Winslow Homer Paints a Gray Trail!!

Winslow Homer wins the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park 1.23.2010. Photo: Zbigniew/EquiSport Photos


Okay Kids, It's that time of year again. The flurries are still flying and the wind chill values are below freezing here in Kentucky, but the colts are getting serious. The Derby Trail has begun!
This weekend brought us the first of the REAL (read "Graded Dirt") Trail races. WINSLOW HOMER (Unbridled's Song), whose namesake has painted Eight Bells, came charging to win Gulfstream's Holy Bull Stakes, for Owner Rick Porter, over JACKSON BEND (Hear No Evil). And RON THE GREEK (Full Mandate) was a surprise winner of the Lecomte Stakes at Fairgrounds, over MAXIMUS RULER (Roman Ruler).
Last weekend on the plastic, er.. synthetic surface, CONVEYANCE (Indian Charlie) held on gamely in the San Rafael, and RANGER HEARTLEY (Lost Soldier) beat a weak field that included Connemara (Giant's Causeway) in the California Derby.
This weekend's WEBN S. at Turfway is the only Derby Trail action.
Page 2 of The Word PDF has some Oaks hopefuls, including Eclipse Award winner SHE BE WILD, and multiple winner SASSY IMAGE.
Remember, The Derby Word is just a list of my observations. Any betting with real money should involve a more scientific approach, like actual handicapping!


"The Word" - Derby 2010 Contenders January 24, 2010 www.equisportphotos.com
rank Horse Sire Trainer Jockey Owner Comment
1 SUPER SAVER Maria's Mon Todd Pletcher Calvin Borel Winstar 11/28 CD 1st in Ky. Jockey Club (G2).
2 LOOKIN' AT LUCKY Smart Strike Bob Baffert Garrett Gomez Pegram, Watson, Weitman 12/19 HW 1st in Cash Call Futurity (G1), 11/7 SA 2nd in BC Juvenile (G1), 9/6 DM 1st in Del Mar Futurity (G1)
3 BUDDY'S SAINT Saint Liam Bruce Levine Jose Lezcano Kingfield Stables 1/3 AQ 1st in Nashua (G2), 11/28 AQ 1st in Remson (G2).
4 RULE Roman Ruler Todd Pletcher John Velazquez Winstar 12/4 FG 1st in Delta Jackpot (G3)
5 WINSLOW HOMER Unbrideled's Song Tony Dutrow Ramon Dominguez Rick Porter, Fox Hill Farm 1/23 GP 1st in Holy Bull (G3), 2 other wins
6 CONVEYANCE Indian Charlie Bob Baffert Garrett Gomez Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum (Zabeel Racing) 1/16 SA 1st in San Rafael (G3), 1/25 HW 1st in Allow.
7 VALE OF YORK Invincible Spirit Saeed by Suroor Ahmed Ajtebi Godolphin 11/7 SA 1st in BC Juvenile (G1)
8 POUNCED Rahy John Gosden Frankie Dettori Lady Rothschild 11/7 SA 1st in BC Juvenile Turf (G1)
9 NOBLE'S PROMISE Cuvee Ken McPeek Rafael Bejarano Chasing Dreams Racing 12/19 HW 2nd in Cash Call Futurity (G1), 10/10 KEE 1st in Breeder's Futurity (G1)
10 AMERICAN LION Tiznow Eoin Harty Julien Leparoux Winstar 11/21 HW 1st in Hollywood Prevue (G3)
11 UH OH BANGO Top Hit Kory Owens Glenn Corbett Triple AAA Ranch (Richard Owens) 12/4 FG 2nd in Delta Jackpot (G3), 11/1 CD 2nd in Iroquois (G3)
12 LAUS DEO Medaglia d'Oro Anthoney Dutrow David Cohen Rick Porter, Fox Hill Farm 1/2 AQ 1st in Count Fleet (G3)
13 RANGER HEARTLEY Lost Soldier John Sadler Julio Garcia David Alpert & Herb Alpert 1/16 GG 1st in Cal Derby (L)
14 RON THE GREEK Full Mandate Thomas Amoss James Graham Jack Hammer 1/23 FG 1st in Lecomte (G3)
15 JACKSON BEND Hear No Evil Nick Zito Jeramy Rose Jacks or Better, Robert LaPenta 1/23 GP 2nd in Holy Bull (G3)


Oaks 2010 Contenders
rank Horse Sire Trainer Jockey Owner Comment
1 SHE BE WILD Offlee Wild Wayne Catalano Julien Leparoux Nancy Mazzoni 11/6 SA 1st in BC Juvenile Fillys (G1)
2 SASSY IMAGE Broken Vow Dale Romans Robby Albarado Jerry Romans 1/17 GP 1st in Sweetest Chant, 11/28 CD 1st in Golden Rod (G2)
3 BLIND LUCK Pollard's Vision Jerry Hollendorfer Rafael Bejarano DeDomenico, Carver, Hollendorfer 12/20 HW 1st in Hollywood Starlet (G1)
4 AMEN HALLELUJAH Montbrook Rick Dutrow Chantel Sutherland IEAH Stables and Whizway Farms. 1/16 SA 1st in Santa Ynez (G2)
5 QUIET TEMPER Quiet American Dale Romans Robby Albarado Mark Stanley 12/4 DD 1st in Delta Princess (G3)
6 CRISP El Corredor John Sadler Joel Rosario Michael Talla 1/10 SA 1st in San Ysabel (G3)
7 TAPITSFLY Tapit Dale Romans 11/6 SA 1st in Juvenile Fillys Turf
8 BEAUTICIAN Dehere Ken McPeek Garrett K. Gomez Peter J. Callahan 11/6 SA 2nd in BC Juvenile Fillys (G1)
9 NEGLIGEE Northern Afleet John Terranova Rajiv Maragh Sovereign Stable 11/6 KEE 1st in Darley Alcibiades (G1)

'Sassy' Moves Up Oaks Trail 01.18.2010

Photo: Wendy Uzelac/EquiSport Photos



"The Word" - Derby 2010 Contenders January 18, 2010 www.equisportphotos.com
rank Horse Sire Trainer Jockey Owner
1 SUPER SAVER Maria's Mon Todd Pletcher Calvin Borel Winstar
11/28 CD 1st in Ky. Jockey Club (G2).
2 LOOKIN' AT LUCKY Smart Strike Bob Baffert Garrett Gomez Pegram, Watson, Weitman
12/19 HW 1st in Cash Call Futurity (G1), 11/7 SA 2nd in BC Juvenile (G1), 9/6 DM 1st in Del Mar Futurity (G1)
3 BUDDY'S SAINT Saint Liam Bruce Levine Jose Lezcano Kingfield Stables
1/3 AQ 1st in Nashua (G2), 11/28 AQ 1st in Remson (G2).
4 VALE OF YORK Invincible Spirit Saeed by Suroor Ahmed Ajtebi Godolphin
11/7 SA 1st in BC Juvenile (G1)
5 RULE Roman Ruler Todd Pletcher John Velazquez Winstar
12/4 FG 1st in Delta Jackpot (G3)
6 CONVEYANCE Indian Charlie Bob Baffert Garrett Gomez Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al Maktoum (Zabeel Racing)
1/16 SA 1st in San Rafael (G3), 1/25 HW 1st in Allow.
7 POUNCED Rahy John Gosden Frankie Dettori Lady Rothschild
11/7 SA 1st in BC Juvenile Turf (G1)
8 NOBLE'S PROMISE Cuvee Ken McPeek Rafael Bejarano Chasing Dreams Racing
12/19 HW 2nd in Cash Call Futurity (G1), 10/10 KEE 1st in Breeder's Futurity (G1)
9 AMERICAN LION Tiznow Eoin Harty Julien Leparoux Winstar
11/21 HW 1st in Hollywood Prevue (G3)
10 UH OH BANGO Top Hit Kory Owens Glenn Corbett Triple AAA Ranch (Richard Owens)
12/4 FG 2nd in Delta Jackpot (G3), 11/1 CD 2nd in Iroquois (G3)
11 TAKE CONTROL AP Indy Bob Baffert Martin Garcia Kaleem Shah
1130 SA 1st in MSW
12 LAUS DEO Medaglia d'Oro Anthoney Dutrow David Cohen Rick Porter, Fox Hill Farm
1/2 AQ 1st in Count Fleet (G3)
13 RANGER HEARTLEY Lost Soldier John Sadler Julio Garcia David Alpert & Herb Alpert
1/16 GG 1st in Cal Derby (L)

Oaks 2010 Contenders
rank Horse Sire Trainer Jockey Owner
1 SHE BE WILD Offlee Wild Wayne Catalano Julien Leparoux Nancy Mazzoni
11/6 SA 1st in BC Juvenile Fillys (G1)
2 SASSY IMAGE Broken Vow Dale Romans Robby Albarado Jerry Romans
1/17 GP 1st in Sweetest Chant (T), 11/28 CD 1st in Golden Rod (G2)
3 BLIND LUCK Pollard's Vision Jerry Hollendorfer Rafael Bejarano DeDomenico, Carver, Hollendorfer
12/20 HW 1st in Hollywood Starlet (G1)
4 AMEN HALLELUJAH Montbrook Rick Dutrow Chantel Sutherland IEAH Stables and Whizway Farms.
1/16 SA 1st in Santa Ynez (G2)
5 QUIET TEMPER Quiet American Dale Romans Robby Albarado Mark Stanley
12/4 DD 1st in Delta Princess (G3)
6 CRISP El Corredor John Sadler Joel Rosario Michael Talla
1/10 SA 1st in San Ysabel (G3)
7 TAPITSFLY Tapit Dale Romans
11/6 SA 1st in Juvenile Fillys Turf
8 BEAUTICIAN Dehere Ken McPeek Garrett K. Gomez Peter J. Callahan
11/6 SA 2nd in BC Juvenile Fillys (G1)
9 NEGLIGEE Northern Afleet John Terranova Rajiv Maragh Sovereign Stable
11/6 KEE 1st in Darley Alcibiades (G1)

January Derby Trail Top 10

Buddy's Saint (Jose Lezcano up) wins the Remsen at Aqueduct. 11.28.2009 Credit: EquiSport Photos/Dianne Boothe


Okay, so it's January. And it's snowing here in Kentucky. The fact is that a few contenders have already surfaced in some early Derby preps.
Not the least impressive of which has been Buddy's Saint. From the only crop of the ill fated Saint Liam, the Bruce Levine charge has already captured two Grade 2 Stakes at Aqueduct. The colt won both the Nashua and the Remson in November, by a combined 16+ lengths! Now in training at Gulfstream Park for Owner Kingfield Stables, the Fountain of Youth Stakes will mark the 3 year-old debut for Buddy's Saint on February 20.

"The Word", My ranking of the 2010 Derby Contenders
"For recreational purposes only, not intended as a substitute for actual handicapping"
January 7, 2010 www.equisportphotos.com
Rank Horse Sire Trainer Jockey Owner Comment
1 SUPER SAVER, Maria's Mon, Todd Pletcher, Calvin Borel, Winstar, 11/28 CD 1st in Ky. Jockey Club (G2).
2 VALE OF YORK, Invincible Spirit, Saeed by Suroor, Ahmed Ajtebi, Godolphin, 11/7 SA 1st in BC Juvenile (G1)
3 LOOKIN' AT LUCKY, Smart Strike, Bob Baffert, Garrett Gomez, Pegram Watson Weitman, 12/19 HW 1st in Cash Call Futurity (G1), 11/7 SA 2nd in BC Juvenile (G1), 9/6 DM 1st in Del Mar Futurity (G1)
4 BUDDY'S SAINT, Saint Liam, Bruce Levine, Jose Lezcano, Kingfield Stables, 1/3 AQ 1st in Nashua (G2), 11/28 AQ 1st in Remson (G2).
5 RULE, Roman Ruler, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, Winstar, 12/4 FG 1st in Delta Jackpot (G3)
6 NOBLE'S PROMISE, Cuvee, Ken McPeek, Rafael Bejarano, Chasing Dreams Racing, 12/19 HW 2nd in Cash Call Futurity (G1), 10/10 KEE 1st in Breeder's Futurity (G1)
7 AMERICAN LION, Tiznow, Eoin Harty, Julien Leparoux, Winstar, 11/21 HW 1st in Hollywood Prevue (G3)
8 UH OH BANGO, Top Hit, Kory Owens, Glenn Corbett, Triple AAA Ranch (Richard Owens), 12/4 FG 2nd in Delta Jackpot (G3), 11/1 CD 2nd in Iroquois (G3)
9 TAKE CONTROL, AP Indy, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, Kaleem Shah, 1130 SA 1st in MSW
10 LAUS DEO, Medaglia d'Oro, Anthoney Dutrow, David Cohen, Rick Porter & Fox Hill Farm, 1/2 AQ 1st in Count Fleet (G3)