Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Bob Baffert never seems to lack a major contender each year for the Kentucky Derby. Cupid is now a major contender for the Arkansas Derby. Cupid seem to have been spooked by a late afternoon shadow when entering the homestretch. In the Rebel Stakes, Cupid forced all the early pace fractions; after 6 furlongs of 112.11, Cupid came home in 31.70.
Meydan- UAE Derby 1 3/16thM
I have to track down TrakUs charts to evaluate the winner Lani from Japan.
Louisiana Derby
Gun Runner did not impressed many speed handicappers with his race in the Louisiana Derby but I feel that Gun Runner is a legitimate contender for the Derby off his Risen Star winning performance.
Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on synthetic surface
There were five horses separated by a length or less. It was also run on synthetics...Why not card this race on turf?....
Florida Derby at Gulfstream
Nice win by Nyquist who will be the morning line favorite for this year's Kentucky Derby after the dismal performance by Mohaymen. Nyquist is still undefeated from his two year-old season and has an unblemished record. Nyquist did bored in the stretch during the Florida Derby. Nyquist finished in 37.80 after setting 111:40 for 6 furlongs; a respectable final fraction for 9 furlongs is sub-37.0.
Some will questioned that Mohaymen faded during the last part of the Florida Derby but there have been several past Derby winners who did the same. Maybe the trainer did not have Mohaymen 100%...a lot of question marks for a former leading Derby contender.
Here is a past performance of Thunder Gulch who also faded in the stretch in his last Derby prep race:
