Chris Richard is cited in TDN today as running Ring It Up.

Optimizer's inclusion brings the predictable :rolleyes:

Saturday will bring D. Wayne's best chance of breaking his 103 race graded stakes losing streak. It won't be Optimizer though.

That can mean only one thing... The Terror of Hot Springs...

Heavy Breathing & Holiday Promise to Spiral says TPletch according to chatty Camilla Yakteen on twittah..

That stat is silly. D Wayne does a lot for the game.

Yes. He's driven many a wealthy owner from it.

I was joking, Though my love for D Wayne will never fade. Only Bob rates higher in my book.

Cluck, cluck, cluck goes the retarded hen.

If I ever own a horse, I'm going to name it cluck, cluck, cluck in honor of RTH!

Alpha
1 Wood
2 LA Derby
3 FL Derby

KMc said those are the options and the order

Street Life to Wood

Prospective leaning Wood over Bluegrass

Probables for Ark Derby
Sabercat
Secret Circle
Optimizer
Jake Mo
Scatman
Najjaar

Trinniberg(Who is not nominated but has almost 200k) to either Bayshore or Jerome

Right Now its the Other way Around Bluegrass then Wood

Sunland Park put out the probables for the Sunland Derby

Castaway
No Spin
Majestic Stride
Daddy Nose Best
Ender Knievel
Isn't He Clever
Longview Drive

Do owners and trainers not realize #1 or #2 pretty much puts u in the Derby? This race should be full

@DRFWelsch: Trainer Mark Casse says he's shipped Tampa Bay Derby winner [Prospective] to Churchill Down, leaning towards Wood over Blue Grass for his next start.

I have More Insight than the DRF:D

HAHAH I guess that is what I get for not reading the name-yes u do :D

No one posted the biggest news of the weekend?

Mary Rampellini‏@DRFRampelliniReply

Junebugred, the Smarty Jones winner found to have a bone chip in his left front ankle, recently had successful surgery, said Hobby. #oaklawn

Yea. :)

Monday updates from ATR:

Romans says Finnegans Wake to LA Derby..

Welsch says Fort Loudon confirmed for FL Derby..

Steve - Has Asmussen commented on Sabercat's less than stellar return to the races? Was wondering if he needed a race, or if he came out ok

Spiral:

Russian Greek (Hollendorfer)??
Red Jack (Lukas)??

Baffert confirms Stirred Up to the Sunland Derby with Castaway... "We have to run 1-2."

Hollendorfer said recently he had no plans for Russian Greek.

Didn't Red Jack just get beat in a claimer last week?


THE SPIRAL FIELD AS OF THE WEEKEND:

Bluedacious (Casse)
Coach Royal (Sallusto)
Handsome Mike (O'Neill)
Heavy Breathing (Pletcher)
Holiday Promise (Pletcher)
Ill Conceived (Servis))
Mr. Prankster (Maker)
State of Play (Motion)
Stealcase (Casse)
Tizanexpense (Maker)
Went the Day Well (Motion)

Jay Privman reporting Pletcher firm on Wood for Gemologist..

If Hansen, Gemologist, Alpha, Street Life, My Adonis and a few others show up in the Wood it will be spectacular.

Checked out OK. They were disappointed but figured he might need the race. Will be back for Arky Derby.

Might actually get a price on him. . .

Can you bet a horse to come in last?

Dont forget Cigar Street!

Thanks. I'm THRILLED to find out you don't like him.

You like that bloated 85 fig? Plus whatever Pletcher/Kiaran send out is going to win, everyone else is medically inferior.

This part is REALLY funny.

Why try and beat those guys in Florida. Aren't you better off watching your horse getting "Quality Roaded" and then betting him back outside Florida?

Put the bottle down, boss, the Wood is run in NY. Chad Brown wins plenty of races there too.

I thought he was going to Florida Derby

Byron King reports State of Play (Motion) to Transylvania as TVI opts to run Went the Day Well only in the Spiral..

FG site says Alpha to LA Derby with Leparoux on-with KMc quotes

Also say Cigar Street will have a Friday workout then a decision about LA Derby will be made

Larry Jones said Mr.Bowling to LA Derby if he can get in

http://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com...leski-and-more

no shock about Alpha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope-who would u rather face for 2 spots?

Gemologist,Hansen.Prospective,Liaison

Mark Valeski and ???

Also are any of the UAE Derby horses looking at the Derby if they have the cash?

Just was reading the Lucky Chappy thing and was wondering?

From Downey:

Lukas 'Taking A Flyer'

D. Wayne Lukas has 36 stakes wins at Turfway Park, more than any other trainer, so taking a chance with Red Jack in the Spiral Stakes is perhaps less chance than calculation. “We know this is a stretch for him,” said Lukas. “He has to step up against a field of this caliber. So we’re taking a flyer with him, and maybe he’ll get a piece of it. We’re realistic; we don’t have any grandiose ideas that he’s going to run away from this field. But we also know this race can be peculiar, with horses not always running to form. And we’ve been lucky at Turfway before.”

Third last out in an Oaklawn claiming race, Red Jack has just one win in nine career starts. On the plus side, that win came at the Spiral Stakes distance on the Churchill Downs turf. “I think he’ll take to the surface,” Lukas said, “and the distance will be of no consequence.”

A son of Exchange Rate and grandson of Danzig, Red Jack is owned by Brad Kelley's Bluegrass Hall LLC. He is stabled at Churchill Downs and will ship to Turfway on Saturday. His rider has not yet been named.