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Bottom Line
Southwest Stakes Division I - Monday 2/20, Oakawn
CASTAWAY has finally started to live up to his pedigree and promise with the proverbial lightbulb in full wattage this time. From a tough post, he earned a perfect trip and poured it on late vs. what I think was a deeper division of these two races. Time-wise this division was slower, but all the intangibles point toward this as the better performance when looking at the classic-distance picture.
Southwest Stakes Division II - Monday 2/20, Oakawn
SECRET CIRCLE was a much faster winner than his stablemate in the first division, but he continues to get out a bit late in his races and gives no indication yet that he's thirsting for a classic distance. He appears a brilliant sprinter/miler type. Runner-up SCATMAN lived up to his promise, but has distance limitations likely as well. ADIRONDACK KING in third is the best long-distance prospect here. Speed fig folks will like this race better, visual handicappers like me will lean to division I.
G2 San Vicente Stakes - Sunday 2/19, Santa Anita
DRILL kept the Baffert barn insanely hot on the west coast over the weekend and ran to his smashing pre-race looks. But the trainer admits he's a one-turn horse or a miler at most. CREATIVE CAUSE got a very useful return in defeat and can build off of it, but at 1-2 odds failed to deliver a memorable run, despite a strong gallop-out. He should improve next time by any indication. A field of 4 going 7 furlongs isn't much dress rehearsal, however.
G3 El Camino Real Derby - Saturday 2/18, Golden Gate
As entertaining a horse race as you'll see, turfers DADDY NOSE BEST and LUCKY CHAPPY really threw it down the final furlong in a stirring finish. Not sure either set of connections will make a commitment to dirt with these horses, but you definitely saw two top-class animals for future synthetic/turf tilts. Following Animal Kingdom's success last year moving surfaces, it remains on the table and I like the ability of both to get the classic distance.
Mon 2/20
Oaklawn Park
R8-9
G3 Southwest
Sat 2/25
Fair Grounds
R11
G2 Risen Star
Sat 2/25
Laurel Park
tbd
Miracle Wood
Sat 2/25
Sunland Park
tbd
Borderland Derby
Sun 2/26
Gulfstream Park
tbd
G2 Fountain of Youth
Complete Wynn Las Vegas Derby Futures Odds As of February 20, 2012 - DOWNLOAD LIST.
LUCKY 7 LEADERS AT WYNN LAS VEGAS
1.
Union Rags
8-1
2.
Algorithms
10-1
3.
Alpha
12-1
4.
Hansen
18-1
5.
El Padrino
18-1
6.
Fed Biz
20-1
7.
Secret Circle
22-1
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Season Archives at DRF.com for Countdown: January -- 6, 13, 20, 27 February -- 3, 10, 17
Feb. 19 G2 San Vicente Stakes Drill wakes up and Creative Cause gallops out well.
Feb. 18 G3 El Camino Real Derby Daddy Nose Best & Lucky Chappy in a throwdown!
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