Inner Light makes the lead in here. No doubt about it. When does CC Lopez ever miss breaks? I must not be watching enough races because I never see him miss breaks.

The intentions of Inner Light have been mentioned, and I suppose I do not disagree. But let's be honest in that he was 2 1/2 lengths off the 22 2/5 quarter at Gulfstream and dropped another two lengths farther back to the 44-flat half. Three starts in a row he's been taken off the pace.

So today, they're asking that he not only out-breaks Was Pass, but then steps on it and a reach a speed he hasn't truly seen early in a race since December. If War Pass is good and ready, he'll throw down a sub-23 quarter and Inner Light may never even see the lead. If Cornelio is smart, he'll do exactly what Gomez did not do with Indian Blessing, and just run out and do their thing.

This is the type of prep we like, provided the track is fair. We'll know where many of these horses stand in relation to the others after today. If Inner Light does manage to hook War Pass, and they both cook themselves, any horse not capable of closing with that scenario is an auto-toss in the Derby. Or, we'll learn whether or not War Pass is back to his old self.

J Be K
War Pass over Court Vision

regardless of tactics, I don't anticiapate War Pass in the winners circle today.
I like Texas Wildcatter to run a big one.

I'm looking at my post and I don't see where I claimed who made what excuses anywhere in it

I think Zito said, "beats the shot out of me" or maybe it wasn't what he said
just telling you the horse had a bad flight. stitches in his chin.
let War Pass wire the field. I don't give a rats

sorry ArlJim78, I singled him
horse has got no chance.
the $2 weight is on

Sorry, must have misread this:

"Just read that War Pass had an eventful flight and had to have stiches put in his chin. Another excuse?"

I just assumed you were saying they had made excuses for his last race. I just didn't remember them doing that ...

Am I the only one going with First Commandment?

50-1 at the moment. The track is now "Fast".

War Pass is 4-5, this, after the last debacle

I'd sure as hell hate to see War Pass in the Derby. The Met Mile would be where I'd go. I'd actually hate to see any of the horses from this race in the Derby.

I hate to see the derby.

i'm just Not overly impressed by any of these 3y/o's. :(

The Excelsior definitely should be downgraded, Take an decent meet and you can find classified allowances tougher than today's Excelsior.

As for War Pass, I thought he ran a terrific race. I hated him going into the race but to battle thru that insane pace and barely get beat is impressive.....reminiscent of Silver Charm in the 1997 Santa Anita Derby. No excuse at all for Court Vision who had the pace to run at and still couldn't get it done.

How about that selection of Gomez to ride court vision over colonial john today??? I know that this came up earlier about dennis of cork and jockey move and some on here said that they could care less about what a jockey thinks and i guess this was a good example.

Its not the jockey's decision; it's the agents. As for Albarado, not riding Dennis of Cork didn't hurt him at all.....just that the filly he chose to ride never bothered showing up.

Really? the jockey's agent made that call for him? cant the jockey say no i'll pass? I mean did he do it b/c it was an ieah horse? Now what happens does cnak keep the mount? I would think and hope so. If i was the trainer if gomez comes back hat in hand id tell him to go to hell, when the big money was on the line he bailed on me.

The thought that jockeys ride blindly based upon their agents decision is not true... they most certainly have input and help make decisions.

Good call on Inner Light guys. I was surprised Cornelio didn't try to take a hold of War Pass early on or perhaps War Pass is not rateable and he had no choice. I thought he ran very well considering the way race shaped up for him. Unfortunately for War Pass he is looking very one dimensional at this stage in his career, all his best races have been around one turn if you throw out the slop effort in the BC, it will be interesting if he continues onto the Derby. He does look to have a very promising career as a miler.

Gomez rides alot for Winstar.....maybe he ends up on Colonel anyway?

Colonel John has always been CNaks' mount. He was out with a broken collar bone for the last race.