PAULICK DERBY INDEX brought to you by VINERY LTD: THE PAULICK JINX?
Back when magazines mattered, there used to be this thing called the “Sports Illustrated cover jinx.” I’m starting to worry that it might be replaced by the Ray Paulick “Paulick Derby Index jinx.”
When we launched the 2010 edition of the Derby Index two weeks ago, my top choice three months out from the Kentucky Derby was Rick Porter’s Winslow Homer, a son of Unbridled’s Song who was coming off a victory in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. I liked the way he made three separate moves in that race and yet still had enough to hold off the favored Jackson Bend, a sign of versatility and maturity. Days later, however, he was off the trail with an injury and off my list.
Last week, Tiz Chrome occupied my top spot, not so much for what he had accomplished in his brief career but for what I thought he would do in last Saturday’s Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. But the son of Tiznow trained by Bob Baffert showed little fight in the final quarter mile of his first race around two turns after jumping out to an early lead.
So I look ahead to this weekend’s Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes with great apprehension as I move Buddy’s Saint to the top of my Derby Index list, and hope he can break the jinx. Following is my newly minted Top 10 in the wake of Caracortado’s upset win in the Lewis and Rule’s dominating performance in the Sam Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
2-Lookin At Lucky. The reigning champion (by Smart Strike) is working solidly in anticipation of his 3-year-old debut, expected to be March 13 in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. Trainer Bob Baffert didn’t have the best of weekends when Tiz Chrome was beaten in the Robert Lewis Stakes and Oaklawn Park had to postpone the Southwest Stakes Monday—for which Conveyance had been shipped from California and entered to run—because of bad weather.
3-Rule. The quality of Triple Crown contenders prepping at Tampa Bay Downs has been on the upswing in recent years, so Rule’s impressive victory in Saturday’s Sam Davis is more meaningful in my eyes than it would have been just a few years ago. The son of Roman Ruler will get a much stiffer test next out—trainer Todd Pletcher said he wants to jump him into Grade 1 competition—but the encouraging thing about this most recent win was the way Rule relaxed on the lead.
4-American Lion. Sometimes a defeat is better than it looked, and that’s how I’m going to categorize American Lion’s third-place showing in Saturday’s Robert Lewis Stakes, his first route race around two turns. He bobbled coming out of the gate, used up some energy to challenge for the lead after that, battled favorite Tiz Chrome into submission in midstretch, but was unable to hold off Caracortado and the fast-finishing Dave in Dixie. The son of Tiznow got some experience in that race and will be a much better horse next time around for trainer Eoin Harty.
5- Dave In Dixie. If I had a dark horse candidate right now it would be this John Sadler-trained son of Dixie Union who came flying in the final furlong to finish second to Caracortado in the Robert Lewis Stakes. He closed a ton of ground in his previous start, the Norfolk, though not hitting the board that day, and will benefit from the tightener in the Lewis. Not every strong closer gets better with distance and he could be a sucker horse, but I’d give this colt another race or two to see if he figures out what this game is all about.
6-Super Saver. Member of the WinStar Farm Triple Crown juggernaut who is approaching his 2010 debut for Todd Pletcher. If nothing else, this Maria’s Mon colt demonstrated his affection for the Churchill racing strip when he won the Kentucky Jockey Stakes there last fall.
7-Jackson Bend. I’m just not convinced this son of the Carson City stallion Hear No Evil has the stamina required to win the Kentucky Derby over 10 furlongs. Has a lot of ability and is in the hands of a trainer, Nick Zito, who knows how to bring horses up to a big race.
8-Conveyance. Presumably will remain at Oaklawn Park for the rescheduled running of the Southwest Stakes, which was cancelled on Monday because of bad weather and will be run this Saturday.
9-Caracortado. We went a long time between geldings winning the Kentucky Derby (Clyde Van Dusen in 1929 to Funny Cide in 2003), but now that there have been two in the last seven (Mine That Bird in 2009), would it be that unusual for a third? California-bred son of Cat Dreams has done nothing wrong in winning all five starts, beginning with a maiden claimer and most recently with his Robert Lewis Stakes victory. Trainer Mike Machowsky (also the breeder) is more than capable, but my caveat for this Cinderalla story is that Caracortado got an absolutely perfect trip under jockey Paul Atkinson, sitting just off the pace of dueling leaders.
10-Tiz Chrome. From first to 10th in a week, this son of Tiznow disappointed in his first try around two turns, but he didn’t get an easy lead, and it’s hard to win wire to wire on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride track under those circumstances. I’m for second chances.
Tags: A Little Warm, American Lion, Backtalk, Backwater Blues, Bickersons, blind luck, Buddy's Saint, Caracortado, Conveyance, D'Funnybone, Dave in Dixie, Drosselmeyer, Dryfly, dublin, Eightyfiveinafifity, Eskendereya, Hollinger, Hotep, Interactif, jackson bend, Lentenor, Letsgetitonmon, lookin at lucky, Maximus Ruler, Moojab, Noble's Promise, Odysseus, Paulick Derby Index, Pleasant Storm, Ron the Greek, Rule, Sassy Image, Sidney's Candy, Super Saver, Thiskyhasnolimit, Tiz Chrome, Tiz the One, Un Oh Bango, Uptowncharleybrown, Vale of York, Vinery LTD, Wildcat Frankie, William's Kitten
February 16th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Ray, I know it’s just an error, but American Lion is not a son of Roman Ruler. He’s a Tiznow.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:41 am
Ray,
I like Lookin at Lucky but until he proves himself on dirt questions will remain. Too many horses are good (or better) on one surface and not so good on another.
Let’s see how the “jinx” holds…
February 16th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Dave in Dixie…whoosh!
February 16th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Buddy’s Saint is at the top of my list, too. Agree with Bill Yates about Lookin at Lucky and the dirt question.
What a shocker that an Unbridled’s Song colt is off the trail with an injury. It must be that you jinxed him because that’s never happened before. Oh wait….
February 16th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Here’s a salute to the owners of the above race horses – most of these names are so tacky (or worse), the Derby Future Pool line-up looks like the card of the 3rd race at Aqueduct on a winter weekday ($12,000 claimers; all Finger Lakes shippers).
You give the owners ONE thing to do – come up with a classic name worthy of the Derby. See what happens?
But I’m flexible. After “Joe’s Grease Drain” wins the Risen Star, he’ll be in Pool Two (March 5-7). That’s my horse!
February 16th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Have you noticed that Caracortado has won every one of his races 1 3/4 lengths?
February 16th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Don Reed….You gave me my first laugh of the day Thanks !
I’ll be betting on the mare : “Clam shell lobster face ”….LOL !!!!
February 16th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Don,t give up on American Lion .He hit his head on the starting gate and bobbled coming out of the gate. Julien Leperoux said” he,s still like a big kid”….lots of time to grow up between now and !st Sat in May!
February 16th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Pam: Glad you like (although it is a serious objection, and “Joe’s Grease Trap” would have had a better punch).
I’m just passing on the favor done to me yesterday, after we stopped at the local Goodwill clothes bin (having cleaned out our closets. Anyone wanna buy 1000 wire hangers?).
The contractor trash bag weighed about forty pounds. The bin was not too far from an electrical crew that had been contracted to do some heavy-duty work on the gas station that hosts the GW bin. So, before lifting, I asked a big, burly, good-natured supervisor if he’d give me a hand.
He swung the lid to the bin up, and it was open, and up into the air the bag went, with my exertions creating some sort of mini-momentum. The bag went in but resisted The Push. My new pal threw his weight into it, and as we were straining to finish the job, with a leering smile, he asked a question.
“Your mother-in-law?”
(Things like this happen in New Jersey.)
February 16th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Bob Baffert had Pioneer of the Nile last year who was a decent second to another who ran in Canada on synthetics, Mine That Bird. Bob has shown he can train a horse to run on either(in most cases). He for one is a versatile trainer. He had to learn the hard way but at least he took the bull by the horns and worked at it. I trust his judgement and if he says it can, it can.
Plus, there are so many other variables that enter in … on the first Saturday in May.
February 16th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
SO FAR> I am not fond of any of them
February 18th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
This weekend will certainly shake out the players from the pretenders. I’m hoping for some big efforts from those coming off the bench - Dublin and Buddy’s Saint - and a few prices to make a showing like Eskendereya in the Fountain of Youth and Stay Put in the Risen Star. I’m saying right now that Lukas is back - Dublin and maybe Wow wow wow will progress off latest gate-to-wire win.