Nice to see 7 in.

I'm looking forward to the Dreaming of Anna/Lears Princess rematch in the Hillsborough.

Its good to see they found some challengers. The forecast looks good.
Phillies first then Ponies after is perfect Saturday.

he'll get 8 1/2

wow...the fields for these 4 races seem pretty bland to me.

ok, I never really cared how or why races get to be graded or listed but...

shouldn't purse money have something to do with it.

Tampa Bay Derby is a grade 3 ($300k)
while the San Felipe is a Grade 2 ($200k)
so I guess a Grade 1 is $100k ?
and money in Cali is not the same everywhere else

I do like Z Fortune in the Rebel. He always seems on the cusp of doing something.

I almost hope someone decides to go breakneck after War Pass and test him a bit... isnt Make Me Zach a decently quick sprinter?

he was in there somewhere..i guess he was one of those taken out with the edit. hmmm.

On Steve's show today I made mention of how I think it might be a good spot for Zito to give War Pass an education - and rate him behind Make Me Zach.

The big obstacle that prevents the connections of War Pass from having that plan going into the race is the fact that War Pass is drawn inside of Make Me Zach.

That means that Make Me Zach actually has to cross and clear War Pass early on.

If you look at Make Me Zach's last race - he ran the same day over the same track as War Pass - the races basically about 1 hour apart. Make Me Zach was hard sent in a swiftly run six furlong sprint..where as War Pass rated kindly while free of pressure in a soft paced one-turn mile race.

I think that gives every indication that Make Me Zach will have the lead in the Tampa Derby if he breaks ok and is sent. Even if Zito and Cornilio aren't interested in giving War Pass a little education, I'm sure they want no part of getting into a big pace battle with a sprinter two races prior to the Derby.

Make Me Zach's improbable 25/1 blowout victory last time out was an eye-catching little race! His mother was 1-for-6 as a 2yo, but was 4-for-8 during her 3yo season, with improved figures. Also, Make Me Zach wasn't orginally nominated to the Tampa Derby, and they had to fork over $7,500 to supplament him into this race...a sign that he probably came back strong from his win.

Rose and Rivera teamed up to win with a 3yo at 100/1 odds last year one race after Invasor won the Donn at Gulfstream .. and the trainers father had Hal's Hope...who wired the Holy Bull at 40/1 and was another speed 3yo that came from nowhere.

I think if Make Me Zach is sent, can clear War Pass and relax, I look for him to be the one who finishes 2nd.

However, if War Pass breaks real sharp and/or isn't rated - Big Truck and Atoned will round out a microscopic trifecta.

Just a terrible betting race! - but it's still a race that will be fun to watch.

when is the last time your boy Zach led 1st or 2nd call?

He's far from my boy...or a horse I will be betting.

He opened a big lead and went wire-to-wire going 5.5 furlongs in his maiden win.

His only chance of hitting the board at 8.5 furlongs is if he makes the lead - so while he wants and needs the lead .... War Pass would be best served in the long term if he is rated off the lead once and shows what he can do against a soft group.

For horses like War Pass - that's what prep races like this are for. They aren't for getting into pace duels with sharp and cheap longshot sprinters.

Because War Pass drew a post position inside of Make Me Zach - this might all prove to be a moot point.

your dead to me..where is btw to show you all the way..............;)

One important question in all of this and that is, does Zito think War Pass' chances are better in the Derby if he can rate? I've wondered about this and if he might try to give him a little education in one of his preps like you speak of.

NT

Minor injury per DRF earlier this week.

You could be right.

I meant Zach last had a 1st or 2nd call lead 7 races ago, last July in the slop.

At least it adds something interesting to the race.

So you dont think he will finish the race?

He will finish the race and I like the fact that MC Baze will be in the saddle to put him in the right place to pick up a nice check in a weak race.

Southwest and Indian Sun might show alittle more today, but I don't see them winning.

It's Georgie Boy in this one.

I didn't see that coming.

Hear that sound? The all too familiar sound of the bridge jumpers...

I don't think many people did...

I didn't see War Pass off the board, but I saw Big Truck winning. The Tampa surface is very quirky and Big Truck had a nice run over it already. :)

Love people who speak in absolutes when it comes to racing... Georgie Boy punched his ticket... To the Derby.