Frosted, Iced The Wood Memorial

Frosted winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes

A perfect spring day at Aqueduct race course in New York drew a bigger crowd for the Wood Memorial Stakes than it has in a long time.  An important day for those who follow the "Derby Trail," it is also the running of the Santa Anita Derby in California and the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland.  Any of these winners' has an excellent shot at victory in the "Run for the Roses" on the first Saturday in May.

Kentucky Derby 2015, is clustering a field of stars this year.  The brightest for me being last week's UAE Derby winner, Mubtaahij, and not just because I was there but the easy at which he took the lead and won by eight lengths impressed me.

Mubtaahij after winning the UAE Derby

Another very fine and quality horse undefeated in six starts shinning in the California Derby for trainer Bob Baffert was, Dortmund.  This striking plain chestnut of seventeen hands is a fiery comet and I can't wait to see Mubtaahij and Dortmund do battle.

American Pharaoh, also trained by Baffert sure looks the part winning his lead up races with easy.  He's a front runner who pulls away and hasn't had the whip wheeled at him once.  A wet track in the Rebel Stakes was no problem.  I believe he'll put them away in the Arkansas Derby this weekend.  Ever since Smarty Jones I never let that winner fly under the radar.

I see a break to the next line of charge in the KD possible a duel for show between Carpe Diem, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby, and Materiality, winner of the Florida Derby.  I've kind of given up on a Bluegrass winner taking home the roses but Carpe Diem could make a fool of me and I wouldn't throw out Upstart yet, who fought on hard in the Florida Derby.  The hope of a Wood Memorial horse getting the first jewel of the Crown escapes me too, although Frosted is a sterling steed.  Churchill Downs is still  a galaxy away and there maybe falling stars before the magical day.  I just want it to be a good horse race; fairness in running for all and a deserving victor who dares to shoot for the Triple Crown.

Easter Saturday, Wood Day was a card packed with delights at the Big A. and here are some of the highlights:

Zingarelli by Bernardini returns to scale

The Bill Mott trained Rectify was no surprise  in the 3 YO Maiden

Pretty gray Juba wins the fifth  race (alw)

Summer Place To Be captures the sixth race in great stride (alw)

Condo Commando got the jump on them in the Gazelle Stakes and never looked back.

March by Blame (the horse that defeated Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup) beats Lord Nelson in the Bay Shore Stakes

JL Ortiz smiles for the camera as he wins the Carter Handicap on Dads Caps