(# 14) SCAT DADDY - Welcome to this years edition of the Derby. There have been other runnings that had as many possible contenders as this one, but not with the intrigue of so many different angles of today's race. The uncanny approach of last years winner, Barbaro along with the possibility of an un-raced two-year-old, the undefeated Curlin winning and the advent of Polytrack, makes this race have more side stories than usual. Scat Daddy has exhibited talent from the first day he set foot on the track at Belmont last June. Was rumored to be a runner and delivered accordingly at first asking, attaining a speed figure rarely achieved by a first-time starter. Since that day he has appeared in nothing but top races wherever they took place east of the Mississippi. He won the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga in start number two, in a race that he looked hopelessly beaten, by rallying in the last few strides to nail the pacesetter Teufelsberg on the wire. Next out was the Hopeful at Saratoga, where he stumbled at the start, recovered to chase the pace, continued on gamely to finish second to his stablemate the talented Circular Quay. Rebounded with a nice win over Nobiz Like Showbiz in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont, showing a fine stalking gear and rallying late to out game that fine colt. The Breeders Cup Juvenile followed which was his first attempt around two-turns. Encountered some difficulty in the run into the first turn, moved up to contend thereafter, but had too much to overcome as Street Sense was long gone on that inside drag-strip that prevailed that day. Colt then called it a season, having started on four different racetracks, overcome adversity several times to run well and did so as a relatively inexperienced runner. Fast forward to 2007 at Gulfstream Park where he made both his seasonal and three-year-old debut again in a stakes race, the Holy Bull. Gulfstream's mile races are around one-turn and he drew inside of Nobiz Like Showbiz that day which forced his hand into pace-pressing from the inside, with Nobiz getting the preferred center of the track trip. Scat Daddy tired a bit late to finish third. Figure earned was a good one for seasonal debut at tough distance. Next was the Fountain of Youth Stakes, which was his second try at two-turns. Drew poor post No. 8 for that attempt, but impressively kicked it in while very wide late to get up on the wire defeating Nobiz and the loose pacesetter Stormello. Improved his speed number two points, as he should have, as progression is what it's all about. Repeated that performance in the Florida Derby with an even better race by stalking close up, rallying around the turn, out kicking the other stalkers to the wire. Improved his speed figure three points. So what you have is a very consistent, game colt that has performed at a high level since day one. This Colt has overcome some adversity in several starts to run well, when he just as easily could have called it a day. In a field of 20 like this, many will encounter their own adversity. For as in most Derby's there will be one winner and 19 excuses. This colt has continued to train well for this race and is one of only two in here who have two victories at a mile and an eighth on the dirt, the other being Nobiz Like Showbiz. If he can negotiate a relatively clean trip, win or lose, he should give you his usual good performance and I don't think you can say that about too many here.

(# 12) NOBIZ LIKE SHOWBIZ - Talented colt's career has mirrored that of Scat Daddy with a few twists. Made his initial start at one mile at Belmont, right after the Saratoga meeting ended. Couldn't possibly have looked any better doing it as he won with his ears pricked, head held high and looking like he wanted to say "what else do you want me to do". Like Scat Daddy he has run in nothing but top races ever since. Lost a decision to "Daddy" next out in the Champagne Stakes when he had a horse come over on him when the gate opened, costing him about two lengths. Recovered well, pressed pace while inside and Scat Daddy, with a better attack position outside of him, beat him at the wire. There was enough glory for both runners. Very, very impressive win in the Remsen Stakes at a mile-and-one-eighth around two-turns for a colt with only two lifetime starts. Race was in "real" racehorse time and figure earned was top-notch. That was it for his 2006 - mission accomplished. Sent to Florida with the Tagg stable, runner made seasonal debut in the Holy Bull Stakes at a flat mile. Drew a good slot, stalked and wore down "Daddy" who tried to run with him on the inside around the turn. Both colts came out a little tired, but that should be expected. Both were making their first starts of the year at a demanding distance and the race was a hard one. Next on the agenda was The Fountain of Youth Stakes. Nobiz encountered his own adversity, getting bumped at the start and being forced into a 3 to 4 deep journey around the track. He paid the price late as Scat Daddy caught him on the wire. Sent north to Aqueduct for the Wood Memorial where he drew the rail. He used his position to full advantage and I believe he won easier than the final margin would indicate. Blinkers went on for that race, to keep colt more focused, and he will wear them in the Derby. Working gangbusters at Belmont before flying out, he was the last contender to arrive on the Churchill Downs backstretch, which was the way Tagg planned it. As mentioned before, he and "Daddy" are the only two who have won twice at nine furlongs. You'll get a run for your money from this colt, as he is as honest as they come.

(# 16) CIRCULAR QUAY - Colt has never failed to fire including his adventure-filled seasonal debut at the Fair Grounds. Unusual in that he made two-year-old debut at Churchill Spring meeting last year. Another who showed tremendous talent right from the get-go. Colt won his initial race despite a sluggish start passing most of the field - not an easy thing for any two-year-old to accomplish in their first start. Went right into one of the premier events for two-year-olds, The Bashford Manor Stakes where he just whistled at 6-5 in great time: 1:09 and 4/5ths. Was given time off by Todd Pletcher after that initial pair of races. With two-year-olds and their immaturity both physically and personality wise, you never know how they will react to time off and a return to the game. Many never progress in their racing careers for any number of reasons. This colt to his and the stable's credit came back better than when he left. Looked like a three-year-old when I saw him at Saratoga last year. He started in the most important juvenile stakes of the six-week spa session and off of the freshening won easily defeating his stablemate Scat Daddy who had stumbled at the start. Sent to Kentucky by Pletcher, colt ran a funny race in the Breeder's Futurity, dropping back on the far turn then kicking again to finish second. That was his first two-turn experience and some horses need a race because it is a really tough physical thing for a young horse to attempt. Ran a great second in The Breeder's Cup Juvenile when he drew outside on the aforementioned speed-favoring inside-track bias that occurred at Churchill that day. That was it for his 2006. His three-year-old season began in New Orleans at the Fair Grounds at the two-turn Risen Star Stakes. Lagged behind the field, commenced his rally at the half while saving ground on the rail, looked like the winner and then had to check very sharply when a horse went down in front of him. To his credit he swung way out in the track and finished fifth. More importantly he was not injured in the incident, which was a scary one to witness with the field jumbled up like it was around turning for home. Final start before today's Derby was in the Louisiana Derby, where he settled quickly around the turn and picked them all off in an impressive performance. Another horse who gives you a good solid effort every time he runs. Has continued to train well and for all the critics that are saying he hasn't raced recently enough well, I assume Mr. Pletcher knows more about horses than they do. I'll throw out one word of caution on "Quay." He has to try and be no farther than 12 to 15 lengths off the pace to have a legitimate shot at winning. With a bulky field of twenty, the slightest little bump or check can cost a runner valuable position and/or momentum. It is critical for him to do this. #2, #3, #6, #7 - These we are using in exactas with our top three listed above.

The Plays: $5 exacta box on #'s 12-14-16.
$3 exactas on 12-14-16 over #'s 2-3-6-7.
Total Wager = $66.00