Notes from the Racing Underground Kentucky Derby Contenders

Rule 1

Every time the starting gate opens, expect to be humbled. Ask Uncle Mo that question. It seem to this racing fan that many people after one bad race has thrown Uncle Mo under the bus. Do not forget what he did when he was two years old. The best two year old dude in the nation....bar none except Uncle Mo!! No one can take that feat away from him and his connections. Congrats Uncle Mo!


Rule 2

Never bet on a favorite doing something he's never done before. Good handicappers envision how a race will run. Unfortunately, horses are animals, not machines.

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                                      UPDATE LAST WEEKEND
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Last weekend Misremembered ran a awesome race in the Oaklawn Handicap. He pressed a fast pace while turning for home got over taken down late......at deep stretch. He was game. Moreover this was his second start in a year. I expect big things from Misremembered in the coming year.


I knew that the lone speed was Liberian Freighter in the Arcadia Stakes. I blew it.........He won! Congrats to the trainer and connections for a great sneaky ride to steal this race. As for Joe Talamo it was the second time Caracortado was taken too far back off the pace. He is not the modern day Silky Sullivan. It was a horrible decision by Talamo and Caracortado paid the price. A Big "F" Grade for Joe Talamo.


Compare the ride by what Cambina did in the stretch run. She was not taken that far back. She has a excellent trip saving ground off a ultra fast pace and blew away the field except for a very game Whisper Louise. A star she is and a major contender in the American Oaks.

Clarke Lane trained by Simon Callaghan who was a fast closing second at Santa Anita arrive in Keeneland with a handful of other horses like Evening Jewel and Turbulent Descent and Home Sweet Aspen.

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    Short List of Kentucky Derby Contenders.... subject to change


1. Dialed In trained by Nick Zito by Mineshaft..... He is still learning how to run........He should love Churchill and the long stretch run at Churchill Downs.

2. The Factor......  by War Front. A super star in the making. In the Rebel he had his ears up and galloped out full of run after pressing a fast pace.  He looked like he could go all the way around again. I think the distance just might be a non-issue. He is training like a super freak! Let's see what he does this weekend.

3. Uncle Mo...... still a super talented horse which needed more races with quality talented horses to run with in 2011. I have not thrown Uncle Mo under my bus...... He drops from the number one spot.

4. Animal Kingdom.... my other Derby longshot  if Sway Away does not get in.... Check out what he did in the Spiral. He was blocked then made a awesome move sweeping around the outside to finish gallopping out at the wire. Do not take this one lightly.

5. Toby's Corner.... by Bellamy Road......... is improving each and every race and is a game horse each and every race. A pro!

6. Shackleford by Forrestry...... another horse that should love the distance and the surface at Churchill......

7.  Midnight Interlude trained by Baffert by War Chant. A special maiden before the Santa Anita Derby..... and after the race "A stakes winner." He looked like he had more to give down at the wire in the Derby.

8. Mucho Macho Man by Macho Uno........ trains in the morning time like a ultra fast 3 year old..... should improve and is on the upswing.

9. Astrology...... a head case in the paddock before each race...... He needs to chill out!!  He has talent and if he gets his act together might be a deadly horse during the big dance.

10. Brethren........... Todd Pletcher trains......... do not throw him out because of the Tampa Bay Derby..... He has talent and still is learning the game.

Sitting on the Top Ten List is  Santiva.....