Florida Derby

Well, the Derby picture is getting a little clearer--it cost me $30 to see the picture!

I used Adore the Gold (4-1, Edgar Prado); Chelokee (6-1, Ramon Dominguez) and BirdBirdIsTheWord (19-1, Manoel Cruz). Scat Daddy, the 2-1 favorite, won the race pretty impressively with second choice Notional getting 2nd. Chelokee was trapped at the rail, saw a hole opening, decided to go through only to have the hole close and have Chelokee take up sharply. He lost all chance and closed well to get third. So, what did we learn from yesterday's race:

1. This year's crop of three year olds are running truer to form than usual. So, it is tough to throw out favorites in each stakes race.

2. Scat Daddy can rate pretty well and is now battle tested. Hopefully, he's not a "one racetrack" horse. He's done well at Gulfstream, how will he do elsewhere?

3. Notional was running well out West and did not run poorly yesterday. Keep an eye on his workout times.

4. Adore The Gold is a one-mile horse. He cannot get the distance and I've thrown him out of the Derby mix.

5. Stormello, who had been running well, inexplicably tired badly. Maybe ill?

6. BirdBirdIsTheWord should forget the Derby. He is an allowance horse, at best.

Stay tuned for next week's Bay Shore Stakes and the Wood Memorial, both at Aqueduct on Holy Saturday (4/7). I, of course, will be in attendance.

May the horse be with you,

The prognosticator formerly known as Racetrack Lenny