A "Sinner" amongst us...Top 25 Derby Contenders & Connections!

Photo: EquiSport Photos/Z. Laskowski

Okay, it's a new month, and a new "Word".
Saratoga Sinner debuts at #10, and what is a "Pamplemouse" anyway?
Stardom Bound makes the list at #7, you can believe IEAH will run her.
Beethoven drops a bunch, after an atypical Calvin Bo-rail trip in the Holy Bull...He'll be back.
Shafted and Poltergeist make the list.

This list is meant for recreational purposes only..."Handicapping from "The Word" may be at your own peril"...

Cheers, MW

Horse Sire Trainer Owner Jockey Next
1 OLD FASHIONED Unbridled's Song Larry Jones Rick Porter Ramon Dominguez 2/16 OP Southwest S.
2 SQUARE EDDIE Smart Strike Doug O'Neill Paul Reddam Rafael Bejarano 2/16 OP Southwest S.
3 CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN Candy Ride Ian Wilkes Jos. Rauch, David Zell Julien Leparoux 2/28 GP Fountain of Youth
4 PATENA Seeking the Gold Rick Dutrow IEAH, Sikura Robby Albarado 2/28 GP Fountain of Youth
5 PIONEEROF THE NILE Empire Maker Bob Baffert Zayat Stables Garrett Gomez 2/7 SA Robt. Lewis
6 FRIESAN FIRE AP Indy Larry Jones Vinery & Fox Hill Gabriel Saez 2/7 FG Risen Star
7 STARDOM BOUND Tapit Rick Dutrow IEAH Mike Smith 2/7 SA in Las Virgenes
8 NOTONTHESAMEPAGE Catienus Wesley Ward Ken & Sarah Ramsey Elvis Trujillo 2/28 GP Fountain of Youth
9 HAYNESFIELD Speightstown Steve Asmussen Harvey Weinstein Ramon Dominguez 2/7 AQ Whirlaway
10 SARATOGA SINNER Harlen's Holiday Eddie Kenneally Lally Stable Julien Leparoux 3/28 GP Florida Derby
11 THE PAMPLEMOUSSE Kafwain Julio Canani Bienstock & Winner Stable, A. Solis II Alex Solis 2/28 SA Sham S.
12 GIANT OAK Giant's Causeway Chris Block Virginia Tarra Trust E. Razo 2/7 FG Risen Star
13 HELLO BROADWAY Broken Vow Barclay Tagg Elizabeth Valando Edgar Prado 2/28 GP Fountain of Youth
14 BIG DRAMA Montbrook David Fawkes Harold Queen Eibar Coa scr from Holy Bull
15 I WANT REVENGE Stephen Got Even Jeff Mullins Lanzman Racing Joe Talamo in Dubai
16 MIDSHIPMAN Unbridled's Song Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Garrett Gomez in Dubai
17 VINEYARD HAVEN Lido Palace Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Edgar Prado in Dubai
18 CHOCOLATE CANDY Candy Ride Jerry Hollendorfer Jenny Craig Rafael Bejarano 2/14 GG El Camino Real
19 DONATIVUM (GB) Cadeaux Genereux John Gosden Princess Haya of Jordan Frankie Dettori in England
20 BEAR'S ROCKET Lion Heart Reade Baker Bear Stables Kent Desormeaux 3/28 GP Florida Derby
21 WEST SIDE BERNIE Bernstein Kelly Breen Lori & Goerge Hall Elvis Trujillo
22 BEETHOVEN Sky Mesa John Ward John Oxley Calvin Borel
23 THEREGOESJOJO Brahms Kenny McPeek Samotowka, Delfiner, Drall, Magdalena Robby Albarado 2/7 FG Risen Star
24 SHAFTED Mineshaft Mark Casse Woodford Racing Patrick Husbands 2/7 SA Robt. Lewis
25 POLTERGEIST Tapit Donnie Von Hamel Kindred Thoroughbreds Clifton Berry

Square Eddie, Old Fashioned...Showdown in the Dirt!

Square Eddie, photo EquiSport Photos/JB Faulconer

Old Fashioned, photo EquiSport Photos/Dianne Boothe

From the Daily Racing Form - ARCADIA, Calif. - Square Eddie, second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in October and the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita last Saturday, will make his first start on a conventional dirt track in the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 16.
Full article here - http://www.drf.com/news/article/101190.html

Should be a great preview for the rest of the trail. Maybe the beginning of a long term rivalry between Square Eddie and Old Fashioned?
Cheers, MW

A Pamplemousse?..#10 this week in "The Word", Top 25 Derby Horses w/connectio

The Pamplemousse makes a debut at #10 this week after a nice win in the San Rafael.
Square Eddie not the best horse? Does he need dirt?
Chocolate Candy wins the Cal Derby. Against who?
Patena continues to train well after a 2nd in the Lecomte.
Taqarub wins 3rd in a row with 8+ win in minor Stakes.
Stardom Bound in the Derby? Count on it with IEAH.

"The Word" - Derby 2009 Contenders 1.20.2009
Horse Sire Trainer Owner Jockey Next
1 Old Fashioned Unbridled's Song Larry Jones Rick Porter Ramon Dominguez 2/16 OP Southwest S.
2 Beethoven Sky Mesa John Ward John Oxley Calvin Borel 1/31 GP Holy Bull S.
3 PioneeroftheNile Empire Maker Bob Baffert Zayat Stables Garrett Gomez 2/7 SA Robt. Lewis
4 Square Eddie Smart Strike Doug O'Neill Paul Reddam Rafael Bejarano
5 Big Drama Montbrook David Fawkes Harold Queen Eibar Coa 1/31 GP Holy Bull S.
6 Stardom Bound Tapit Rick Dutrow IEAH Mike Smith 2/7 SA in Las Virgenes
7 Midshipman Unbridled's Song Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Garrett Gomez in Dubai
8 Vineyard Haven Lido Palace Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing Edgar Prado in Dubai
9 Notonthesamepage Catienus Wesley Ward Ken & Sarah Ramsey Elvis Trujillo 2/28 GP Fountain of Youth
10 The Pamplemousse Kafwain Julio Canani Bienstock & Winner Stable, A. Solis II Alex Solis at Santa Anita
11 Friesan Fire AP Indy Larry Jones Vinery & Fox Hill Gabriel Saez 2/7 FG Risen Star
12 Haynesfield Speightstown Steve Asmussen Harvey Weinstein Ramon Dominguez
13 I Want Revenge Stephen Got Even Jeff Mullins Lanzman Racing Joe Talamo in Dubai
14 Chocolate Candy Candy Ride Jerry Hollendorfer Jenny Craig Rafael Bejarano 2/14 SA El Camino Real
15 Donativum (GB) Cadeaux Genereux John H. M. Gosden Princess Haya of Jordan Frankie Dettori
16 Patena Seeking the Gold Josie John Sikura, D. Dilalla Robby Albarado
17 Giant Oak Giant's Causeway Chris Block Virginia Tarra Trust E. Razo at Fairgrounds
18 Capt. Candyman Can Candy Ride Ian Wilkes Jos. Rauch, David Zell Julien Leparoux at Palm Meadows
19 Coronet of a Baron Pure Prize Eoin Harty Darley Alan Garcia
20 Break Water Edison Lemon Drop Kid John Kimmel Eli Gindi Alan Garcia at Payson Park
21 West Side Bernie Bernstein Kelly Breen Lori & Goerge Hall Elvis Trujillo 1/31 GP Holy Bull S.
22 Well Positioned Awesome Again Pat Reynolds Paul Pompa Javier Castellano at Gulfstream Park
23 Charitable Man Lemon Drop Kid Kiaran McLaughlin W. K. Warren Jr Alan Garcia at Palm Meadows, recovering
24 Taqarub Aldebaran Kiaran McLaughlin Shadwell Alan Garcia
25 Munnings Speightstown Todd Pletcher Tabor, Magnier, Smith John Velazquez

On the "Also Ran" List
Cribnote
Flat Out
Danger to Society
Brother Keith
Stimulus Plan
Free Country
Theregoesjojo

Cheers, MW

Ky. Derby Trail...Square Eddie tops "The Word" 1.11.2008

Photo: EquiSport Photos

The Word...Kentucky Derby Trail 1.11.2008
Friesan Fire jumped into the mix with a nice win in the Lecomte. Nice to see Larry Jones with a couple of strong contenders.
Just a quick summary of my prognostications and observations for the week. Feel free to add your 2 cents!
1 Square Eddie
2 Old Fashioned
3 Beethoven
4 Midshipman
5 Vineyard Haven
6 Big Drama
7 PioneeroftheNile
8 Haynesfield
9 Notonthesamepage
10 Friesan Fire
11 I Want Revenge
12 Donativum (GB)
13 Giant Oak
14 Capt. Candyman Can
15 Coronet of a Baron
16 Break Water Edison
17 Chocolate Candy
18 West Side Bernie
19 Well Positioned
20 Charitable Man

Ky. Oaks Trail 1.11.2008
1 Stardom Bound
2 Maram
3 Laragh
4 Four Gifts
5 Rachel Alexandra
6 C.S. Silk
7 Dream Empress
8 Just Jenda

Ky. Derby Trail 1.04.2009 "The Word"

Old Fashioned (Unbridled's Song), Ramon Dominguez up, wins the Remson S. (G2) at Aqueduct 11.29.2008db ( Horse Racing Photos by EquiSport Photos/Dianne Boothe )

Here's the rundown as I see it, in order. Purely speculative and unscientific. Neither 'Pioneerof the Nile' nor 'Haynesfield' really impressed this time out, so their position is relatively unchanged.
The Lecomte is this weekend, and could bring some new contenders into the mix. Square Eddie runs back in the San Rafael S. Jan 17 at Santa Anita.
I'm starting to get a few pictures on the website... http://www.equisportphotos.com/gallery/6981546_RBDHb

Kentucky Derby Trail 1.04.2009
1 Old Fashioned
2 Square Eddie
3 Beethoven
4 Midshipman
5 Vineyard Haven
6 Donativum (GB)
7 Big Drama
8 PioneeroftheNile
9 Giant Oak
10 Haynesfield
11 Coronet of a Baron
12 Notonthesamepage
13 I Want Revenge
14 Capt. Candyman Can
15 West Side Bernie
16 Break Water Edison
17 Chocolate Candy
18 Well Positioned
19 Charitable Man
20 Munnings
21 Cribnote

Kentucky Oaks Trail 1.04.2009
1 Stardom Bound
2 Maram
3 Laragh
4 Four Gifts
5 Rachel Alexandra
6 C.S. Silk
7 Dream Empress

Kentucky Derby Trail '09 - "The Word"

Okay, so it's 3 degrees out this morning, and I'm pretty sure the poly-track is frozen. But I'm not going to go check.
Another New Year is upon us, and of course, as we keep the fireplace fed, we ponder the first Saturday in May. Everybody is having a birthday in a few days, so here is my first look at the group of new 3 year olds. In order.

Kentucky Derby '09
1 Midshipman
2 Vineyard Haven
3 Old Fashioned
4 Square Eddie
5 Beethoven
6 Donativum (GB)
7 PioneeroftheNile
8 Big Drama
9 Giant Oak
10 I Want Revenge
11 Capt. Candyman Can
12 West Side Bernie
13 Chocolate Candy
14 Bittel Road
15 Azul Leon

Kentucky Oaks '09
1 Stardom Bound
2 Maram
3 Laragh
4 Four Gifts
5 Rachel Alexandra
6 C.S. Silk
7 Dream Empress