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Friesan Fire (104 BSF) was the star of the week with a powerful stalk and pounce win in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He swept the graded 3yo schedule at Fair Grounds.
The son of A. P. Indy, trained by Larry Jones, will either contest the Blue Grass Stakes (April 11th) or train (at Keeneland) up to the Kentucky Derby.
Friesan Fire owns the right running style and pedigree to succeed on the 1st Saturday in May, but is he a Fair Grounds specialist, and did he peak too soon? He’s been kept in steady training, so I cannot blame his connections for skipping his final prep, but seven weeks between starts is uncharted waters for the Derby. At this point I do not like his Derby chances, but I will keep an open mind.
SoCal shipper Papa Clem finished a decent 2nd considering he was trying conventional dirt and a wet track for the first time. He has shipped to Oaklawn Park to begin preparations for the Arkansas Derby.
My La Derby top Patena failed to fire, and I am willing to give him another chance if he shows up in the Blue Grass. Proven synthetic performer might not have cared for the footing on Saturday.
Al Stall Jr. returnee Terrain finished 3rd, and he should move forward in Keeneland’s Blue Grass or Lexington (April 18th) next time.
Rachel Alexandra was every bit as impressive (if not more so) than the aforementioned La Derby winner in her FG Oaks wire job score. She won geared down as the only wire-to-wire winner on the card, and she is expected to stay with distaff friends and shoot for the Oaklawn’s Fantasy Stakes (April 5th), followed by the Kentucky Oaks.
Win Willy (102 BSF) stunned Friesan Fire’s stablemate Old Fashioned in Oaklawn Park’s Rebel Stakes (G2). The winner took full advantage of a rapid pace to run down the Larry Jones fav.
As for Old Fashioned, I was always skeptical of his stamina, and he has done nothing in his last two Oaklawn starts to change my opinion. He will need to relax much better if he expects to handle longer distances in the future.
Pioneerof The Nile was winning ugly in the San Felipe (G2), but he outclassed that group and should be much tighter for the SA Derby (April 4th).
He moved much sooner than expected and is learning as he goes. For the record, the Bob Baffert runner received a 90 BSF for his winning effort.
Musket Man (90 BSF) won the Tampa Bay Derby at his home track in determined fashion, but he has to prove he can handle another surface next out. He will reportedly get his chance in the Illinois Derby or Wood Memorial.
Gulfstream shipper Hello Broadway probably did not handle the Tampa surface, and I would not be shocked if he switched to turf or returned to sprinting.
On Wednesday, overseas hopeful Mafaaz earned an automatic Derby berth with a determined win in the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes at Kempton Park.
Fine horseman John Gosden saddled the winner, who may go next in the Blue Grass.
On March 21st, Turfway hold their main Derby prep, the Grade 2 Lane’s End. The 9f synthetic race includes Ky Cup Juvenile winner West Side Bernie, and I will preview that race here tomorrow.
Photo Credit: newscom.com
