Kentucky Derby Preps 4/8/23

Keeneland | Race 9 | Dirt | 9 Furlongs$1,000,000 Grade I Blue Grass S.

#3 VerifyingNicely compressed before triggering an NPT in the slop, a solid Form Cycle Pattern to be pointing at a move forward here.

#6 Scoobie QuandoInteresting runner here skipping the Jeff Ruby for this spot instead after incremental progressions on synthetic.  Has worked Keeneland fast in the mornings and may surprise for same trainer/owner has Raise Cain who took the Gotham Stakes at AQU at 23/1.

#9 Major BluePutting in some work lately with NPT/DTOP and forward-spent dirt spreads.  Needs to take that strong conditioning and revert it to better energy distribution.  Figure they shoot for the lead here so tough bunch to ask him to settle and suddenly harness that conditioning over 9 panels.  Odds should be there to ask for the improvement at least.

#1 Tapit TriceReally moving fluidly late in last and comes out of a lot of positive conditioning with COMP/NPT/DTOP/DTOP.  However, although younger horses are plenty eligible to keep breaking through DTOPs, this latest one was an especially big uptick.  Runner also has to deal with going inside to out here drawing the rail so for the price, I’m looking elsewhere.

Aqueduct | Race 11 | Dirt | 9 Furlongs$750,000 Grade II Wood Memorial S.

#7 Arctic ArrogancePrompted a forward-spent 76.5 / 67.6 here at 9 furlongs causing many question distance limitations here, but blinkers come back off and the conditioning he got out of that spin should produce a nice bounce-back spot here if he harnesses that conditioning into a more evenly-distributed try this time around.  Maybe getting offered best odds of his career today.

#5 Slip MahomeyNicely compressed with a local win at 68.8 / 68.6, he should be coming after them late here.

#13 Hit ShowLooking like a top contender off 74.3 / 70.0 and the NPT/NPT/REV screams solid foundation.  Short run to the first turn here makes the wide draw a potential obstacle to overcome.

#1 DreamlikeREVs do have a nice strike rate in dirt routes on this track, but it’s such a tough look to back a maiden in this type of contest while also needing to ship and take to the local track.

Santa Anita | Race 6 | Dirt | 9 Furlongs$750,000 Grade I Santa Anita Derby

#5 Practical MoveLooks like a tough favorite in here off 70.2 / 76.9 with a preceding REV Pattern.  An excellent picture of versatility with the 4F ability to stay in range and the late dirt spread to be kicking by rivals.

#6 National TreasureHas been a little disappointing so far in career given the big expectations early on but plenty potential to wake up any day now.  Off the 80.7 / 75.5, runner has a lot of room to improve energy distribution and be best.

#7 SkinnerRuns biggest dirt spreads of field in the -7 to -9 range so if things heat up and runner gets a set-up, should be looking to mow them down.