American Lion – Illinois Derby winner took the lead and held the lead from a suspect field 4 weeks ago at Hawthorne Park. He finished in 1:51 1/5 but his last 1/8 was in a respectable 13 flat. Am Lion had a little extra burst in the tank when Yawanna Twist (who finished 11 in front of the next- Backtalk) came up to challenge. That race was the runner’s first effort on dirt and with middling works at CD I can see an over looked talent at a healthy mutual price.

Lookin At Lucky – This troubled troubadour is 6 for 8 lifetime with a victory in the 1 1/16 Rebel at OP 7 weeks ago. In that race he clicked heels halfway thru but was able to repel the likes of Nobles Promise and Dublin. Baffert trainee has been professionally working the past two weeks at CD. I see him picking up the pieces late ala Pioneer of the Nile in ‘09. His trouble at the rail in the SA Derby Post may be a problem for the inside post runner.

Dublin – Durable Afleet Alex colt makes his 9th career start – all on dirt. Came in third in the Arkansas Derby but ran a very consistent final 1/8 of 12 4/5 seconds. His chances go up with the sunshine, I don’t think he’ll respond to a “cuppy” wet surface. I look for him to hold a stalking position and finish up close but not ahead of American Lion or Lookin at Lucky.

Sidney’s Candy – Outside draw may set him up for the blistering early fractions that he will need to get the lead, Joe Talamo will have his hands full keeping it over 46 and change. I like the final 1/8 time of 12 3/5 for the SA Derby while maintaining a 4 length lead. His prior two races were not as impressive as the SA Derby and the fields were not of this caliber. He is a special horse if he can win from the outside, I see him fading in the stretch.

Super Saver – Borel will get the leg up from Pletcher for the Winstar LLC. He ran a very respectable 12 4/5 the last 1/8 in the Arkansas Derby. He was closing in on Line Of Divid on the wire and lost by less than a neck. Front running type fires from the 4 hole which should suit Colonel Calvin. If Super Saver has kept/made the lead when turning for home I think that American Lion or Lookin At Lucky would be the only ones to catch him.

LATE SUPER ADD – Make Music For Me California turf and synthetic specialist is coming off a lackluster final 13 2/5 in the Bluegrass. He lost to Lucky and Nobles Promise by 1 1/4 lengths in the Cal Fut at Hollywood Park during the week before Christmas. Underrated Joel Rosario is up in the saddle. It wouldn’t shock me to see him take dirt and make some cha ching type of music filling out the super.

I get a thrill every year around this time when I look at the Derby prep races and all of the horses have the Triple Crown nomination symbol next to their breeding lines in the DRF PPs.

Several years ago I spent a cold wet miserable February in Dublin Ireland. My humble advice for the backers of the colt Dublin (Afleet Alex out of Classy Mirage) in the G3 Southwest at Oaklawn on Saturday is to wait for his races in April and May. This colt will be rounding into form nicely during the warmer months, a much more pleasant experience than Dublin in February.

I don’t understand why both the Blood-Horse staff written piece and DRF’s Mike Welsch never mentioned the stewards’ inquiry of the stretch run in yesterday’s 8th race at GP. From the head-on shot it looked like the eventual winner Doubles Partner and Chris DeCarlo really made their own hole at the rail when the horse dug his right shoulder into Saint Eligius who then went into Lentenor. Both Lentenor and Saint Eligius were pushed several paths wide of the eventual winner. Maybe not enough to take him down in the eyes of the stewards but well worth a mention in the journals of record. Add the Paulick Report slug line “Lentesnore” and you get a distinct feeling Barbaro’s (over hyped?) little brother is getting written off a bit too early in the game. Look for Lentenor to prove himself later this spring, possibly in an emotion generating appearance in the Preakness.

A local Chinese restaurant has a special dish called the Triple Crown: it includes jumbo shrimp, beef and chicken in a spicy Hong Kong sauce all for a mere $11.00… far cheaper than what I’ll be playing on May 1st.
Happy Derby Trails.