Road to the Derby! Second Big Lock Race this Year!

We are gaining steam on the Road to the Derby. This week there is another big Lock Race, The Florida Derby down Miami way.

As of this writing it is filling up rapidly with 12 horses already entered although I think that it will easily get filled.

Earlier this Spring, MARK OF DESTINY proved able to surprise a few folks in Louisiana and locked up the first spot in the Bluegrass Derby. He will now be joined by another horse this weekend as the first two entries in the Bluegrass. This is a big deal on a couple of levels for owners and trainers who hope to compete in Derby week. If a favorite wins, it means that the trainer can take it easy and really just concentrate on getting in a few good runs and doesn’t have to worry at all about building any points between now and the Derby. If a horse outside of the top twenty wins, it moves everyone back a spot and those that are on the bubble have to work extra hard to make sure that they qualify by either adding Stakes points or by winning one of the remaining Lock Races. Either way, the pressure builds for the owners and trainers.

There is a bit of a change from last year as there were two Lock Races on this weekend with the Sand Castle Derby in Dubai also counting toward entries in the Bluegrass. This year the Sand Castle has been replaced and there will only be the one Lock Race.

It appears that we are going to have an interesting field this weekend, not nearly as strong as the ALL SAINTS Lock Race field. As of this writing there are only two horses that currently rank in the top twenty. That can change in a hurry though as trainers like to wait until the last minute to enter even if they have the horse on the grounds to make sure that they get the best matchup.

Currently, we have FLAME OF APOLLO out of the Super Stables, who is listed at 4-1 in Trotter’s Future Odds. He is the number three ranked colt and won the Movieland Futurity G1 two back. We also have WOETTE'S POTT who is the number seventeen ranked colt and currently isn’t on Trotters radar but probably will after his next update. Another interesting entry is RELAX STORM who competed in the ALL SAINTS and finished fifth. He is ranked number 33 and needs to move up a bit to qualify for the Bluegrass. Just a little outside of the top twenty at 32 is BIOCHEMISTRY who won the G3 LEGOLAND two back. GIVE EM THE HYSIGN ranked 50th comes in on a two race win streak including the SAINT VINCENT G2 last time out. And sitting near the entry bubble right now is MARVOLO a lightly raced chestnut colt out of Lenny’s Empire Stables. With his record in Lock races, you can never discount his entries. I feel we will definitely have a full field of 14 in the race and as I noted, there will probably be some late entries.

While a lot of the top colts raced in the ALL SAINTS just a couple of weeks ago, we are still expecting possible entries from top colts like BILL THE BUTCHER who is ranked number four and hasn’t raced since Valentine’s weekend at the Equinics. Another that hasn’t raced since then is number six ranked INAUGURATION. We could also possibly see horses like DISTORTED PRAYER, DEPUTY HERO or LAST STONE before the entries close as they are the first three ranked outside of the top twenty. There are other Lock Races down the road but you start to run out of chances if you are near the bubble for the big race. It sure is nice to get in and then set your training just the way you want it until the big race without having to run your young colt too hard.

Weather doesn’t look like it will be a factor in the race as the weatherman is predicting only a small percent chance of rain in South Florida. Ticket sales have been brisk for the race even in these less than idea economic times as folks are truly excited about watching these top flight young colts battle it out for a spot in Kentucky that first Saturday in May.

Unfortunately I won’t be able to preview this race later in the week as I will be in Vermont for the Old Man of The Mountain running. That preview will be capably handled by BTB writer Kiddman who was already in Florida for last weeks BUCCANEER DERBY. I am really looking forward to watching and seeing who will make it into the Bluegrass.

See you there! And good luck to all!

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