The Run for the Roses getting nearer

Three 3 yr. olds ascending to the top

With racing at Keeneland and Santa Anita yesterday confirming that Dortmund and Carpe Diem are legitimate threats to contend for the 141st. Kentucky Derby on Saturday May 2nd...let's take a look at their big wins yesterday and also a third major contender in the Run For The Roses in American Pharoah.

Dortmund added legitimacy for his inclusion as one of the horses to beat by romping past foes for Bob Baffert in the Santa Anita Derby yesterday by 4 1/2 lengths. The 1 1/8 miles was covered in a brisk 1:48:73...Dortmund to the lead and then cruising home down the stretch to win his sixth out of six races in his career. Another Baffert entry, One Lucky Dane, ran second and could very well join his stablemate and another Baffert trained horse in American Pharoah in Louisville in early May.

At Keenland, Carpe Diem disposed of Ocho Ocho Ocho in stretch running fashion and took the Bluegrass Stakes by three lengths over stretch follower Danzig Moon and fading Ocho Ocho Ocho...who probably needed the race...all three have the possibility of answering the call at Churchill in the first leg of the Triple Crown. 

He covered the 1 1/8 Keeneland dirt in a average 1:49:77. 

American Pharoah will test the Arkansas Derby next Saturday after winning the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. He won the muddy Rebel Stakes by eight lengths in wire-to-wire fashion. He's our third contender for the garland of Roses...the only knock so far is that he hasn't faced very strong competition. That will end in the Arkansas Derby.

Others to watch? Frosted won the Wood Memorial yesterday at Aqueduct by two lengths over a determined Tencendur and covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50:31. Upstart, Stanford, Firing Line and International Star fill our our "dirty dozen" of the top potential horse that could enter the starting gate at Churchill Downs four weeks from now.

Less than a month to go...

paulie
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