Who is flying under the radar and who is overhyped?

My early picks #1 Etched #2 Pyro #3 Cowboy Cal #4 Visionaire #5 Monba

Jill,

My Under the radar colts at this time are Bordeaux Bandit and Tomcito.

The Risen Star is shaping up to be an extremely important prep race. With the likes of Pyro, Z Fortune, Blackberry Road, Visionaire, Slew's Tiznow, and Signature Move, we are going to see which of these are contenders and which are pretenders. I have had my eye on Signature Move as a sleeper so I am hoping for a decent showing.

An UNDER-THE-RADAR prospective 2008 KDerby colt that I am following is TURF WAR. He closed well and finished with heart in a deadheat with Z HUMOR in December'07. TURF WAR is training well at the Ocala Training Center (5f in 1:00.40 on 1/16/08). And he is sired by Dixie Union, and, therefore, a half-brother to GRASSHOPPER (who ran impressively in the 2007 Travers and is entered to run in the Mineshaft S. at Fairgrounds this Saturday, Feb. 9th). I am eager to learn when and where TURF WAR runs next. ...Gulfstream Park? FOY? FL Derby? I wonder what thoughts and opinions you or your readers have about this horse.

I thought I heard Turf War being pointed to the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn?

Hi Calvin and Mike. Here is my “toss out” horse list for various reasons this year.
The out list;

War Pass OUT! I need to see the colt rate from off the pace, 3rd or 4th and close for the win. War pass in my book is not going to make it to the wire, going wire to wire. I believe this horse is a freak! But so is the 1 ¼ distance at sucking the wind out if another speed ball is nipping at your tale.

El Gato Malo, OUT! Still waiting to see the colt change leads on the first turn correctly and down the lane, certainly won’t get the distance on tired legs.

Cowboy Cal, his dirt race was not bad; move up on the turn while racing wide, but you tell he’s was not the same as his turf races. OUT

Majestic Warrior, over rated and out class. Distance issues despite breeding, very questionable. Shades of Silver Wagon (2003 Hopeful Stakes winner) racing style, what a bust!

Anak Nakal, I don’t know what to think about this colt, so if the race against Etched was a true indicator (thoroughly beaten) and his come back win was so impressively next out. Etched is a real monster!

Pyro, what’s not to like about him, fires every time. The only problem is? He’s always behind someone. Were looking for the winner, I don’t remember second place finisher.

Here is my on board top three list thus far;

Tale of Ekati, I like him in the Breeders Cup, and I still like him now! Ran the best two- year-old race while emerging along the inside and drawing clear WOW! If he is what I think he is. The roses will become his blanket. It’s time for a bloodline of Sunday Silence to emerge here in the U.S.

Etched, one of the fascinating trends for top three year olds at this time of the year each year is who can run 24 seconds intervals and close with 23 in the last quarter. I like what I see. Training is sound and the horse has no mental errors. Dubai is questionable trip.

Z Fortune, I have only one thing to say, this horse is a truck with no brakes rolling down hill. Major derby entry, and will take a very-very good horse to beat him. Not many will withstand the pressure of his surge late in the race. Top threat!

Off the radar list;

Indian Mischief, every year the derby has a nice speedster who can rate. Believe me when I say, this horse has all the speed necessary to keep the pressure on the leaders. Every race, this horse breaks best from the gate like a professional, but the jockey holds his hands behind the horse’s neck and the horse wait and waits for the button to be pushed. Have to respect first stakes win came in a two turn race against solid competition as a graded stake race.

Colonel John, 1 ¼ is right up his alley. Eoin Harty has a good one here. Second behind Indian Mischief in the CashCall Futurity and was closing along the inside. Remind me of Giacomo running style and still improving after each race. I like to see his prep in New York and unto the derby. Dodging Indian Mischief and El Gato Malo, at 1 1/8 distance out west would be a good idea.

Kodiak Kowboy, first two turn race was a third on Breeders Cup day. Three time stakes winner and 500K in purse money chased Tale of Ekati to the wire. He has the tactical speed and class. Seven starts as a two-year-old. Raging from 5 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles, doesn’t need a mechanic.

Jill, Calvin, et all...

With so much time still till teh Derby many horses are under the radar, so far under that theya re not even inclueded in the future books and hence the field bet is still teh favorite in pool No.1 ..JILL - I hope you had a chance to check out TOMCITO at palm meadows...he has had 2 works so far and he is looking good...CALVIN --- As for the connections of Tomcito teh owners are STUD JET SET...my family...hence the bias I guess...

Right now, we have been invited to the UAE Derby un Dubai, march 29th. depending on the horse we may go there, 2MM purse is attractive, if not we stay here and try either the FL derby or the Holly Bull with eyes on KY Derby...

I would have loved to see him in Pool No 1 at 100-1, how about pool 2, how do you get a horse in it??? Because if we dont go to dubai...we are derby bound...JILL and Calvin...if you have an email address I can send you film of his grade I wins in South America at one and a quarter miles and the other at mile and a half as a 2 year old...

Cheers my friends..
S.

sripa1212,

Good luck with Tomcito!

I've seen videos of him on Youtube and he's very impressive. As you read in my top ten list, I believe that he could be the most accomplished of all on the Triple Crown Trail and I'm waiting to see how he fares in his U.S. debut before placing him in the number one spot.

I hope that your family decides to keep him in the U.S. If he truly is special and posts a commanding performance in his U.S. debut, I believe that it will generate the excitement level that we have not seen since Smarty Jones. A big win in the U.S. would be more exciting than a win in Dubai and it would energize the the horse racing industry - especially if he is good enough to sweep the Triple Crown.

So, I have my fingers and toes crossed that he'll stay in the states. Good Luck!

Barry,

As you've read my top ten list I'm real high on Z Fortune. His sire Siphon, a Brazillian import who won at 6 furlongs and 1 1/4 miles, is a descendent of Brazillian and European champions that trace back to St. Simon who was one of the greatest influences of stamina at the turn of the 20th Century.

I can't give up on War Pass and Majestic Warrior just yet. Despite the fact that he's out of Cherokee Run, War Pass has loads of stamina in his grandsire Runaway Groom and great-grandsire Blushing Groom and he also has stamina on the bottom.

Majestic Warrior has the pedigree to wear the Roses in May but if he does not post a commanding win in his next outing, he'll probably fade into oblivion as a nice horse who did not live up to his breeding.

I think Tale Of Ekati had a poor work yesterday morning.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/92160.html

Better keep an eye on him.

Jill

There is one horse so far off of the radar that I can't find much information about him. I believe that Indian Sun has the potential to be this year's Giacomo if the race develops into a multiple horse speed dual up front. Indian Sun could pick up the pieces and win the race.

But to win the race he has to be in it. Is Indian Sun nominated to the triple crown?
Do his connections have any intentions of running him in the Derby? Has he been injured and no longer in training? I would appreciate any comments about Indian Sun and whether or not he is likely to run in the Derby.

Thanks!

Paul