Another great race on the Kentucky Derby under card is the Day Mile Stakes for 3 year olds. This grade 2 event has eight nice looking 3 year old colts and geldings line up to try and put on a show, that will help wet the appetite for the viewers leading up to the big one.

1-Donizetti(Grimley)- Donizetti is coming into this race after trying his last two in prep races that looked to be just a bit to long for him to run. Donizetti is a very fast horse that has already won a Grade 3 race earlier this year in The Hutchison Stakes at GP over 7F. This was a very impressive win over a fast field. Donizetti also comes into the race off a very fast 6F work at 110 an 1 that proves to me he is ready to roll. My only question for Donizetti is will his speed hold up for that added distance…I think it just may, look for this horse to be in the mix.

2-Baffle (NJ Vets)- Baffle is also coming into this race after trying his last two starts in prep races that both ended up in 10^th place finishes. Baffle sports two wins both of them coming at the sprint distance of 5.5 F. Baffle has tried to stretch out in his last three races all of them stakes shots and has fallen back early and then tried to make a move later…sometimes more successful then others. Baffle does show some very impressive speed in the mornings burning up the track with his 6F works, so no one can blame NJ Vets for placing the horse in these stakes races….one day the works will translate to a win, could it be this race?

3-Fleet (Running Farms)- Fleet is a former $6.25 claimer that then turned into a $50 purchase for current owner Running Farms. Fleet is coming into the race on a modest two race win streak at a much lower level then he will be trying in this race. With that said the horse is improving and his workout times are getting better under Running Farms. I don’t blame Running Farms for taking a shot in this race after the last time that Fleet posted in a one mile race at GG, can he duplicate that race? We will find out on Saturday, but this horse has peaked my interest.

4-Balai Daideme (Drab Fantasy)- Balai Daideme is a very lightly raced 3 year old that comes into the race after only running three times. Balai Daideme is showing some nice speed on the turf in the mornings, and that is something owner Drab Fantasy seems to specialize in. The recent one mile dirt works are not at a very impressive time, however there has to be something that owner Drab Fantasy has seen from him that is making him give the horse a shot at this level in this race. Can Balai Daideme step up and shock everyone and win this race? I think it may be a bit to much for him to overcome with this talented field but we will find out on Saturday.

5-True Par Balle (D J C Racing Stables)- True Par Balle is a nice looking 3 year old that took a stab in a prep race earlier this year in the Gothom and finished a disappointing 11^th. Owner D J C Racing Stables then tried shortening True Par Balle up to 7F in the Grade 3 Bay Shore where he finished 6^th.   True Par Balle is now moving back to the one mile distance where he has already won a overnight stake as a 2 year old in November 2014. Will the move back to a straight mile be the right one for True Par Balle be a winning one? It’s hard to say but this seems like a logical place to find out.

6-Wild Spirits (La Canada Racehorses)-Wild Spirits is fresh off a nice run in the prep races and it looks as if La Canada Racehorses says if you cant run in the derby, run in the next best race for 3 year olds on derby day and has decided to come here. Wild Spirits did not disappoint himself in any of the three derby prep races that he ran in finishing a length behind the winner in each of them. Wild Spirits also boasts an overnight stakes win as a 2 year old back in November 2014. Wild Spirits is working well in the mornings and could be primed and ready to get back into the winners circle.

7-Royal Prodigy (MB Stables)- It’s a stakes race so we know that we will find this owner there, and he has chosen to run a lightly raced horse Royal Prodigy here. Royal Prodigy boast only a maiden win, but has come back on two occasions and run second in N1X races. The light bulb appears to have really turned on with Royal Prodigy after his last effort and his 6F breeze times are top flight. This had to get MB Stables attention and caused him to think he has a legitimate shot in this race. This is one to keep an eye out on moving forward.

8-Captain General (Jerry Garcia Racing)- Another lightly raced horse coming into this race in great form. Captain General comes into the race on a two race win streak, a MSW and N1X and both were impressive wins.   Jerry Garcia Racing has taken the next logical step in this one’s career as its race times are right there where you want to see them to take a shot in graded stakes. Captain General also seems to have turned the corner with his works and is moving in the right direction. I think that this horse has a bright future moving forward.

This is yet again a very talented field that has lined up for the 12^th running of the Day Mile Stakes. I feel that many of the horses have a chance to be there in the end and it could result in a scramble to get to the line first. I wish all of the owner luck in this tough event. My overall top 4 picks are 6-8-7-1.

Warbucks

Categories: Grade III