WHO’S HOT
The Puma, winless in his first two starts, had a very wide trip but was able to prevail in a three-horse duel to the wire over Further Ado and Canaletto in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby. The Puma, now secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby, will have one more race, likely the Blue Grass, where he would face division leader Paladin. The Florida Derby could be possible as well.
Potente handled a jump in class and distance to win the Grade 2 San Felipe and punch his ticket to the Derby. He too will have one more start, though it’s not clear where he will appear. The Santa Anita Derby seems logical, but trainer Bob Baffert has recent maiden winner Cherokee Nation pointed there and may not want to run the two in the same race.
WHO’S NOT
Brant, So Happy, and Secured Freedom were all dropped from the Top 20 after the San Felipe. The feeling is, these horses are nice 3-year-olds but at shorter distances than the Triple Crown races.
Canaletto didn’t run poorly in the Tampa Bay Derby, but the lightly raced colt would probably benefit from further development and perhaps point to the Preakness or big races later in the spring/summer. He appears to be targeting the Lexington Stakes on April 11.
ON THE BUBBLE
Robusta, with blinkers added, ran an improved race in the San Felipe. His habit of not changing leads has cost him a time or two. He needs a good effort in the Santa Anita Derby to qualify.
Emerging Market was an impressive debut winner on Feb. 7 at Tampa, but Powershift, the horse he narrowly defeated, did not run well in the Tampa Bay Derby. Emerging Market will get his Derby shot in the Louisiana Derby on March 21.
Fulleffort, second in the Battaglia, and Stark Contrast, a two-time stakes winner on turf and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, are both eyeing the Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 21.
Incredibolt, the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes winner, looks to rebound from a non-effort in the Holy Bull when he runs against seemingly modest competition in Saturday’s Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
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