Derby Shake-Up

re: Derby Shake-Up

War Pass — Fri, 30 May 2008 21:49:53 GMT

War Pass is my pick,I believe War Pass would've won the Derby, he's faster than Big Brown, no doubt about it. I've seen what this horse can do up close and personally,trust me if he comes back he's going to the Traver's I think. I'm looking foward to him beating Big Brown. Rick Dutrow can be cocky all he wants, but trust me he hasn't beaten the best yet. IEAH stables entered a rabit in the wood to take out War Pass and look what they did... just what they wanted War Pass missed the Derby giving Big Brown an easy win. I hope Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and War Pass comes back to beat him in the Travers. GO WAR PASS!

re: Derby Shake-Up

Householder — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:48:38 GMT

Yankee Bravo's 4th place finish the the SA Derby certainly did not legitimize or bolster Pyro's LaDerby performance. Colonel John looks to have the right breeding where War Pass can't seem to get the classic distances. Bob Black Jack adds a new dimension and could be this years Hard Spun. If he goes to the KY Derby Hard Spun will never get in front of him. As for the Kentucky Derby...my advice is to look west. I'm looking forward to another $35,000 superfecta the first saturday in May.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Householder — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:31:47 GMT

Yankee Bravo is a good pick for the SA Derby but I worry about the "Storm Cat" KY Derby Jinx. He was only 3 off of Pyro in what looked to be his best race so far. He finished strong that day so adding 1/16 of a mile is great. Another 16th and he could have caught Pyro. He was pretty far back. If he wins the SA Derby it would have the look of a horse peaking at the right time. Colonel John looks like his main rival. El Gato Malo translates to "This Cat won't run this far."

re: Derby Shake-Up

1stcav — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:20:03 GMT

Kathy Walsh needs to put G. Gomez back on Georgie Boy. Kent D is going to the Derby with Big Brown.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Ranagulzion — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:05:51 GMT

Big Brown's pace and finishing kick reminds me of Barbaro and War Pass' speed and tenacity reminds me of Spend-A-Buck. Assuming that both of them make it to the starting gate, we are in for a thrilling 2008 Kentucky Derby. Pyro should be closing at respectable distance behind these principals.

re: Derby Shake-Up

draynay — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:41:47 GMT

Maybe you have not seen Big Browns other races but he likes to rate and he only took the lead at the Florida Derby because he had to from the 12 post or get stuck wide.

Big Brown wins the Derby by 7 rating off of War Pass. No other horse has a shot...game over Big Brown is just too good.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Triplecrownquest — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:38:02 GMT

What is it going to look like when Big Brown and War Pass hook up on the lead in the Derby? This race is setting up for a closer to win on the first Sat. in May.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Smittytoo — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:20:36 GMT

I like Yankee Bravo to burst the SA bubble and cruise down the stretch.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Matthew W — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:02:51 GMT

Pyro ran the same day as Grasshopper/Circular Quay----his time factored poorly for me---some 10 lengths behind the older horses and that is not acceptable----Georgie Boy runs like a turf horse, on a track that plays like a turf course, and now he has a turf jock---I can see changing jocks but maybe for Gomez, or Bejarano---Michael Baze was stuck inside, kinda forced his way out, (thought he could've been dq'd), and maybe he didn't pull him up soon enough---I think Baze pulled him out to herky/jerky, and Kent D., aka "The Brain", can rate a stalking position and if Georgie gets the distance, goodby---'think he'll win SA Derby by at least two.....

re: Derby Shake-Up

mindy corbin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:44:50 GMT

Colonel John !!! He has been trained perfecly by Eoin Harty and will run a great race in the Santa Anita Derby. We have not seen his best, as yet.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Derwin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:44:08 GMT

So far almost all the horses have been picked to win the Derby. Only one guy made a good point about the Beyer rating. I am waiting on the results of the Florida Derby and the Wood memorial to pick the winner and the way I see it this is to me, my easiest Derby winner to pick.

re: Derby Shake-Up

terrtek — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:40:43 GMT

War Pass never got in front of an 80-1 Tampa Bay runner the entire race. Yes it's just one race but it could not have been a worse one. Even if he would have won there are numerous concerns about him. Wouldn't play him with monopoly money.

re: Derby Shake-Up

LittleMissWinner — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:51:55 GMT

Just watch out for Pyro in the Derby. Bred for the distance, trained correctly by Asmussen, and unlike War Pass, he's had dirt kicked in his face and has won. With the size of the Derby field you need "turn of foot", and he has that and more and is maturing at the right time. But if War Pass gets the lead and can stay in front . . . he'll be somewhere in the top three. So, for the Derby, I normally pick a "mid pack" specialist to win, and hedge my bets with a speedster as well as a "come from behind" horse. So the top three will be Pyro, War Pass, Cool Coal Man and maybe Visionaire. I'll be at the Wood on April 5 to get a good look at War Pass. Anyone remember Bellamy Road? We'll get to see what happens or who falls apart in the next few weeks. That's horseracing!

re: Derby Shake-Up

dotcom — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:25:59 GMT

I think War Pass will disappoint again in his final prep in the Wood and wont even make the Derby starting gate. Pyro looks impressive in his wins but so do maiden 25's at Calder during the summer. He is slow and appears too lightly framed to win the Derby. My point is that this Derby will be won by a late bloomer. Elysium Fields, Big Brown, or Tomcito will take the Forida Derby and will compete against Visionaire, Cool Coal Man, and Big Truck down the stretch in the Derby...3-1 on the field in Derby futures pool #1 is looking as juicy as 3-1 will ever look to a gambler.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Mike D — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 06:35:42 GMT

NUMAANY will win the Kentucky Derby.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Mike Relva — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:02:34 GMT

I've read some of the stupid comments. My reaction is that the so called experts need only to remember that War Pass had won 5 in a row up until his last race and had beaten Pyro 3 times! One loss won't define his career.

re: Derby Shake-Up

stancaris — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:57:37 GMT

Last year only one horse put up a 103 as a three year old coming into the derby and that was Curlin. All the others were lower with the second best being Street Sense and Circular Quay with 102 Beyer figs. I always look at the Beyers as a guide and usually Derby winners put up a 103 or higher as a three year old. In the last 15 years I believe only three Derby winners were exceptions to this rule: Sea Hero, Charismatic and Giacomo.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Johnny — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:03:47 GMT

I look for War Pass to rebound nicely in the Wood. I'm also looking for Big Brown and Tomcito to finish a close 1-2 in the Florida Derby (not necessarily in that order). If all this happens, these are the "big three." Pyro can move over.

re: Derby Shake-Up

draynay — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:34:43 GMT

We need a star other than Pyro to make this interesting and I have my money on Big Brown and Visionaire to do just that. This year pales in comparison to last year when you had the big 3... Curlin, Hard Spun, and Street Sense. No horse has come out and put up some serious Beyer figures like last year heading into the Derby. Look for Big Brown to dominate and Visionaire to come of age !!!

re: Derby Shake-Up

Anna — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:26:10 GMT

Atoned is a horse to watch for. He's got the breeding, the stamina. Just wait and see.

re: Derby Shake-Up

josue555 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:48:10 GMT

war pass is not done, not at least after the wood memorial race, if he rebounds and wins he is going to go up as a favorite again. its good that the wood field is getting better competetion like denis of cork and court vision so we could see what he is capable of. remember he beat the best in his last two races in his 2yrs old form. tomcito is a good horse that people are overlooking like they did with canonero 2 in the 70's and like invasor watch everybody get stunned when he wins the florida derby.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Triplecrownquest — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:30:02 GMT

War Pass was intimidated by the two horses next to him. After being pinched at the break he had a chance to split those two on the backstretch however he backed down and quit. I believe he showed fear and that will always be with him. He gave us a great run. But his best is behind him.

re: Derby Shake-Up

draynay — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:03:13 GMT

Let me see if I have this right.... War Pass comes in last and your ready to believe he will just turn it around against the toughest in the land in 6 short weeks? Good Luck... Tomicito ??? you mean the horse from South America running against inferior horses... come on you can do better than that.

re: Derby Shake-Up

Jamie21Williamson — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:15:24 GMT

Just because War Pass lost one race doesnt mean he cant win the Derby. All that does is shake up the handicappers and drives the odds. I am still believe War Pass is the one to beat, but if not lets take a look at TOMICITO.....

re: Derby Shake-Up

dk — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:11:44 GMT

I think Majestic Warrior rebounds in a big way next out but may be running out of time for the Derby.

Then again if Mott decides to give it a go who am I to say no. Watch out if it is an off track - his momma was a mud freak!!! Like to see Eight Belles try the boys in Arkansas Derby, she couldn't have been more impressive last out, is fresh and likes the track. Why not? Pyro has been the only horse true to form and on the mark in every scheduled work out & race. Plan has been working to a "T" so far. Looks like a pro but needs to be a bit faster to convince me especially as "The" favorite. Reminds me of Thunder Gulch a bit except he will not be 25-1 in Derby no matter what he does in the Bluegrass...Big Brown -Quarter Crack issues on a freakishly talented colt - can you say Unbridled's Song? May win Fla Derby but I'm a bit worried about Derby chances... Well, here's the early bird special superfecta:

Majestic Warrior-Eight Belles-Pyro-Court Vision

box it for those less daring!