with post positions decided and what looks like will be an off track on saturday think I'm going to make one switch in my picks .. with the bad draw (2) and a pedigree that's less suited for an off track going to lay off #2 tax (20-1) as a derby day pick (remember picked him as a future play mid march @ 59-1)..along with game winner on feb 11
post 29
staying put with #16 GAME WINNER (5-1) and adding #6 VEKOMA (20-1)
pedigree..
candy ride (game winner's sire also) out of speightstown mare much better off track.. sacrifice distance influence on the bottom but I like the trade off.. even if track ends up good or fast this pick stands.. speightstown also classy influence as he and candy ride both have an 80k stallion fee
as far as what he's done as a runner he's had 4 career starts and if you put pace figures, final figures with distance together he scores very high..(i use brisnet so I can only go by their numbers) in other words he not only runs big figs but he's done it up close to fast paces which is a big plus to me.. broke his maiden first out at belmont in sept with a solid figure.. followed that up with a win at a mile in the nashua (grade 3) with a figure that is about as good as anyone in here and more importantly he did it as a 2yo and he did it at a mile.. pace was about 6-7 lengths fast (I avg first 2 calls) and he was within a length of if it at the 2nd pace call so no cheating there..first race as a 3yo in the fountain of youth was a dissappointing 3rd with no apparent excuses looking at the comment line.. last race wins the bluegrass and does so knocking heads on the front end of a 6 length fast pace.. matches figure run in the nashua which puts him right in the hunt
castellano rides and you have a bit of a below the radar guy (george weaver) training.. solid trainer just lacks the recognition of many of the others in here.. lightly raced and last start in kentucky so less traveling around up to the race.. like this combination of things at a big price
post 29
staying put with #16 GAME WINNER (5-1) and adding #6 VEKOMA (20-1)
pedigree..
candy ride (game winner's sire also) out of speightstown mare much better off track.. sacrifice distance influence on the bottom but I like the trade off.. even if track ends up good or fast this pick stands.. speightstown also classy influence as he and candy ride both have an 80k stallion fee
as far as what he's done as a runner he's had 4 career starts and if you put pace figures, final figures with distance together he scores very high..(i use brisnet so I can only go by their numbers) in other words he not only runs big figs but he's done it up close to fast paces which is a big plus to me.. broke his maiden first out at belmont in sept with a solid figure.. followed that up with a win at a mile in the nashua (grade 3) with a figure that is about as good as anyone in here and more importantly he did it as a 2yo and he did it at a mile.. pace was about 6-7 lengths fast (I avg first 2 calls) and he was within a length of if it at the 2nd pace call so no cheating there..first race as a 3yo in the fountain of youth was a dissappointing 3rd with no apparent excuses looking at the comment line.. last race wins the bluegrass and does so knocking heads on the front end of a 6 length fast pace.. matches figure run in the nashua which puts him right in the hunt
castellano rides and you have a bit of a below the radar guy (george weaver) training.. solid trainer just lacks the recognition of many of the others in here.. lightly raced and last start in kentucky so less traveling around up to the race.. like this combination of things at a big price