7/4/2015  Post Time 3:20PM
RACE 7 BEL    The BEL Derby Invitational (GI)
$1,250.000     3yo     1  1/4m    InTurf

Liked him so much, I tried to buy him.  Nothing but wins since the private sale to Yahudi Stables back in March, including a win over this strip last out for his first stakes score.  Won on the lead, won from off the pace – he just wins.  Give him another big look in this one.

Hasn’t seen the track since that fourteenth place finish in the KYD.  He’d been tough up to that point, although his best races always seem to land him in the second spot.  He now heads back to the grass where he broke maiden back in Feb.  That was a mile event, but he seems to show some signs of liking the green stuff, except no works over the turf.

Still looking for his first seasonal win, although he was second last out v. Alw foes.  This is obviously much tougher than that so it’s hard to get crazy on him.  I like the bullet work at PRX at a mile, but he’s going to have to run lights-out to get anything here.

Tired badly last out over this track and that certainly doesn’t sit well with me.  Won on the AQU turf before that one, and seemed to be headed to bigger things – was that a bounce last out or is he just not the type to run with the big horses?  I’m going to look at some others.

The Mb Stables trained gelding has been tough this year, showing three wins and a pair of third-place finishes from his five starts.  Nice graded win at CD back in may and was closing from way back last out – the added distance seems to be just what he wants and I’d give this one a big chance today.

Lightly raced but has not bee off the board since his very first start.  Nice win at CD v. OptAlw types and the barn feels it’s time to go for black-type.  This is a tough group of horses, so I think he may have bitten off a bit more than he wants to chew here. 

Changes hands for a pretty penny via the Private Sales route and the new barn goes right after the big bucks.  Why not?  He looks like the type that may want to be rated and go the extra distance.  He shows two seasonal stakes scores, so it’s not out of line for him.  He may be a decent price, so keep him on the tri tickets.

Got back to a good effort after that tiring trip in the IL Derby (GIII).  that last race brought him back to BEL and back to the the grass, so he gets a bit more of the home cooking today.  I’d put him in the list that has a good chance at some minor money.

Only a single lifetime win and that was in stakes company, so the barn always seems to aim him at the big prizes.  Nice third at MTH v. Alw horses, but I’m going to have to look at some others in this one.

Has been on a steady diet of sprint type races and now they go the classic mile and a quarter with him today.  Won at MTH on a ‘good’ turf course, but they seem to be looking for something I just can see in this one.

Third in a GIII at CD last out and was making some late progress in that one.  He’s run well on wet surfaces and may be begging for the same in this one.  I don’t think he can hit the board on a fast track, but if it does get wet, look out.

Nice score at PEN last out and that makes four in a row, all on the green stuff.   Has drawn a death-door post position, unless his tactical speed is literally THAT good.  I think they have to use-up too much horse for the distance or they have to close and hope the traffic doesn’t get them… either way, it’s a tough spot.

Willie’s Green Card –    5  /  1  /  13

Categories: Grade I