*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !*

4/11/07 - The Stick Studio's, Florida

The Three year old picture is coming into a much clearer focus. This year, so far, we have not had to worry about the usual self destruction of favorites and completely different horses winning each big Derby prep race.

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*The Wood Memorial Result*

The Wood Memorial was a very demanding and tough race. While the favorite did win, he was pushed to the limit to hold on through the stretch.

No biz like showbiz went up to the lead and had to fight off longshots, Flashtorm and Summer Doldrums. As the horses rounded the turn, Any given Saturday made his big middle move kick. Nobiz dug in and fought off that first challenge. Coming through the stretch, the Phipps hope, Sightseeing made a determined, deep torque late run, but came up 2nd.

We were very impressed with Nobiz's ability to hold off the entire field early and late. The only question we have for his Derby chances are.....Did he run his best race here in the Wood ?

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*The Santa Anita Derby*

Well, we liked a few of the cinderella horses in this race. It was nice to see one establish a solid victory and bring a longshot into view.

In previous years, the Santa Anita Derby has had small fields and solid favorites win and establish themselves as the "3 year old of the west". This year, we had a nice sized field, and no clear cut favorite.

Im still amazed that Notional missed this race at his home track. True, Notional finished second in the Florida Derby, but we think any of the top five finishers from that race would have had a great chance to win in here.

Front runner, Black Seventeen ran his race, he just came up short turning for home.

Longshot Tiago came flying out of the pack from way back for a huge score. Tiago looked like he was enjoying himself very much and he romped home in a very gawky, kid like manner with his front legs flopping up and down and his head darting around.

King of the Roxy ran second, and Sam P was third. Race favorite, Liquidity, finished 4th. Another cinderella hope, Bwanna Bull, came in 5th. Bull had run two huge races in Bay Meadows, with times comparable to Scat Daddy. It is possible Bwana Bull bounced and that combined with Russel Baze's jinx in Southern California, may make you want to look at Bwana Bull again in the future.

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4/06/07 - The Stick Studio's, Florida

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While the three years olds will sort themselves out before the Kentucky Derby, The Carter Handicap and the Portrero Grande add spice to the undercard.

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*The Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 Mile for 3 yr olds - Purse : $750,000*

No biz like Showbiz and Cornelio Velasquez looks to stake the claim on best three year old leading into the Kentucky Derby. In order to do that, this race will have to have an impressive time and a lenghty score. In the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, Showbiz defeated Scat Daddy, which in light of the later's multiple victories since, show him to be very strong this Saturday.

Any given Saturday should make a race out of it, and jockey John Velasquez in back in NY for the ride. No doubt, John Velasquez would like to defeat Showbiz with another three year old and seek to have his mount for the Kentucky Derby, Scat Daddy, in the catbird seat. Cowtown Cat and Sightseeing also look to have solid chances on Saturday. Flashstorm the dark horse, comes in with Oaklawn regular John Jacinto, and might light up the tote.

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*The Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 Mile for 3 yr olds - Purse : $750,000*

Cinderella wonder horse, Bwana Bull finally steps into the spotlight. This two time winners in Northern California ships south with one of the all time leading race winners in history, Russel Baze. Russel is the older relative of both Tyler and Micheal Baze who ride regularly at Santa Anita.

Bwana Bull has won the California Derby and the El Camino Real Derby's at the future ill fated Bay Meadows. In both races, his times were sensational, although he did not have to face any world beaters. Can he step up at Santa Anita and make himself one of tha favorites on Derby Day in May ? We shall see.

Other contenders in the rich $750,000 race include Liquidity and King of the Roxy. Sam P gets Ramon Domingues shipping in from NY for the ride. Tiago and Boustrous also have outside chances.

One truly has to wonder who Notional's connections chose to run him across country in the Florida Derby against the likes of Scat Daddy and Stormello, when he could have been a solid threat to win the Santa Anita Derby on his home course and against a much softer field. Perhaps they realized Bwana Bull was no slouch, and that they wanted to take it to Scat Daddy before the Kentucky Derby. They might have been right to do so, as a loss here would have marginalized them, and a 2nd to Scat Daddy puts them right in the picture.

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*The Carter Handicap at 7 Furlongs for 3 yr olds and up - Purse : $300,000*

Aqueduct's Grade One sprint is LOADED with speed. Diabolical and Javiar Castellano, Dutrow trained Silver Train, 3 yr old Keyed Entry with Johhny V all have powerful acceleration. Latent Heat ships in from California with David Flores up. Ah Day comes in with Mario Pino making this race look more like the Breeders Cup Sprint rather then just a local sprint stake.

The Carter is 7 furlongs, and this gives sprinters with a closing kick an extra furlong to cath the speed. However, Aqueduct is a speed favoring surface, and horses like Silver Train have no shame in racing out in fractions like :21 3/5 and :44 4/5. If you let the speed go early, they will be very tough to reel in through the stretch. However, it can be done.

This years running of the Carter Handicap looks to be one of the most wide open we have ever seen. Everyone does have a shot in this years renewal.

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*The Portrero Grande at 6 1/2 Furlongs for 3 yr olds and up - Purse : $200,000*

Bordanero gets a smaller field to overcome and he gets the rail with jockey Mike Smith aboard. Smokey Stover will make a race of it, but Aaron Gryder will have his hands full going around the far turn. There is no way Bordenero lets anoyone head him at the top of the stretch. Also 6 1/2 Furlongs does not give as much room for closers in this high speed sprint.

My Guy, Gregs Gold, Gotaghostofachance, and Sailors Sunset round out this compact field. This one appears a little more black and white then the Carter, but it does set up some interesting speed duel and closer scenario's should a longshot go out and push the pace.

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The rest of the undercard's at Aqueduct and Santa Anita look strong also with many grade 3, black type and non graded stakes. We should have ALL The Winners for you this weekend again. Email us early to Order.

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