Kip Deville returns in the pink; Pyro completes Derby preparations in Blue Grass
Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Kip Deville came off the bench and successfully defended his Maker’s Mark title at Keeneland on Friday. The 2-1 favorite saved all the ground from the rail post before launching his winning bid from fourth. Einstein headed stubborn pacesetter Thorn Song in a nice battle for the place. The winner nabbed $186k for the win, and his conditioner Richard Dutrow Jr. will map out a conservative campaign to get him to the 2008 Cup at Santa Anita.
On Saturday, possible Kentucky Derby favorite Pyro gets one last prep in the Grade 1 Blue Grass. Steve Asmussen has done a masterful job getting this one through his Derby preparations, and I have to think his sharp conditioner learned a ton in last year’s Triple Crown series with Curlin. Pyro does not need to win tomorrow, and a late run and strong finish would please his team to no end.
Halo Najib is running his Derby tomorrow. He is a synthetic track specialist, and this looks like his best chance to win a quality race. At 15-1 on the line, he is a good gamble.
Cool Coal Man is already qualified for Louisville, and Nick Zito would be happy with a ground saving stalking trip and top three finish.
Todd Pletcher is running out of Derby bullets. His promising Monba has only started once this year, and that Fountain of Youth effort was too bad to believe. He is much better than that but is quickly running out of time.
Cowboy Cal is the more interesting of the Pletcher duo. Turf route specialist projects a stalking trip, and the graded winner would not be the first to handle the turf to Polytrack move.
Barclay Tagg already has Tale of Ekati ready for the Derby, and his Big Truck can toss his hat in the ring with a strong performance on Saturday. Consistent grinding type can land a share.
Gotham winner Visionaire is the final logical contender, and he breaks from the outside post in the field of twelve. $220k prucahse has hit the board in all six of his starts, and his trainer Michael Matz tasted Derby success in 2006 with the late Barbaro.
Tags: Blue Grass, Keeneland, Kentucky Derby, Kip Deville, Polytrack, PyroRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Horses, Kentucky Derby, Stakes Races, Synthetic Tracks, Triple Crown
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