Steve Sherack & Brian DiDonato will make $100 win/place bets on 20 Kentucky Derby preps. The handicapper with the highest total at the end wins.
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SS: Last Week – Frosted got the day started with a visually impressive win in the Wood at odds of 2-1, and heavy favorites Carpe Diem and Dortmund did what they were supposed to do in the Blue Grass and Santa Anita Derby, capping a perfect three-for-three day. It's awfully nice already locking up an in-the-black finish, but I'm going to have to dig deep to hold off a final surge from DiDonato. Should make for an exciting final day.
GIII Lexington S. – Eclipse private purchase Comfort moves to the Todd Pletcher barn after an impressive maiden breaker for Pavel Vashchenko in his dirt debut going two turns at Fair Grounds two months ago. The bay continues to train well at Pletcher's Palm Beach base since, including a best-of-15 four-furlong bullet in :48 4/5 Mar. 15. Fourth with excuses in his first two tries on the lawn, Comfort took it to the next level with the switch to the main track, exploding down the lane while scraping the paint to win by 4 1/4 lengths. For a $45k KEESEP graduate, Comfort has some pedigree, too, hailing from an Overbrook family–his second dam is MGSW Katz Me If You Can; third dam is GISW Cuddles. In a race loaded with early speed, it looks like he has the proper running style to get it done from just off the pace. Major upgrade in the saddle helps as well. Selection: #2 Comfort (5-1).
GI Arkansas Derby – Something eventually has to give with all of these heavy favorites winning, right? Well… maybe not, but I'll still take a chance against American Pharoah with Bold Conquest. I made my case for him in his Southwest comebacker (click here), and he ran well to be fourth after falling a bit too far behind for his own good over a sloppy track. Some early trouble, a wide journey and another off track were too much for him to overcome when a distant third behind the imposing favorite in the Rebel after making a sharp move on the far turn. Liked this son of Curlin enough last term that he deserves one more shot to show if he belongs with the big boys over a fast going. With the added presence of Mr. Z and Bridget's Big Luvy, American Pharoah should at least be kept a bit more honest in the early going this time around. Bold Conquest's three subsequent moves since the Rebel may be a sign that he's ready for a breakthrough performance. The price will certainly be right to find out. Selection: #5 Bold Conquest (20-1).
SS: Wagered: $3,600. Current Total: $4,255.
BD: Last Week – Frosted was the latest prep winner for both Steve and I to land on, and I think I might be leaning towards him as my Derby pick–he has to fly under the radar considering the star power in this year's crop, but I'm not sure how far behind some of the bigger names he really is. Ocho Ocho Ocho got the lead as I hoped he might in the Blue Grass, but he couldn't hold off Carpe Diem or Danzig Moon and had to settle for third. I probably should've just taken the free money with Dortmund in the Santa Anita Derby, but didn't get completely burned as stablemate One Lucky Dane was able to finish second in his wake. How about the way the latter had to be ridden early just to keep up with the winner? Dortmund's a monster… And now for my last attempt to catch Steve.
GIII Lexington S. – Donworth, a somewhat surprising addition to this event, looks like a runner with serious talent–it's just a matter of seasoning and maturity. Backed down to 8-5 favoritism despite the presence of a pair of solid-looking Pletcher runners in his seven-furlong debut at Gulfstream Mar. 14, the dark bay was away sluggishly before rushing all the way up to second. Forced to tap on the brakes when trying to sneak up past the leader along the rail, he steadied hard and lost several positions before remaining boxed in until upper stretch. He made a nifty move at the first sign of daylight, and wore down the pacesetter to win with what looked like something to spare. This is a tall task second out, but Donworth might be up to it. Being by Tiznow out of a Street Cry mare who was Grade II-placed at nine furlongs, the distance certainly won't be an issue. Selection: #7 Donworth (5-1).
GI Arkansas Derby – I hate to eat chalk in the final race of this contest, but there just doesn't seem like much of a point in trying to beat American Pharoah here. I'm still not completely sold on him for the Derby, but they're going to have a tough time taking him down here–even though the pace scenario might be less advantageous for him than it was in the Rebel. He's already beaten a number of these, and logical alternative Far Right strikes me as one who might be a bit dressed up off good pace set-ups. Selection: #6 American Pharoah (1-2).
BD: Wagered: $3,600. Current Total: $3,825.
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