7/18/2015   Post Time 6:45
RACE 2 IND    The IND Derby (GII)
$500.000    3yo    1  1/16m    Dirt

The good news is he’s won four of his last six starts – the bad news is his only graded effort was an absolute dud.  Still, he has speed to kill and that could be a very handy weapon here today.  Wire to wire in both of his last two starts, and Alw win at CD and then he took the Easy Goer at BEL in his most recent.  If he can set the pace on a soft split, look out.

Derby’s haven’t exactly been kind to this one – he was fourth in the FL Derby (GI) then sixth last out in the IA Derby (GIII) where he tired, and that may be the biggest concern.  It may be better for him to sit back a bit and try to come from off of it here, with only six rivals.  I guess we see how it plays out.

Tagged for only $25.000 and won his first three starts for the new barn, including the TUP Derby.  The graded horses have been a bit tougher row for this one as he was fifth and fourth in the LA Derby (GII) and the Marine (GIII) in his two most recent.  I have a feeling this one may be just as tough, but he could be around for a part.

Got back on the winning side of things in a big way, taking the Pegasus (GIII) at MTH in his last out effort.  He stalked a fair pace that day and still had enough left in the tank to get the job done and the barn brings Danny back in the irons.  I like him here, but he certainly has his flaws.

Just missed to Conquest in that stakes at MTH, and that seems to be the story for this one.  He doesn’t have a win this year but has been close to a BUNCH of good horses, just missing out in each one of ’em.  He’s not been more than a length off of the winner in any of his starts and that is just hard to swallow.  Is today the day?

The barn plunked down $125.000 for this one out of his TAM Derby (GII) outing, and it’s been tough going since then.  Now don’t get me wrong, that was the SA Derby (GI) and the PRK (GI) that he was going after, so it wasn’t like they didn’t think a ton of the horse.  He’s been off since May and tried to find his old mojo in another tough spot.

Another that has shown promise and changed barns for a hefty sum – they dropped $300.000 for him off of that third place finish in the Southwest (GIII) and he did get a win v. NY Bred horses last out at BEL going a mile.  This is a tough group and I don’t like his post draw, but he could be in there somewhere.

Willie’s Green Card –    4   /  3   /  6

Categories: Grade II