Leparoux to ride Happy Ticket
 

I'm sure Steve Byk is ultra-relieved to read this...Albarado and jockey agent Lenny Pike had an agreement to travel around and follow Happy Ticket all year up to the Breeders' Cup Distaff, but I guess them and trainer Andy Leggio and owner Stewart Madison must have broken off the verbal agreement...

..I like Robby, but this was the right decision for this mare...She'll be mighty tough this weekend under Leparoux...

I absolutely love this mare..

Joel,

Gee.. I kind of agree.. :D This is the best news I've seen in weeks.. Hopefully Danny Pietz gets the same memo.

Happy Ticket will run in the Fleur de Lis, right? Anyone else of note running against her?.. and why not go for the Grade I Ogden Phipps at Belmont?

Oonagh Macool, who Pletcher has already hinted as the best Distaffer he has ever trained after her win on Oaks Day in the Louisville. Very strong praise from the man who just recently brought us Ashado!

LOL...Steppenwolfer is actually somewhat intriguing to ne on the switch to the grass in the Virginia Derby...I never beleived in him after he lost to a pair of La-breds in an entry-level allowance at FG earlier this year...I crushed him that day and he couldn't get the job done and I really questioned his abilities after that, but I will admit he has improved a lot......some Aptitudes are sneaky good on the grass and the Wolf Power dam side should certainly not mind it...

As for Happy Ticket, I gotta side with her until Oonagh McCool proves to me taht she is better head to head...

BTW, nice avatar...I love Necco candies..lol

That virginia derby usually comes up pretty tough. It is a heck of a spot to bring a first turfer.

Yeah, I don;'t care for the horse a lot so I'm not saying he'll be tough there....I just think he actually has a sneaky good turf pedigree to potentially excel on that surface and he certainly has a turf running style...probably won't bet him in that spot though...I don't know who will point for that race, but I know Showing Up is and I'll tell you that I think Showing Up is a better animal than Steppenwolfer...

Steppenwolfer is a plodder who should be running in the Ohio Derby rather than the virginia Derby. He may get that elusive graded win in Ohio I believe. Steppenwolfer opened on turf by the way. He was out of the money. Also not a good sign.

Your right...not a good sign, but I also know Peitz well from wrking at FG when he wintered there...none of his firsters ever do any good, especially the ones going long on the grass...I don't like him, but just saying he is curious from a pedigree play...I have never liked this horse...as a matter of fact, I thought he was too slow in the Derby and he single-handedly cost me the TRI and SUPER....bastard (LOL)