TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato will make $50 Win/Place bets on each Kentucky Derby prep and Triple Crown race. The handicapper with the highest bankroll after the Belmont Stakes wins. Scratches will result in the post time favorite.
GIII El Camino Real Derby – Well that worked out quite well. Scratched into the 8-5 winner(note: scratches result in the post time favorite for us here), who overcame a wide draw to make it two straight wins over the all-weather at Golden Gate. I'll certainly take it. Total: $215.
GIII Southwest S. – Now this was a fun one to handicap. Cutacorner (Even the Score) has the look of a horse that's getting good at the right time as the distances continue to increase. The gray broke through at fifth asking, kicking home nicely once clear to earn his diploma at Remington Nov. 19, then proved he belongs with this caliber by outrunning his 87-1 odds with an extremely wide trip fourth in the Springboard Mile S. Dec. 13. He reeled in a very loose-on-the-lead American Dubai after a soft pace over this track and trip Jan. 21, posting a career-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure. Jack Van Berg has been enjoying a solid stand in Hot Springs and there seems to be more than enough pace to set this guy up for a potential upset. Selection: #9 Cutacorner (12-1).
GIII El Camino Real Derby – Why couldn't I be the lucky one to scratch into the post time favorite?! Instead, Kasseopia (GB) broke so slowly at first I thought he refused. He made a huge turn move before flattening out and finishing third, but was never winning after that terrible start. Total: $0.
GIII Southwest S. – Well, races really don't get much more competitive than this one. I'm handicapping this on Saturday morning, wishing I knew how Morning Fire was going to fare in the GIII Sam F. Davis (update: he was third), but in the end I'm not sure it really matters. Bird of Trey (Birdstone) finished second to that at Parx in October, but turned the tables in the restricted Pennsylvania Nursery S. Dec. 5, romping by 7 1/4 lengths in fast time. Morning Fire returned last month to take Tampa's Pasco S., proving that the Parx form could translate to other venues. Bird of Trey, meanwhile, found himself engaged in a three-way speed duel in Aqueduct's GIII Jerome S. Jan. 2. Those dynamics set things up perfectly for eventual winner Flexibility, and one could argue that that one's poor return performance in the Withers confirms the role that trips played in the Jerome. This distance should suit Bird of Trey on pedigree, and wouldn't it be cool to see trainer John Servis have success with a son of Birdstone? Selection: #5 Bird of Trey (10-1).
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