Dear Readers,
Here are my thoughts on the (GI) Florida
Derby, going one-mile and one-eighth at Gulfstream Park.
1.
Wildcat
Red
– This colt’s past performance charts are starting to look pretty awesome. Add
to that, in the last race, he got hooked early and ground it out all the way.
While you’re looking, take note of the quality of the horses that finished
behind him.
2.
Matador – I
don’t think so.
3.
Cairo
Prince – He’s definitely going to get tested today. What a horse.
4.
Constitution – Really?
With his breeding and his connections…how can you ignore this colt?
5.
East
Hall
– Good Grief, this horse has started twelve times in little more than nine
months. That is amazing when you consider this is a just-turned three-year-old,
and most of his races were as a two-year-old. This must be an iron-legged son-of-a-gun.
6.
General
A Rod – You can’t argue with the quality of this colt and you
need only look at the type of horses he’s been running against to prove it. And…he
doesn’t need the lead. Very versatile.
7.
Allstar –
Could affect the front runners, but little more.
8.
Spot – I
find it hard to make a case for this horse, despite his trainer.
Barring
late scratches, there are four horses out of eight who look like they have a
legitimate chance of affecting the order of finish. But then again that is the
sort of statement that guarantees a long shot steels the race.
Since I love to pick a winner, I’m
afraid I’m destined to be disappointed. Wildcat
Red, Cairo Prince, General A Rod? These three look so good; you could
easily bet a tri-fecta box, but there is one pesky little problem—Constitution.
Reputation means a lot in this
business and Constitution’s connections
don’t have a reputation of entering a race just to fill a stall in the starting
gate.
I’ve been firmly ensconced on the Cairo Prince bandwagon. But Wildcat Red, yikes, he looks so good.
The condition of the track may hold the key to picking this race. I’m going to
be rooting for a safe, cleanly run race and a four horse dead heat.
This is really tough for me, and I
think a good race to watch and enjoy. As a horseman, this is without a doubt
the best free entertainment going. Good Luck.
Take
care,
Shelley
Lee Riley, author of Casual Lies – A Triple
Crown Adventure, finalist in the Castleton Lyon Dr. Tony Ryan Award.
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