While some of these a “B” and “C” players in the hunt for roses, I really like the competitive nature of the field with no clear cut winner apparent…. at least not to me. The pot for the Sunland Derby is for $800,000 (G-III) and that’s nuthin’ to sneeze at.
Certainly, ML favorite (2-1) Castaway looks to be the class, but there is any one of 5 or 6 that can win this.
#1 Castaway…..Baffert brings the sizzling Bejarano to the Land of Enchantment to ride the son of Street Sense. Castaway popped a 92 Beyer in the Southwest (Div.I) at Oak Lawn on Feb. 20. While his daddy proved he could get “the distance,” I am not totally convinced he will outlast this field at 1-1/8 miles. See track notes from PP’s as a clue, including his finish in the last out at one mile.
#2 Ender Knievel…..To me, this guy looks like he is ready to explode for Pletcher. John Velazquez flies in from Turfway where yesterday (March 24), he rode Went the Day Well to the win in the Spiral Stakes for Graham Motion. While Ender Knievel has no graded stakes experience, his last two races and work coming into this tell me that he is destined for something good; a juicy 6-1 on the ML and he needs to be penciled in somewhere.
#4 Isn’t He Clever…..He is 6/4-1-0 lifetime, including two wins at Sunland, for local sharpie Henry Dominguez with Contreras handling the chores. While “Clever” won the Borderland last out, he couldn’t handle top contenders in the Robert Lewis. That might be the biggest knock to play against, but I do like the local angle and the success at this track. Check his last two works!
#6 Daddy Nose Best…..The winner of the El Camino Real at Golden Gate, this Asmussen trainee out of Scat Daddy (“Nose’s” brother, Handsome Mike, ran 4th in yesterday’s Spiral), has done well on the lawn and in his lone synthetic race. His first two races were on the dirt and he didn’t impress. However, that was when he was a two-year old at Churchill. Your guess is as good as mine, but I will play against based on the better dirt form of others…..3-1 on the ML.
#3 Stirred Up……Looks to be a contender here at 8-1 on the ML and with consistent form in his three career starts. His one claim to fame is finishing third to Bodemeister, one of the best in the west, but that was 9 lengths out in a MSW. You have to like Martin Garcia on top for Baffert, but he is moving way up against a decent field. That said he could be a major surprise here at a pleasant 8-1 ML.
My picks:
#2 Ender Knievel to win and place
$20 Ex straight: 2-1
$10 Ex straight: 1-2
$8 Ex wheel: 1,2/3,4,6
$3 Tri wheel: 2/1,3,4,6/1,3,4,6
$1 Tri wheel: 1,2/1,2,3,4,6/1,2,3,4,6
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