“Obscure Derby Prep Saturday”
February 26th, 2010By Jude T. Feld
Fencelineneighbor, the dam of Nextdooneighbor, winning in the slop at Santa AnitaBenoit Photo
A plethora of new faces take to the Triple Crown trail this Saturday, most of them pretenders, but maybe a few contenders too. You can watch all three preps in an hour and 15 minutes during the East Coast cocktail hour, so pour yourself a stiffy and enjoy all the action. Here’s your chance to find the next Mine That Bird.
Click here to check out our Kentucky Derby Radar – Chapter 2
BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL – TURFWAY PARK RACE 11
With CODOY coming off a nearly four-month respite, for a trainer that wins at a 4% clip with those types, this race looks like a virtual walkover for KERA’S KITTEN. The Ramsey colorbearer found some focus in Turfway’s WEBN Stakes, taking a similar field from flag-fall to finish. He has trained well since and should win again in a race that offers little wagering value. CODOY peaked in the Bourbon (G3) at Keeneland and then found the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) too tough and too soon. His worktab is slow and light so he will most likely need a race. His best effort would put him right there however.
BORDERLAND DERBY – SUNLAND PARK RACE 10
Local favorite STORMING SAINT and California shipper TANGO TANGO will attract most of the betting this afternoon. The ‘SAINT will be making his 2010 debut after never finishing off the board in his freshmen season for top trainer Henry Dominguez. ‘TANGO finished last in the Robert B. Lewis (G2) at Santa Anita, his first around two turns, but trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is confident the son of Orientate can get the distance. With two marginal chalks, this could be a spot for an upset. HAITIAN HERO has improved leaps and bounds since being claimed December 22. His pace and speed figures fit nicely with this field and a 15-1 morning line seems very generous. GUILTBYASSOCIATION prepped in maiden race 10 days ago and stretches out to a more preferred distance. Slight improvement gives him a big look.
SHAM (G3) – SANTA ANITA PARK RACE 8
NEXTDOORNEIGHBOR, an Amerman Racing homebred son of millionaire Lido Palace (Chi), from graded stakes winner Fencelineneighbbor, has always been well-regarded. The Mike Machowsky trainee stretched out and won nicely after two decent sprint preps designed to get him acclimated to racing. He has trained magnificently since his maiden breaker, including a 1:10 3/5 “best of the morning” six furlongs on February 15, indicating that better is yet to come. KETTLE RIVER, a son of Congaree, has won both of his starts around two turns. He is talented and dangerous and may go favored for Darley Stable and trainer Eoin Harty. Since Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent him two turns, THE PROGRAM has never run a bad race. The son of Harlan’s Holiday has excellent tactical speed and should be factor from the start. If he can get the mile and one-eighth, he could be very tough to beat.
