So far there has not really been a true standout to shine under the Florida sunshine. With the best three year olds switching wins around left and right, and 2 year old champion Street Sense still not making his 3 year old debut, the likelihood of seeing him in the Florida Derby becomes slimmer and slimmer. Street Sense was to make his three year old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby, hopefully we will get to see him, looks like the jinx will continue for another year.
At this time March 11, 2007, three Saturdays away from the Florida Derby G1, the likely field for the Derby could potentially include the following horses:
* STREET SENSE- DKB/BR COLT By Street Cry (IRE) - Bedazzle by Dixieland Band; Off Juvenile score this colt should love all of the triple crown races. However the lack of a race as of March 10, is sort of troublesome, however if anyone can get a horse to the Kentucky Derby G1, It would be Carl Nafzger. The colt is definitely bred to go the distance, and his 2nd dam's 1/2 brother, leading sire Mr. Greeley, has shown an ability to throw distance capable runners. Has the talent, the pedigree, the looks to be a derby champion. Lets just hope he will have the conditioning to get the job done that first Saturday in May. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL, not sure this race is in his cards anymore, we will have to wait and see.
* CIRCULAR QUAY - CH COLT By Thunder Gulch-Circle of Life by Belong To Me; Has the pedigree by a Derby champion and out of a Grade 1 winning filly, this colt looks like a horse sitting on a big race. He has the talent, has the ability and obviously is going to go the distance. This colt is entered in the Louisiana Derby G1. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: the possibility for him to run in the Florida Derby seems to be slim, but he may make an appearance.
* SCAT DADDY - DKB/BR COLT By Johannesburg-Love Style by Mr. Prospector; Scat Daddy showed new a new dimension in the G2 Fountain of Youth, instead of going to the lead he sat back, and waited, and won in a perfectly timed run. The colt looks like he is maturing and showing that he is a force to be reckoned with, definitely if all goes well will be a favorite for the Florida Derby G1. A colt that was shunned as a potential 2 year old champion, I think he is out for revenge and will see his name on the champion 3 year old lists. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: He will be there and ready to rumble.
* BIRDBIRDSTHEWORD - DKB/BR COLT By Pure Prize - Berchta by Rocky Mountain; With earnings of $702,100 he has the graded earnings to get into the field for the Florida Derby G1, not sure though what is going on with this handsome colt. He is also a Florida bred so I would have to back him a little. Pedigree wise he has the ability to go the distance, having Alydar, Seeking The Gold, Secretariat, Northern Dancer, etc in his pedigree, I have to say I am confused pedigree wise as to what the future holds for this very nice horse. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: NOT SURE, would love to see him run.
* NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ - B COLT By Albert The Great - Nightstorm by Storm Cat; After finishing third in the Fountain of Youth, you wonder what the heck is wrong with this colt. This horse has so much talent and the way he won the Holy Bull G3, you would expect better results. However the fact that the colt ran wide on the turn, ducked in, and acted the fool, I am worried that this colt is just not headed in the right direction, with a trainer like Tagg, you would expect this colt to mature with each race, he seems to be back peddling. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Should run, but I think they should spend the next few weeks just letting this horse have some time to mature, relax etc.
* KING OF THE ROXY - DKB/BR COLT By Littleexpectations - Marrakesh by Bold Forbes; The Valid Appeal line had recent success when Successful Appeals son Closing Argument ran a good 2nd in the Kentucky Derby G1. It is obviously clear that the King has been sighted, and is looking to claim his throne. All jokes aside, this is a talented colt, a handsome well made colt, that has shown the ability to run in tough races and do his best, however in a way you do wonder about his ability to go a distance of ground, but with broodmares sire Bold Forbes in the mix, maybe, just maybe we can see him in the top three in the Kentucky Derby G1, and he may in fact use his speed and talent to win the Florida Derby as well. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Should be there if all goes well.
* STORM IN MAY - GR/RO COLT By Tiger Ridge - Laun Shaw by Relaunch; Florida bred Storm In May has run in eleven races, finishing in the money in ten of those races, recently finishing 6th to King of The Roxy. Storm In May is a son of former Florida stallion Tiger Ridge, with his recent deportation to South Africa I would love to see him personally jump up and have a good runner to put his name in the spot light. SIM is a son of the unraced mare Laun Shaw a daughter of leading sire and broodmare sire Relaunch. Laun Shaw is out of the grand mare Shawnee Creek the dam of the decent sire Storm Creek by Storm Cat, recent stakes winners from daughters of Shawnee Creek include G1 placed runner Fircroft (A. P. Indy), Victory Lap, winner of the Lone Star Oak -L, and Grade 1 winner Amadeus Wolf. Kind of an underdog horse, worth watching, he will continue to make a name for himself, has the ability to win on dirt and turf. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Will be pointing for the race, if it comes down to earnings should get in, again would love to see him enter the gates for this race.
* ADORE THE GOLD - DKB/BR COLT By Formal Gold - Amore E Baci - by Dixieland Band; Swale Stakes G3 winner Adore the Gold ran a tough race in defeat in the Fountain Of Youth, he is ultra talented but is maybe being pushed a little harder than he should be. Pedigree wise he should obviously be okay at all classic distances. We will have to wait and see. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Probably will go to the race, however my personal opinion is to be patient and maybe go to the Bluegrass, and then the Kentucky Derby G1.
* REATA'S ROCKET (CAN) -CH COLT By Cape Canaveral - Selborne (CAN) by French Deputy; Nice talented horse, would love to see him do good, love his sire, Cape Canaveral, love the way his dam is breed, being by the top stallion French Deputy, however after his fourth place effort in the Hutcheson Stakes G2 it appears he is not exactly in the first or second group of three year olds. If this were my colt, I would point him to the Canadian classics, this colt should dominate other Canadian breds. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: With derby fever all around, they will probably consider the race.
* DRUMS OF THUNDER - CH COLT By Concerto - Parental Uproar by Future Storm; Talented two year old here in Florida, continued to show he is good here in Florida when 2nd in the Holy Bull G3. However is he going to be able to go outside of Florida and run with the top horses, I don't think so. However, this horse will be a solid horse in the state. Pedigree wise, he has the sire Concerto, sire of Bellamy Road, but looking at his pedigree I am not sure what he is capable of. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: I am not sure if he heads this direction.
* OUT OF GWEDDA - CH COLT By Out of Place -Gwedda by Gone West; Love the pedigree of this horse, by the consistent sire Out of Place, who has always seemed to have a top three year old every year with the likes of Fonz's, Certain, Orville N Wilbur's, Meetyouathebrig, and Sort it Out. Looking at Out of Gwedda's pedigree I can say that if he doesn't like distance it will be a surprise. Pedigree looks to like a mile and over. My one concern is just how much heart this horse has, he is talented however his two starts at three he just appears to lacking EFFORT, love his female family going back to the champion filly Quill. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Not sure if he will go, but would like to see him go for the big races, and put his self out there.
* AIR LORD - B COLT By Stormin Fever - Sunny Mimosa by Sunny North; Ran a good race in his 5th place finish to King of The Roxy. The pedigree of this colt is intriguing, by one of my favorite sons of Storm Cat, Stormin Fever, who is a full brother to the very talented runner Raging Fever, who had the ability and talent to win some tough races at a distance of ground. Stormin Fever was good at about 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 furlongs, however he appears to be able to throw a horse that can sprint, and stay. He is the sire of Grade 1 winners Tarlow on dirt, and Sweet Talker. Air Lord is a half brother to Successful Florida stallion Delaware Township. Delaware Township was good at the sprints, but his sire was a known source of speed. So maybe Stormin Fever will give this son of Sunny Mimosa some more distance to his pedigree. I think this is a colt to watch. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: I say run him, talent pedigree, etc. Would like to see him progress like Sunriver did last season, hope that he can do a heck of a lot better though.
* GREEN VEGAS - B COLT By Trippi - Wa Ka Ridge by Cox's Ridge; Florida's Champion Two Year Old colt, earned an impressive $424,700 while staying in the state of Florida as a TWO YEAR OLD!!!!! His career line is an impressive 9 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, and three thirds. By the Sprinter son of End Sweep, Trippi is off to a very solid start at stud. Definitely will continue Ocala Stud's storied career at producing leading sires nationally, joining leading sires of recent years, Montbrook, Concerto, Sweetsouthernsaint, and Notebook. Green Vegas, bred by Ocala Stud, is out of the nice mare Wa Ka Ridge, a daughter of the good stallion Cox's Ridge. This mare has a pedigree that would hopefully add some stamina to Trippi's speed. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Not sure exactly when or where this horse will show up. Would love to see him in the National Spotlight. And would love to see him repeat as Florida's Champion three year old.
* BLUE'S STREET - DKB/BR COLT By Street Cry (IRE) - Capote Blues by Capote; Okay guys, not exactly sure what the plans are for this colt, however I had to put him on this list because of his earnings of $379,577 so he may be able to draw into the Florida Derby Field, or be among the also eligible list. Also I had to put him here because I am personally attached to this horses female family, I was his dam's groom as a baby, and I was her mother's groom when she was a two year old. And I also have worked with her great mother Gussie's Appeal. I can't say that I am gonna be a very good judge when It comes to this guy, I am honestly rooting for him no matter what. FLORIDA DERBY POTENTIAL: Would love to see him there, would love to see him take the race, but not sure he will make it to the race.
Well, a lot of research has been put into this top 14, maybe these will be the 14 horses to run in the Florida Derby G1. Are we going to see this years Derby champion come from this great race, or maybe from California, is Fountain of Youth G2 second place finisher Stormello going to be nominated to the Florida Derby or is he going to go back and face Ravel in the Santa Anita Derby G1? Those are the questions that are out there. However one can be certain this may be the year of a TRIPLE CROWN! After the sorrow our industry carried last year, wouldn't it be nice to have the excitement of a Triple Crown winner?
No comments:
Post a Comment