Oh boy! Mor Spirit, Exaggerator. Danzig Candy. Smokey Image, and for good measure, let’s throw in I Will Score and Uncle Lino. With all due respect to Nyquist and Moyhamen, you might be watching the Derby winner today.
I can’t wait for these to go off in the GII San Felipe. Just six to post, but this is like a revival of “Battle of the Network Stars” with Bruce Jenner dueling it out with Kevin Dobson, Demond Wilson and Ed Asner (Only old farts like me and Tygre Myke would know these 70s dudes).
Let’s start with #3, Baffert’s Mor Spirit, currently ranked 3rd in the drf.com Derby Watch. At 5/3-2-0 and late mid and late speed aplenty, he is the deserved favorite, but, boy, its close. Stevens’ epiphany will need to be in full-force today as Mor Spirit goes after his 4th win in his last 5 races.
#7 Exaggerator (post position 6)….Currently the 4th pick in Derby Watch, this could be his day after chasing Nyquist 4-wide to lose by 1-1/2L in the San Vicente. While there is little question about the distance, backers note that the pace might be brutal between Danzig Candy, Uncle Lino and I Will Score, which could prove averse for the colt. Kent D will need to be on top of it today as late tactics will rule in this contest.
#2 Danzig Candy…..Stealing it on the front end is not out of the question, even with this bunch as the son of Twirling Candy has done just that the last two times out. Making his 3-year old debut, this is a very tough spot, so I have to think that sharp trainer Cliff Sise (26% wins), with Mikey Smith holding the strap, will attempt to go it alone upfront. Plenty of close to fight off, but very doable.
#6 Smokey Image (Post position 5)…….Pound for pound, trainer Carla Gaines is the goods having been in this situation enough times last year with Bolo, who raced 12th in the KY Derby, and others. Very sharp coming into this, the Southern Image colt is 6 for 6 lifetime. However, this is another day and, while he has faced some good horses, this is a step up from Encino to Beverly Hills. Should be a ding-dong dilly of a battle up front for him, so let’s see if speed can stick. Never count out Victor Espinoza.
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