Hello race fans and welcome to bustling Kentucky for the 7 th installment of the $150,000  Bluegrass Derby Trial Stakes - G III over 8 furlongs . The track is a bit off today so it's relatively safe to say that the race record of  1:34:3/5 113 Spf  held by Blackhawk!! will stand for yet another year .

 

          The field is packed full of early speed so expect some horses to be fading down the backside . All the youngsters have something to prove today and are eager to make a statement in a big way .

 

          Drawing the wood at 8 / 1  ridden by scrappy youngster L . Cardinal is the  Timetoleav  trained colt Ravine Raider (KY) ( Gulch x Cherokee Run x Alydar ) . With 4 wins in 7 starts , this colt is looking to re enter the Graded Stakes arena once again to answer the question of Class that has been brewing since the March 3 rd running of Kentucky's Gary Asher Memorial Stakes - G III over 8.5 furlongs . A multiple Stakes winner and undefeated sprinting over fast and off tracks , this colt seems to want the shorter distances as he has yet to win a single race around 2 turns . His last win came by an impressive sprinting clinic March 31 st in Eastern Kentucky's The Duke West Special - Stk  over 6.5 furlongs  1:16:2/5  97 Spf where he took the lead early and cruised home under light urging .

 

          In post 2 is Hopeful Messiah (KY) ( Mineshaft x Deputy Minister x Wavering Monarch )  8 / 1 . This Fines trained colt won at first asking and has 4 victories in 5 starts with 2 Stakes wins on his resume' . Graded company gave him some trouble over Indiana's Super Bowl Stakes - G III course in February but bounced back gamely February 24 th in Portugal's The Her Canyon's Special - Stk where he maneuvered his way from the back and came storming home in 1:23:00  94 Spf . Several questions are apparent with this colt including a first timer going a mile and how will he handle the distance . Competent journeyman jockey D. Sherman will be entrusted with guiding this colt over the course today in hopes that the off track will be to his liking .

 

          In post 3 ridden by the venerable I. Hoge is National Anthem (KY)  ( Victory Gallop x Unbridled's Song x Al Hattab )  11 / 1 . Trainer Reclaimed brings this jet setting son of Stakes winner Unbridled's Boy to Kentucky this week in hopes of getting that first significant career win . He had a case of bridesmaid disease his first 5 trips but broke the mold January of this year going 7 furlongs in 1:23:2/5 in France . Back to back Stakes appearances over 8 panels resulted in a narrow 3 rd place effort over Korea's The Judge Manila (IRE) Special - Stk losing by a closing  1/4 length to Who do you Love (KY) - GP,SW and He's Crafty - SW . He is well prepared for today's race and should put up a valiant effort today in his first Graded attempt .

 

          In post 4 at 7 / 1 representing the stables of trainer Rrlogan  is  Eddie RU Kidn (KY)  ( Eddington (IRE) x Be My Guest x Pancho Villa ) , crafty veteran M. Margolf  gets the nod . With a record of  9 : 2-1-3  $68K in earnings , this spirited front runner has yet to check off a win this season . He has no problem with off tracks and actually seems to relish punishing his opposition over the stuff . Eight panels seems to be his sweet spot to date and despite his placing's in his last 2 over this distance in Stakes + company , those losses were by narrow margins and I believe he belongs here . His last victory was in a California Alw December 09 th where he wired a full field going a mile in 1:35:4/5  96 Spf . His performance today will be a career marker for this colt , determining whether he can hang with Graded company .

 

          In post 5 from the stables of trainer Rockhard10  is co betting favorite at 6 / 1   Jaffar (KY) ( Point Given x Gone West x Lyphard ) with steady journeyman B. Sipe in the irons . A winner first asking including 2 of his last 3 , he is known primarily in the Alw circuits .  Putting all caution to the wind , he likes to take the lead early and make the opposition catch him in the stretch . His last win coming by a NW2x Alw over 7 furlongs in Oklahoma  1:22:4/5  96 Spf by 1  1/2 lengths .  All the unknowns will be revealed today in this race amongst a field of tuff competitors as he makes his Graded debut .

 

          In post 6 with loveable loser P. Carrier aboard is El Gran Verdugo (KY) ( Victory Gallop x El Gran Senor x Stop the Music )  at 26 / 1 .  Primarily earning his keep in sprints , this Verdugos trained colt exploded last outing going 8 panels in Louisiana March 17 th in 1:36:4/5 in a hotly contested photo finish .  It wouldn't surprise me to see this colt go longer in his career and do well as he seems to like the longer distance however , I'm not quite sure how he will handle the jump up in class today .

 

          In post 7 is the Winningday  trained colt  Adobochubbycheeks (KY) ( Kitten's Joy x Mr. Prospector x Sadler's Wells ) at  7 / 1 , millionaire winning jockey P. Cadigan gets the assignment . This light grey son of Kitten's Joy is a winner on both surfaces at 2 , but saw Stakes success on the main track at 8.5 furlongs .  He is winless in 2 Graded starts this season with a brilliant 101 Spf effort against sophomore glamour boy and Bluegrass Derby favorite  Awesome Force in Northern California's January 13 th Silver Fence Derby - G III . It is clear he can run against the big boys and has an excellent chance to put up a win today despite a losing sophomore record .

 

          In post 8 at  17 / 1  and ridden by budding journeyman M. Ketron is  Our Tribe (WA)  ( Tribunal x Our Michael x Transworld )  from the stables of trainer  Hc74 .  A winner sprinting , it is clear this colt likes 8+ panels but has yet to mark off a rout victory to date . Running high 80's in Stakes company bodes ill for a Graded win today although I'm sure he will put in a valiant effort regardless .

 

          In post 9 is the 29 / 1  long shot  Cash Money Kid (KY)   ( Newfoundland x Nijinsky II x Mr. Prospector )  trained by Looney1 and ridden by longtime veteran L. Goodburn . Unraced at 2 , this colt won easily last outing coming from waaaayyy back in an Arkansas MSW over 8 furlongs  1:37:1/5 by 2 1/4  84 Spf . It's sink or swim time today in a swirling miasma of firsts in his Graded debut . With all the early speed in today's race , it's a good thing he likes to hang out in the back . He cannot linger too long back there in this field today so an early move might just put him in an excellent position to challenge at the wire .

 

          Helping fill out the field in post 10 at 15 / 1  is Deputy's Bold (KY) ( Silver Deputy x Danehill x Bold Lad )  . Trained by Turfwins , he gets another Graded start with veteran T. McJulien aboard . A winner at 2 , this colt saw a lot of action sprinting last year and did ok when stretched to 8 panels . Enter sophomore season and the maturity factor is setting in , putting up a career best February 3rd on this very track in Alw company over 8.5 furlongs  1:43  97 Spf resulting in a narrow loss . He took a real beating last outing but looks sharp today as he gets ready to hit the main track .

 

          In post 11 is the co favorite at  6 / 1  Belisario (KY)  ( Dixieland Band x A.P. Indy x Mr, Prospector ) trained by Fernando , less than spectacular veteran jockey V. Wright gets the nod . The sole Stakes winning progeny of multiple Stakes winning mare Fern Indy , this colt won first asking and achieved a stakes record of 5 : 1-2-1 last season . This season he has matured up nice with his sole win coming from Jamaica's The Opal Slew Memorial -Stk over 8 panels in 1:35:2/5  100 Spf . Nine panels treated him cruelly last outing in this years Wooden Indian Derby Lock Prep - G I , with a Derby spot out of the picture he makes the best of the situation today .

 

          In post 12 is Tull's Bai Bai (IRE)  8 / 1  ( Azamoure (IRE) x Dubai Millennium x Devoted Ruler ) from the stables of trainer Hebbe with veteran S. Garber getting the assignment . A Stakes winner at 2 , this colt has seen success on both fast and good dirt . He started off this season with a bang going 8 panels in Indiana's The Horn Knee Sal Handicap - Stk  1:36:00  95 Spf .  Grade placed in the Giant Slayer Classic - G III , he took a beating in the California Derby - Derby Lock Prep  - G I April 7 th and is looking for a different direction to take now that a Bluegrass Derby Berth is unobtainable . With all the early speed entered today , his stalking style should put him in good position when the runners turn for home .

 

          On the far outside in post 13 is Triple A Prayer (KY)  ( Aldebaran x A.P. Indy x Ack Ack )  at 7 / 1  representing trainer Pazbarn . Sensational journeyman D. Givins is aboard this feisty 3 yo whom has really come on of late winning his last 2 starts including his latest romp in Dubai's The Master Burning (FR) Stakes - Stk over 8.5 furlongs of off dirt in 1:42:4/5 98 Spf . He likes to run in the back and subjugate his opposition with his heart attack late runs that bring the crowd to it's feet . Today is the big test and his fans are awaiting the outcome with excitement .