And I learned nothing again.
Horses just trotting around.
Bout as dull as it gets.

A sham.

Yeah, not sure what to take from that one. John got the jump and El Gato Malo never caught up.

50 seconds for the half...not sure what we can gleam when it's run like that.

Considering the relative mediocrity of this crop, I think we learned that the top two are legit Derby contenders THIS YEAR.

The only thing I learned is Gomez our rode Flores. Still no clue how bad or good those two are.

I have no idea what to make of this race. I wonder if those fractions were right. They went:

24.87
50.04
1:14.35
1:38.27
1:50.15

If those fractions are correct, then this was a much better race than the Fountain of Youth. That means that Colonel John finished his last 3f in about 35 4/5 and his final 8th in 11 4/5 and El Gato Malo finished a little faster than that. I'm ok with the finish here even though disappointed that El Gato Malo didn't go by. Liked the way that both horses finished although I guess good horses are supposed to finish like that when they go that slow early. I would have liked to see the rider of EGM get out and take the race to them though. It was nearly impossible for him to run down a good horse like Colonel John under those conditions.

My Prediction
 

This years Derby winner will wire the field...mark my words. So far every race has been very slow on the lead. I say a fast horse with stamina will reign.

Spyder

So Colonel John wins his come back race against four other horses. He had to work hard the last 3/8's of the race. The Santa Anita Derby is five weeks away. What's next for him? Is it straight to the SA Derby then the Kentucky Derby? I just listened to the post race interview and Harty just babbled some nonsense about not getting in the horses way. I have a feeling the connections believe they have a great horse and they'll run in the SA Derby then go to the Kentucky Derby. He doesn't look like a serious Derby/TC horse to me. But I've been wrong a few times.

I thought perhaps one of those two would show something special.
But with 5 horses and no one really pressing any kind of pace
we got to see another trot and run fast at the end.
Tiny Turf race. Almost like neither horse/jock/connections was willing to show
his hand.

So they pick up a small amount of purse money and move on Santa Anita Derby next I guess?

I still think these two fill out the tri in the Derby behind War Pass.

A fast horse with stamina = ???

:D

awesome, i had put colonel john in my rttr, so glad he came thru with a win-which counts, unlike war pass in that work the other day.

I'm really liking a longshot in the Baldwin Stakes, Italian Rules. Yet to try grass, but sire Tribal Rule has a very high 1st out Turf win%.
Italian Rules failed on Sunshine Millions day on the Santa Anita polytrack mess that was,but had defeated a next out winner in the Golden Gate stakes win on synthetic

Alot of riders are jumping around in this race. Might be a real surprise winner. Too tough to call.

I wish we could see them both go on dirt next. Enjoyable race I thought though.