Friesan Fire lights the Trail!

Pioneerof the Nile training at Keeneland on Polytrack 9.30.2008 Photo: EquiSport Photos/Matt Wooley

Okay Kids, A little shake up on the Derby Trail this week.
Friesan Fire looked brilliant. Perhaps the best prep race if the year. And it was on dirt!
Old Fashioned faltered in the Rebel. Will rematch Win Willy in the Arkansas Derby.
Florida Derby coming up big this year, just as it did for Big Brown last year. Quality Road leads a strong field that includes mystery horse Dunkirk, Kenny McPeek's Theregoesjojo and Beethoven who needs to pick it up a notch.
This week's Lane's End Cup favors West Side Bernie, with Edgar Prado flying in for the mount, up against Bittel Road and Garrett Gomez.
Attached is my "Top 20 or so Derby Contenders and Connections". This list along with $2.00 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Small.
Next update, April Fools Day.
"The Word" - Derby 2009 Contenders March 16, 2009 www.equisportphotos.com
Horse Sire Trainer Owner Jockey Next
1 FRIESAN FIRE AP Indy Larry Jones Vinery & Fox Hill Gabriel Saez 4/11 Blgrass or 5/2 Ky. Derby
2 THE PAMPLEMOUSSE Kafwain Julio Canani Bienstock & Winner Stable, A. Solis II Alex Solis 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
3 I WANT REVENGE Stephen Got Even Jeff Mullins Lanzman Racing Joe Talamo 4/4 AQ Wood Memorial (G1)
4 QUALITY ROAD Elusive Quality James Jerkins Edward Evans John Velazquez 3/28 GP Florida Derby
5 OLD FASHIONED Unbridled's Song Larry Jones Rick Porter Ramon Dominguez 4/11 OP Arkansas Derby
6 IMPERIAL COUNCIL Empire Maker Shug McGaughey Sequoia Racing Rajiv Maragh 4/4 AQ Wood Memorial (G1)
7 PIONEEROF THE NILE Empire Maker Bob Baffert Zayat Stables Garrett Gomez 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
8 DUNKIRK Unbridled's Song Todd Pletcher Magnier, Tabor, Smith Garrett Gomez 3/28 GP Florida Derby
9 PAPA CLEM Smart Strike Bo Hirsh Gary Stute Rafael Bejarano 4/4 HAW Illinois Derby
10 WIN WILLY Monarchos McLean Robertson Jer-Mar Stable M. Berry 4/11 OP Arkansas Derby
11 THEREGOESJOJO Brahms Kenny McPeek Samotowka, Delfiner, Drall, Magdalena Kent Desormeaux 3/28 GP Florida Derby
12 CHOCOLATE CANDY Candy Ride Jerry Hollendorfer Jenny Craig Rafael Bejarano 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
13 MUSKET MAN Yonaguska Derek Ryan Eric Fein, Vic Carlson Daniel Centeno 4/4 Illinois Derby or Wood M.
14 WEST SIDE BERNIE Bernstein Kelly Breen Lori & Goerge Hall Edgar Prado 3/21 TP Lane's End
15 DESERT PARTY Street Cry Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Frankie Dettori 3/28 NAS UAE Derby
16 BEETHOVEN Sky Mesa John Ward John Oxley Calvin Borel 3/28 GP Florida Derby
17 TERRAIN Sky Mesa Albert Stall Jr Albert Stall Jamie Theriot 4/11 Bluegrass S. (G1) or Lex.
18 CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN Candy Ride Ian Wilkes Jos. Rauch, David Zell Julien Leparoux
19 GENERAL QUARTERS Sky Mesa Mark Miller Thomas McCarthy James Lopez 4/11 KEE Bluegrass S. (G1)
20 VINEYARD HAVEN Lido Palace Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Edgar Prado 3/28 NAS UAE Derby
21 BITTEL ROAD Stormy Atlantic Todd Pletcher Scatuorchio & Iracane Garrett Gomez 3/21 TP Lane's End