I Want Revenge takes rematch with Imperial Council in Wood

Photo: EquiSport Photos/Sue K.

Alright, we are getting into the stretch the next 2 weeks.
My thoughts...purely for recreational value!
In the the Wood, replay of the Gotham, 'I Want Revenge' over Imperial Council'
In the Santa Anita Derby, the 'Mousse' is loose over 'Pioneer'.
The Arkansas Derby should see 'Old Fashioned' reestablish himself as a Top 5 contender, and 'Papa Clem' move up a couple notches.
The Bluegrass Stakes is left with the bottom feeders of the Top 20, now that Friesan Fire is training up to the Derby. All of the Big Boys want to go on dirt. I'll take 'Terrain' by a nose over 'Hold Me Back' who may get held back.
Next update, Tax Day.

1 I WANT REVENGE Stephen Got Even Jeff Mullins IEAH, Lanzman Racing Joe Talamo 4/4 AQ Wood Memorial (G1)
2 FRIESAN FIRE AP Indy Larry Jones Vinery & Fox Hill Gabriel Saez 5/2 CD Ky. Derby
3 QUALITY ROAD Elusive Quality James Jerkins Edward Evans John Velazquez 5/2 CD Ky. Derby
4 THE PAMPLEMOUSSE Kafwain Julio Canani Bienstock & Winner Stable, A. Solis II Alex Solis 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
5 OLD FASHIONED Unbridled's Song Larry Jones Rick Porter Ramon Dominguez 4/11 OP Arkansas Derby
6 PIONEEROF THE NILE Empire Maker Bob Baffert Zayat Stables Garrett Gomez 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
7 IMPERIAL COUNCIL Empire Maker Shug McGaughey Sequoia Racing Rajiv Maragh 4/4 AQ Wood Memorial (G1)
8 DUNKIRK Unbridled's Song Todd Pletcher Magnier, Tabor, Smith Garrett Gomez 5/2 CD Ky. Derby
9 DESERT PARTY Street Cry Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Frankie Dettori 5/2 CD Ky. Derby
10 WIN WILLY Monarchos McLean Robertson Jer-Mar Stable M. Berry 4/11 OP Arkansas Derby
11 CHOCOLATE CANDY Candy Ride Jerry Hollendorfer Jenny Craig Rafael Bejarano 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
12 PAPA CLEM Smart Strike Bo Hirsh Gary Stute Rafael Bejarano 4/11 OP Arkansas Derby
13 REGAL RANSOM Distorted Humor Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Alan Garcia 5/2 CD Ky. Derby
14 HOLD ME BACK Giant's Causeway Bill Mott WinStar Farm Kent Desormeaux 4/11 KEE Bluegrass S. (G1)
15 TERRAIN Sky Mesa Albert Stall Adele Dilschneider Jamie Theriot 4/11 Bluegrass S. (G1) or Lex.
16 MAFAAZ Medicean John Gosden Shadwell Stables Richard Hills 4/11 KEE Bluegrass S. (G1)
17 MUSKET MAN Yonaguska Derek Ryan Eric Fein, Vic Carlson Daniel Centeno 4/4 Illinois Derby or Wood M.
18 SQUARE EDDIE Smart Strike Doug O'Neill Paul Reddam Rafael Bejarano back in training
19 GENERAL QUARTERS Sky Mesa Mark Miller Thomas McCarthy James Lopez 4/11 KEE Bluegrass S. (G1)
20 PATENA Seeking the Gold Rick Dutrow IEAH, Sikura Robby Albarado 4/11 KEE Bluegrass S. (G1)

Next 3 Weeks...The Real Deals vs. The Also Rans

The next 3 weeks will sort out the Real Deals from the Also Rans.
This week my picks (in order); the Rebel (Old Fashioned), Louisiana Derby (Friesan Fire, Patena, Papa Clem, Flying Pegasus), Tampa Bay Derby (General Quarters, Hello Broadway) and San Felipe (Pioneerof the Nile, Chocolate Candy).
Next week my picks (in order); Lane's End Cup (West Side Bernie)
Two weeks my picks (in order); the Florida Derby (Quality Road, Dunkirk, Beethoven, Theregoesjojo), UAE Derby (Desert Party, Vineyard Haven)
No guarantees expressed or implied.

"The Word" - Derby 2009 Contenders March 10, 2009 www.equisportphotos.com
Horse Sire Trainer Owner Jockey Next
1 OLD FASHIONED Unbridled's Song Larry Jones Rick Porter Ramon Dominguez 3/14 OP Rebel S.
2 PIONEEROF THE NILE Empire Maker Bob Baffert Zayat Stables Garrett Gomez 3/14 SA San Felipe S. (G2)
3 QUALITY ROAD Elusive Quality James Jerkins Edward Evans John Velazquez 3/28 GP Florida Derby
4 I WANT REVENGE Stephen Got Even Jeff Mullins Lanzman Racing Joe Talamo 4/4 AQ Wood Memorial (G1)
5 FRIESAN FIRE AP Indy Larry Jones Vinery & Fox Hill Gabriel Saez 3/14 FG Louisiana Derby (G2)
6 THE PAMPLEMOUSSE Kafwain Julio Canani Bienstock & Winner Stable, A. Solis II Alex Solis 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
7 IMPERIAL COUNCIL Empire Maker Shug McGaughey Sequoia Racing Rajiv Maragh 4/4 AQ Wood Memorial (G1)
8 PATENA Seeking the Gold Rick Dutrow IEAH, Sikura Robby Albarado 3/14 FG Louisiana Derby (G2)
9 DUNKIRK Unbridled's Song Todd Pletcher Magnier, Tabor, Smith Garrett Gomez 3/28 GP Florida Derby
10 BEETHOVEN Sky Mesa John Ward John Oxley Calvin Borel 3/28 GP Florida Derby
11 GENERAL QUARTERS Sky Mesa Mark Miller Thomas McCarthy James Lopez 3/14 TB Tampa bay Derby
12 PAPA CLEM Smart Strike Bo Hirsh Gary Stute Rafael Bejarano 3/14 FG Louisiana Derby (G2)
13 THEREGOESJOJO Brahms Kenny McPeek Samotowka, Delfiner, Drall, Magdalena Kent Desormeaux 3/28 GP Florida Derby
14 FLYING PEGASUS Fusaichi Pegasus Ralph Nicks James Spence Cornelio Velasquez 3/14 FG Louisiana Derby (G2)
15 GIANT OAK Giant's Causeway Chris Block Virginia Tarra Trust E. Razo La. Derby or Rebel
16 CHOCOLATE CANDY Candy Ride Jerry Hollendorfer Jenny Craig Rafael Bejarano 3/14 SA San Felipe S. (G2)
17 HELLO BROADWAY Broken Vow Barclay Tagg Elizabeth Valando Edgar Prado 3/14 TB Tampa bay Derby
18 CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN Candy Ride Ian Wilkes Jos. Rauch, David Zell Julien Leparoux
19 DESERT PARTY Street Cry Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Frankie Dettori 3/28 NAS UAE Derby
20 VINEYARD HAVEN Lido Palace Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Edgar Prado 3/28 NAS UAE Derby
21 WEST SIDE BERNIE Bernstein Kelly Breen Lori & Goerge Hall Elvis Trujillo 3/21 Lne's End or 3/28 Fl Dby
22 SQUARE EDDIE Smart Strike Doug O'Neill Paul Reddam Rafael Bejarano injured

There is a PAMPLEMOUSSE, and he's the REAL DEAL!

Quality Road (Elusive Quality), John Velazquez up, wins the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park 2.28.2009 Photo: EquiSport Photos/Z.Laskowski

Quality Road impresses in the Fountain of Youth.
Anyone who saw the Sham Stakes this past weekend had to be impressed with the Pamplemousse. The big question, how will he handle dirt in his face?
Imperial Council, Haynesfield, I Want Revenge, and Mr. Fantasy top the Gotham entries at Aqueduct this week.
Stardom Bound, back Saturday in the Santa Anita Oaks.
Midshipman out!

1 OLD FASHIONED Unbridled's Song Larry Jones Rick Porter Ramon Dominguez 3/14 OP Rebel S.
2 PIONEEROF THE NILE Empire Maker Bob Baffert Zayat Stables Garrett Gomez 3/14 SA San Felipe S. (G2)
3 THE PAMPLEMOUSSE Kafwain Julio Canani Bienstock & Winner Stable, A. Solis II Alex Solis 4/4 SA Santa Anita Derby
4 QUALITY ROAD Elusive Quality James Jerkins Edward Evans John Velazquez 4/4 AQ Wood or 3/28 Fl Derby
5 FRIESAN FIRE AP Indy Larry Jones Vinery & Fox Hill Gabriel Saez 3/14 FG Louisiana Derby (G2)
6 STARDOM BOUND Tapit Rick Dutrow IEAH Mike Smith 3/7 SA Santa Anita Oaks
7 PATENA Seeking the Gold Rick Dutrow IEAH, Sikura Robby Albarado 3/14 FG Louisiana Derby (G2)
8 CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN Candy Ride Ian Wilkes Jos. Rauch, David Zell Julien Leparoux
9 THEREGOESJOJO Brahms Kenny McPeek Samotowka, Delfiner, Drall, Magdalena Kent Desormeaux
10 IMPERIAL COUNCIL Empire Maker Shug McGaughey Sequoia Racing Edgar Prado 3/7 AQ Gotham S. (G3)
11 BEETHOVEN Sky Mesa John Ward John Oxley Calvin Borel
12 GENERAL QUARTERS Sky Mesa Mark Miller Thomas McCarthy James Lopez 3/14 TB Tampa bay Derby
13 PAPA CLEM Smart Strike Bo Hirsh Gary Stute Rafael Bejarano 3/14 FG Louisiana Derby (G2)
14 FLYING PEGASUS Fusaichi Pegasus Ralph Nicks James Spence Cornelio Velasquez La. Derby or Rebel
15 GIANT OAK Giant's Causeway Chris Block Virginia Tarra Trust E. Razo La. Derby or Rebel
16 CHOCOLATE CANDY Candy Ride Jerry Hollendorfer Jenny Craig Rafael Bejarano 3/14 SA San Felipe S. (G2)
17 BIG DRAMA Montbrook David Fawkes Harold Queen Eibar Coa scr from Holy Bull
18 DUNKIRK Unbridled's Song Todd Pletcher Magnier, Tabor, Smith Garrett Gomez
19 HAYNESFIELD Speightstown Steve Asmussen Harvey Weinstein Ramon Dominguez 3/7 AQ Gotham S. (G3)
20 DESERT PARTY Street Cry Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Frankie Dettori 3/28 NAS UAE Derby
21 THIS ONE'S FOR PHIL Untuttable Rick Dutrow Paul Pompa Edgar Prado
22 HELLO BROADWAY Broken Vow Barclay Tagg Elizabeth Valando Edgar Prado 3/14 TB Tampa bay Derby
23 VINEYARD HAVEN Lido Palace Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Edgar Prado 3/28 NAS UAE Derby
24 WEST SIDE BERNIE Bernstein Kelly Breen Lori & Goerge Hall Elvis Trujillo 3/21 Lne's End or 3/28 Fl Dby
25 I WANT REVENGE Stephen Got Even Jeff Mullins Lanzman Racing Joe Talamo 3/7 AQ Gotham S. (G3)
26 MR. FANTASY Kiaran McLaughlin Westpoint Thoroughbreds 3/7 AQ Gotham S. (G3)
27 SQUARE EDDIE Smart Strike Doug O'Neill Paul Reddam Rafael Bejarano injured