Crown after Tanya in 1905 and Ruthless taking the inaugural Belmont Stakes in 1867.

Rule's Derby departure allows for Jackson Bend to qualify for the Derby with $230,000 in graded stakes earnings. Jackson Bend was second to Eskendereya in both the Wood Memorial (gr. 1) in April and the Fountain of Youth (gr. 2) in March and also gives trainer Nick Zito his second starter in this year's Derby along with Florida Derby (gr. 1) winner Ice Box.

Baffert: Then and Then.
So you think things get easier for the trainers and horses once they begin to arrive at Churchill Downs in the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby? Three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert (photo) summarized it during a interview on TVG's Saturday morning telecast of Morning Line by saying "You gotta come in here with a really good horse. Then he has to work well. And he has to be moving forward. Then he has to school well. And then you have to get a good post [position in the starting gate]. And then he has to get a good trip. There’s so many things involved. If all the things work, and you have the best horse. Then you can get the job done. But there are a lot of hoops they have to jump through. So until that gate comes open, I never relax."

Baffert may be just a little less worried now, however, after watching Looking at Lucky work five furlongs (5/8ths of a mile) over a sealed and sloppy race track in 1:00.38 seconds, the fastest of five Derby horses that also worked Monday morning.

Rachel Ready To Roll
Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra appears ready for her return to the races in Friday's $400,000 La Troienne Stakes after working a half-mile in 49.87 seconds over a sloppy track early Monday morning at Churchill Downs. After the work trainer Steve Asmussen told Daily Racing Form "The level of excitement for Friday, it's definitely there. I am very, very pleased with her."

The La Troienne will be no cake walk for the popular 4-year-old filly who will again meet Zardana, who upset Rachel Alexandra in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes in March; Careless Jewel, winner of the grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga last year and the beaten favorite in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (gr. 1) at Santa Anita in November and three other possible starters.

Derby Fun Facts
Outside of the jeweled embellishments that were added to the Kentucky Derby Trophy to note special Derby anniversaries in 1949 (75th), 1974 (100th), and 1999 (125th), only one change has been made to the original design.

For the 125th Kentucky Derby in 1999, Churchill Downs officials decided to defer to racing lore and change the direction of the decorative horseshoe displayed on the 14-karat gold trophy. The horseshoe, fashioned from 18-karat gold, had pointed downward on each of the trophies since 1924. To commemorate Derby 125 the change was made and the horseshoe was turned 180 degrees so that its ends pointed up. The trophy now annually incorporates the horseshoe with the ends pointing up.

Racing superstition decrees that if the horseshoe is turned down, all the luck will run out.

Roses became the traditional way to honor the Derby winner during the early years of the 20th century. Dating back to 1906 Churchill Downs has photos of the winner with the garland. In 1925 that the late Bill Corum, a New York sports columnist, dubbed the classic the “RUN FOR THE ROSES.” Corum later served as president of Churchill Downs from 1950-1958.

The most popular color of Kentucky Derby winners is bay with 49, followed by chestnut (43), Brown (17), Dark Bay or Brown (11), Gray Roan (8) Black (4) and Dark Bay (3). In 1962, the Jockey Club merged the dark bay & brown color classifications to
dark bay or brown.

Speaking of Brown
No Kentucky Derby party is complete without a Mint Julep and some Kentucky Hot Browns.

I recommend the mini Hot Browns as described here for a Kentucky Derby party. For authenticity, pleasure and additional cholesterol, Ramsey's restaurant in Lexington has the best Hot Browns among the Kentucky establishments I have reviewed.

4 oz. butter
6 tablespoons flour
3 - 3 1/2 cups milk
1 beaten egg
6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 ounce whipped cream, optional
Salt & pepper to taste
Slices of roasted turkey
8 - 12 slices of toast, trimmed
Extra grated Parmesan cheese
8 - 12 strips crisp, cooked bacon

Melt butter and add enough of the flour to make a reasonable thick roux (enough to absorb all the butter). Add the milk and Parmesan cheese. Add the well-beaten egg to thicken the sauce, but do not allow it to boil. Remove from the heat. Fold in the whipped cream, if desired. Add salt and pepper to taste.

For each Hot Brown, place two slices of toast in a metal or flame-proof dish. Cover the toast with slices of roasted turkey. Pour a generous amount of the sauce over the turkey and toast. Sprinkle with some of the additional Parmesan cheese. Place the dish under the broiler until the sauce is speckled on top and bubbly. Remove from the broiler; place two pieces of the bacon, crossed, on top and serve immediately.

For mini hot browns, substitute trimmed toast for snack size.

The Official Mint Julep Recipe From Churchill Downs
Make a simple syrup by boiling 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water for 5 minutes, without stirring. Fill a jar loosely with sprigs of fresh mint (uncrushed) and cover with the
cooled syrup. Cap and refrigerate 12-24 hours. Discard mint. Make one julep at a time.

Fill chilled julep cup with finely crushed ice, pour in half a tablespoon of the mint-flavored syrup and 2 ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whiskey. Frost cup, stick in a sprig of mint and serve at once. You can get a head start by putting the batch, without mint, in the freezer until ready for use.

Endorsement Makes Talk's Kentucky Elite Eight

Last week it was the sweet sixteen in conjunction with the NCAA men's basketball tournament, so staying in line with March Madness, here's our Kentucky Derby Elite Eight. I didn't expect the top eight to move much this week unless Conveyance or Discreetly Mine ran a big race in their respective Derby preps. I was correct in that neither Conveyance nor Discreetly Mine would crack into my elite eight, but since mouths are often judged by the money behind them, I must disclose my inability to profit from the outcome of the Louisiana Derby (gr. 2) or it's pier in New Mexico, the Sunland Derby (gr. 3).

And even if you would have told me that Mission Impazible would win in Louisiana and Endorsement would take the Sunland Derby, I would have calculated wrong as to which would be more impressive.

Mission Impazible came to Louisiana from the powerful Todd Pletcher barn and a less than ideal trip while running fourth in the grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn in February. But the 10-1 shot, stalked favored Discreetly Mine and A Little Warm through a comfortable pace before switching to the outside to rundown the leaders nearing the end of the long Fair Grounds stretch.

Despite the win, however, I hesitate to make him one of my top contenders as I suspect Mission Impazible may not have even been the best horse in the Louisiana Derby. Third-place finisher Drosselmeyer and jockey Kent Desormeaux spent the better part of the far turn trying to keep from running up on the barrier of leaders in front of them. It was a nice race and I like the improving pattern in Mission Impazible's races - just not enough for me to place him to be among my elite.


On the other hand, and also coming from Oaklawn Park but from the maiden ranks, Endorsement cruised to an upset win over Conveyance in the Sunland Derby. Being a son of the leading sire Distorted Humor, from the powerful WinStar Farm, with jockey Robby Albarado and a $450,000 Keenland September yearling purchase, he had plenty of credentials, except those on the track. His three career races were spent trying to win for the first time.



But as he and Conveyance raced toward the stretch at Sunland, it was apparent that Endorsement had the edge as Albarado had not moved a muscle and Martin Garcia on Conveyance was scrubbing away asking for more. After a battle to mid-stretch, Endorsement seemed to pull away with ease and in the end hit the wire with an impressive 101 Beyer Speed Figure. It was a difficult performance to ignore and enough to make The Brock Talk's Elite Eight.

The Kentucky Derby Elite Eight
1-Lookin at Lucky: Trainer Bob Baffert has called a last minute audible and will stay at home with Lookin at Lucky for the Santa Anita Derby Saturday instead of the planned Arkansas Derby in two weeks. Baffert trained Derby winners Silver Charm ('97) and Real Quiet ('98) both prepped with runner-up performances in the Santa Anita Derby.
2-Noble's Promise: Ran a big race in the Rebel to almost take down Lookin at Lucky and may now be the favorite in Arkansas Derby with the later's departure.
3-Eskendereya: His eye-popping victory in the Fountain of Youth also gave him a big edge with a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. But that may be the challenge for Pletcher to keep him on the path of improvement in the Wood Memorial and into Kentucky.
4-Odysseus: His very late move in the last 100 yards of the Tampa Bay Derby was unusual, but impressive.
5-Awesome Act: British import invaded Yankee territory more successfully the second time in winning New York's Gotham Stakes. Now he'll have home field advantage over Florida invaders in the Wood.
6-Endorsement: Despite the big beyer number (101) and impressive Sunland Derby, I can't put him ahead of the rest until they have their final preparations as well.
7-Dublin: Has the stalking running style I like and I'm counting on the experience of four-time Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas to manage the needed improvement. He will likely meet Noble's Promise again at home in Arkansas.
8-Schoolyard Dreams: Looked the winner of the Tampa Bay Derby until the photo finish was published. Next stop Wood Memorial.

Click here to see the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance 3-Year-Old Male Standings

The Horse Named Brock
Last summer when the two-year-old began to run, Backtalk caught our attention as we continue to enjoy him in his effort to reach the Kentucky Derby.

This year, we will have an obvious youngster to trail as Jess Jackson named his $2.3 million Distorted Humor colt Brock.

According to Bloodhorse.com, Brock is in early training at the Robert Scalon Training Center in Florida preparing for a possible first journey to the races in May.

Beginners Battle In Bashford Manor

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale calls them diaper dandies. Major league baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and NASCAR call them rookies. They are the young and talented who have yet to prove their mettle at the next level of competition. In horse racing they are referred simply by their age - 2-year-olds. And one of the first big games of new season is Friday night at Churchill Downs in the grade 3, $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes at 6 furlongs.

And like Walter Payton coming into the NFL out of small Jackson State or Jerry Rice out of tiny Mississippi Valley State, a top contender in the Bashford Manor does not hail from the high profile breeding farms of Kentucky nor the high powered barns of a Todd Pletcher or Bob Baffert.

Brassy Boy is a Arkansas homebred owned by Millsap Stables, and is by Storm and a Half, who stands for a paltry $2,000 in Starkman, Ark. He is trained by Hal Wiggins (photo at right), best known this year as the trainer of Rachel Alexandra before she was sold after her win in the grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and before the Preakness.

Brassy Boy comes into the Bashford Manor with a victory over maiden claimers (the lower of the two maiden race levels) and a come-from-behind allowance win at 28-1 which surprised even Wiggins. Jockey Corey Lanerie returns to ride.

On the other side of the prestige ledger in the Bashford Manor is Mission Impazible. Trained by multiple training champion Todd Pletcher, Mission Impazible is by Unbridled's Song, who stands in Kentucky for $125,000. He is ridden by two-time Jockey of the Year John Velazquez and may be the favorite Friday night coming off a troupble third place finish in the grade 3 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes at Churchill April 30.

Another contneder is Backtalk, a son of Smarty Jones who we mentioned on The Brock Talk after the colt broke his maiden in his frist race at Churchill Downs in mid-June. Backtalk is trained by Tom Amoss and will be ridden by Marcos Mena.

$100,000 Bashford Manor (gr. III, Race 10, 7:24 p.m.), 2YO, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Grand Slam Andre (KY), S Bridgmohan, 118, S M Asmussen
2. Westrock Gold (FL), J R Leparoux, 118, D W Lukas
3. Brassy Boy (AR), C J Lanerie, 120, H R Wiggins
4. Mission Impazible (KY), J R Velazquez, 118, T A Pletcher
5. Backtalk (FL), M Mena, 118, T M Amoss
6. Even Wilder (KY), J K Court, 116, T Veinot
7. Soundman (KY), J Theriot, 118, D W Lukas
8. Vito Filitto (KY), C H Borel, 116, B S Flint
9. Flatter Than Me (KY), R Albarado, 118, M R Scherer