5/1/15  Post Time 6:10

RACE 9 CD    Alysheba (GII)

$400.000    4yo&Up    1  1/16m   Dirt

Three for nine last season while stuffing $201.600 in the bank…  this year has been forgettable at best.  Didn’t fire at all on SSM Day and then beat one last out in the San Antonio (GII) at SA.  He’s gotta find some of that ol’ magic or it’s going to be a long day here in Louisville.

Last years PRK winner has had a time of it as a 4yo.  He won in his debut taking down Alw foes at SA but got passed by a bunch in the late stages of the SA Hcp (GI).  Obviously that was a tough bunch of horses but it’s not going to be a walk in the park here today.  His best puts him right in the thick of it, but he has to show more than last out.

Another that hasn’t exactly kicked-off 2015 with a bang – he closed to be fourth in that overnight stakes at FG then ran a merry-go-round third in the Skip Away (GIII) last out.  He’s never been over the surface in 32 starts, so I don’t see an ‘at home’ advantage.  He’s going to have to show more to be part of this one.

He made a nice living last year being close – only a single win and that was v. OptAlw horses at SAR.  But watch him – a repeat of that narrow loss in the Woodward (GI), JC Gold Cup (GI) or even that just-miss in the BC Dirt Mile (GI) would make him a tough beat. 

Two big wins in 2014 while banking $733.000, winning the OP Hcp (GII) and the Woodward (GI).  He tired to be eighth in the SA Hcp (GI), coming into that one off of the rest, which he also did when winning that OP Hcp so we may have a red flag here.

A win, a second and a fourth from three ’15 starts tells you that he’s doing pretty good right about now.  He’s already surpassed his ’14 earnings, so you know he’s about as good as he’s ever been.  I’m not pleased with the post position, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he were getting his picture taken later today.

Willie’s Green Card    5  /  2

Categories: Grade II