Picks and musings for 031114 by hsw 9 tracks 72 races “A person can’t help being what they are, even if they think they are somebody else.” - h. watnik This weeks Blood Horse compilation of the top dozen derby contenders has arrived via 20 mule team to this salt flat dry lake paradise- and a quick “take” on the dozen is in order- lets look from #12 to #1 this week- last season the crop began falling to pieces in early April, but a couple of outstanding colts arrived in Will Take Charge, and Palace Malice- this season all the “real” horses seem to be Prisoners of Zenda- hopefully they will escape their shackles and give this classic season some garnish- one of ‘em Honor Code, is set to scintillate mid-week down in the Sunshine state- hopefully he’ll come out of the gate like a tiger- #12) General A Rod > his sire Roman Ruler, has a classic winner under his belt- the ff are 4-d -a historic bunch of broodmares- I suppose Majestic Prince, offers enough proof of that- GAR’ broodmare sire array is a very interesting bunch- I’d say he has a fighting chance- his 4th dam was Majestic Prince’s half sis by Prince John- #11) Mexikoma > arrives via basically the team which got Animal Kingdom, together for his run to immortality- it should be recollected that at this point of Animal Kingdom’s career he was a unknown- so Mexikoma, is at a similar point, with lots of glowing reports but little to show in the victory depot- his ff are monumental 4-M (Magnolia) home of many greats including Kentucky, of old, & one of the legends of the American turf- the sire is Birdstone- Sabin, the high class filly by world-beater Lyphard, is the 4th dam of Mexikoma, who needs to get some “derby points” very soon- #10) on Mr. Haskins list is Samraat, the unbeaten - by Noble Causeway, out of a family 14-B matron- Samraat, has laughed in the face of “pedigree” thus far - his female link-ups will do him in sooner or later- certainly amongst “peoples” horses, California Chrome, presents with a far superior group of progenitors in his female department- #9) Conquest Titan >lost the other day I believe- he is also a Birdstone son and with a much richer broodmare sire array than his “cousin” Mexikoma, which in all likelihood means Mexikoma is superior!! The female family (ff) for CT are 10-A a active group (Folk Opera, Dance to Bristol etc.) - perhaps the Tampa Bay Derby, was his “excuse” race (if indeed he even participated, I think I saw him in there?)- As usual it is much to much to explore the entire dozen, however briefly I think I can discuss them- so I will try to limit the remainder of mini-portraiture-- #8) California Chrome- came out of the San Felipe Stakes gate as if he were Swaps revisited- deep pedigree- ff A4 generated aforementioned Swaps- a genuine contender for the greatest of all steeds- their common ancestress is Sir Galahad, daughter Betty Derr of 1928- amazingly Lucky Pulpit, is the sire of CC who will come into the Santa Anita with very little tarnish- so much for brevity- #7) Tapiture, is a son of red hot Seattle Slew, sire line standout Tapit- the ff are 20-A -a noteworthy tribe, running the gamut between Pharis II, the toast of Paris and Royal Delta, the fighting mare of modern days- I wouldn’t play him in the derby - which means he may win!!- not for me nevertheless- #6) Intense Holiday, is a disciple of mastermind” agent” Pletcher- the top pedigree line is very nice and current- what lay underneath? A rather shoddy group of 5-J matrons, but the family can ascend every so often- Equipoise, Seabiscuit,…. in modern days The Lumber Guy, is where it peaks- not for me- #5) Bayern > is this years super lightly raced phenomenon- like California Chrome, and titan Swaps, he traces back in time to Betty Derr, by Sir Galahad, himself a son of monument Plucky Liege (16-A)- the sire Offlee Wild, is out of a half sis to major beast Dynaformer- I’ll pass, but I’m sure he’ll be a popular flavor if he gets to the derby in Louisville- #4) Candy Boy > presents this writer with the double whammy a) a son of Candy Ride b) the golden rule “Never play against a hoss with “Boy” in its name” like Arbees Boy etc.- the broodmare sire array borders on the absurd (for a derby horse) and Candy Ride, would have to be the 2nd coming of Teddy, to get a derby winner out of this mess- but the group are 3-L types and that is a “hot” (the Missy Baba, portion at any rate is) family- one example, AP Indy- almost an impossibility I’d suggest- 3) Honor Code - is slated to return to the races soon, a son of AP Indy - the 3rd dam of the family “7” budding star is Serena’s Song, a major runner in her time- 2) Cairo Prince > is a son of the hottest young stallion since Midnight Lute, arrived on the scene- Pioneerof The Nile- the ff are “20” types- home of perhaps the best race horse of ‘em all-superior Kelso! Unfortunately for Cairo Prince, the family factions divided around 1758! But when a hot sire arrives like Pioneerof the Nile- then attention and respect are required handicapping elements- 1) top billing goes to Top Billing, a son of behemoth Curlin- in his saddlebags Top Billing, carries 126 pounds of excuses over his Fountain of Youth race- - but I have to like him ( even if its just a peck on the cheek) since his 11th dam is all time h. favorite Chelandry (Goldfinch x Illuminata)- family 1-N does get some lovely runners like Swale, and Forty Niner, not to forget Genuine Risk! Beulah 1-2 2-4 3-5 4-1e 5-1e 6-1 7-5 8-4 Charles town 1-7 2-2 3-6 4-9 5-2 6-2 7-1e 8-6 9-2 Louisiana Downs 1-6 2-1 3-1 4-1e 5-5 6-2 7-5 8-2 Mountaineer 1-7 2-4 3-3 4-2 5-3 6-3 7-1 8-4 9-3 Parx 1-4 2-7 3-3 4-5 5-2 6-1 7-3 8-9 Sam Houston 1-7 2-1 3-6 4-7 5-6 6-5 7-2 8-3 9-7 10-9 Sunland 1-8 2-1 3-6 4-6 5-3 6-4 7-3 8-2 9-7 10-7 11-8 Turf paradise 1-2 2-1 3-4 4-8 5-1 6-9 7-2 8-1 9-7 Will Rogers 1-1 2-2 3-3 4-1 5-9 6-6 7-1 8-1 hsw
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 11:51:14 +0000
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