Who will be the most impressive Derby prep winner this weekend?

Question

So you think you can handicap? List your Wood, Santa Anita Derby, Ill Derby winners. Add a longshot or someone at least 5-1 (morning line)in each race you think will hit the board as a tie breaker. Good luck to all who may even be laying a bet or two down on Saturday.

Answer 1

Wood:

Nobiz Like Shobiz

Summer Doldrums

Santa Anita:

Liquidity                                                                    

Bwana Bull

Illinois Derby:

Bold Start

Catman Running      

Additional Comment:  With the longer distance and blinkers added, I think I'll throw Boustrous into the mix in the Santa Anita Derby.

Answer 2

Wood:  Any given Saturday entry and Sight seeing.

Santa Anita: King of the Roxy, and Black seventeen.

Ill Derby: Cowtown cat and Catman running.

Answer 3

Wood Memorial- Nobizlikeshowbiz (7/5), and Any Given Saturday (8/5)! Santa Anita Derby- Bwana Bull (8/1), and King of the Roxy (3/1)! Illinois Derby-Cowtown Cat (5/2) and Cobalt Blue (9/5)!! Hope one of these horses Win!!!!

Answer 4

just a side note to all the players...that keenland polytrack had a backwards bias last year vs. the original dirt course...at all distances most of the winners were off the pace, and at all class levels showing how true the bias was...as a bettor my co players and I caught this early and used closing routers and stalking routers shortening up...and the closing turfers were live on the polytrack making one late run...the average price winner for the meet was about twice normal for the meet before poly...and those that ran well during the meet at keenland did not run well on dirt in any stakes races or most any other dirt surface...so use caution and watch the earlier races to find if they have been able to make that surface         ' even'...and good luck this next couple of weeks playing prep races...see you in Arcadia...

Answer 5

Wood: Nobiz Like Shobiz (fingers crossed) Summer Doldrums, Sightseeing

SA Derby: Sam .P, Boutrous and giving Tiago an outside shot.

Ill.Derby: Catman Running, Cobalt Blue, Sacrifice Bunt

Some of these horses have been training on polytrack, I am anxious to see how the Poly to dirt angle plays out.

*** HOLY CHIT! I thought Tiago would round out my exotic... NOT take the whole shebang!!!! WOOOO HOOO!!!***

Answer 6

Well in the Wood, I'm thinking Nobiz Like Shobiz . But the Santa Anita, I don't even know who is running! If I did I would help!

--melissa--

Answer 7

I can't handicap worth a darn, if I could I wouldn't need to work for a living, but here are my picks:

Wood:  Any Given Saturday could prove himself worthy of Derby status with a win or good finish here.  I like Nobiz Like Showbiz, but I just have a gut feeling that there may be a "hole" in him somewhere.

Illinois Derby:  I want to believe that Cobalt Blue can do it.  Cowtown Cat has flashed talent, and this could be a "make or break" race for him.  

SA Derby:  I don't have an earthly about this one, I consider it unplayable.  I will be looking at the top four finishers to see if any of them ran a race that could indicate the kind of talent and readiness that would signal that he might be within a race or two of breaking through.  The SA Derby has produced some underrated contenders for the Derby, so I think you have to take the horses that make a good showing seriously, even if they're longshots.

I love this time of year, with all the excitement.  Man oh man, what it would be like to have a good three-year-old in the barn right now...*sigh*