Another Pyrotechnic display looks to be looming.

Pyro seems to like to run second, but he also seems to like to win...I agree he did make the leap and I think he will crush this field with ease and throw down the gauntlet for Derby favoritism, while undertaking about an 85% effort.

I think Pyro will win, but I believe it'll be a little more of a struggle if Tale of Ekati(who I love) and/or Majestic Warrior run well fresh and I think both will. The 'well-bred horses" with quality trainers can come off a layoff and fire. I like Blackberry Road for third or fourth. This is the time of year where the horses that are bred for it start catching up physically and mentally with themselves and become the great horses they are bred to be. I covered the top three in Pool 1 so I'm anxious to see how they do. When will Tomcito surface??????

Lane

I like J Be K to steal this one on the front end. He needs graded earnings to make the Derby field and Asmussen would love to have a rabit on the 1st Saturday in May to keep War Pass honest.

I think Asmussen completes the exacta with Pyro running down the rest.

Unbridled Vicar for third to add a little value.

That'd be a pretty nice TRIPPLE

I would like to see Pyro win, but most of all i want to see an honest race with an honest pace...No broken timers or clocks no 50 at the half..No 5 horse fields like Santa Anita...Even Zayat stables arent dumb enough to stay out in California

On Thoroughbred Times they have Pyro in pool 2 at 60-1 lol i think they are insane

"Horse racing fans are extremely passionate about our game. Players not only see themselves as consumers but as caretakers of the sport, and that is something that separates them quite distinctly from fans of other sports. They view the game as a cerebral challenge with each race representing a unique puzzle to be solved. And they also embrace the social or collegial aspects of horse racing. Horseplayers, in short, view themselves as members of a community or an extended family. Above all, they want to see horse racing thrive...

The ultimate power within this game lies with those whose wagering dollars fuel the pari-mutuel engine. Because these people are largely nameless and faceless, their potential too often goes untapped. This is a mistake that the industry can no longer afford to make. In the coming months, you can expect to hear the NTRA speaking up on a number of key issues. To our horseplayers, we at the NTRA give our word that you will be an important part of that process. We’ve always appreciated your business. We will now do a better job of appreciating your ideas."

-Alex Waldrop

Fastlane,

I also like the Pyro, Majestic Warrior, Tale of Ekati, Blackberry Road superfecta. I think those are the top four in this field. I haven't picked the exacta or trifecta yet.

This is not about Pyro but, I need to ask Jill this. Why did you back off of your comment regarding El Gato Malo's jockey? In a comment after the Sham, you wrote something to the affect of "jockey error may have hurt but, he could catch Colonel John\" I am certainly not saying David made any errors, you said that, but if he did make an error, shouldn't he be blamed for the loss and not the horse? EGM was definitely gaining on CJ. Virtually all others said it was a positive effort for both horses. It almost seems like you do not like the horse, or the trainer, or the owner. Even after he set the track record for a mile, you wrote an article saying time only matters in jail. It certainly was not a positive article. Any thoughts?

Those pre Pro Ride track records are all bogus at the current meet at Santa Anita as the horses were running artificially fast times and some of them risked or suffered injury from it. Jill was equally skeptical of the Keenland surface last year in the Blue Grass where the times were not natural...The horse has a good pedigree for a mile, and winning at a mile on a speed favoring juiced track should not make a horse a derby favorite all by itself. The horse has not won at a distance, and could not win as favorite when there was nothing but clear track in front of him

Thanks Patbateman for your comments. Everything you say is true. I appreciate that you took the time to reply to my post. However, I was hoping Jill would answer my question regarding backing off a comment she made. It just seems strange that she would make a comment about the jock then 2-3 days later it was replaced with a specific comment about the horse. Now she makes a silly comment about EGM had the entire stretch to get by CJ. First off, CJ is a very good horse. Second, EGM was boxed in until they turned for home, then had to push the 7 horse out of his way. He was wider than maybe he wanted to be and was closing at the wire. Jill did not say a single word about the rider of the 7 horse keeping EGM pinned to the rail from the time they left the first turn until the top of the stretch. CJ was able to run a smooth race and did a terrific job in closing the deal but, the race needs to be looked at in it's entirety, not just the stretch run. It was a battle of two fine horses. I truly think one of them had an easier time than the other.

Yes, when looking at Derby horses it is worth noting whether or not a given horse can win despite some trouble, as they almost always encounter at least a little trouble in the Derby. Look at Giacomo's Derby trip...he was off slow boxed in went 8 wide and ran the field down. If a horse can't navigate a 5 horse field well enough to win then maybe a 20 horse field will be problematic. Last year Street Sense had an easier trip than say, Curlin, but his tactical speed gave him the opportunity to take the trip he ran. Colonel John was ready for a fight off the bench and did not blink when looked in the eye. He should only improve, and so should EGM, but I think you may be able to get the same odds offered in the 2nd future wager on EGM if you simply wait til May 3 and bet him then.

The Derby is going to be awesome this year, again.

Sound advise and very insightful reply. I appreciate it. As for the Derby, they are all awesome. The build up, the predictions, the starting gate, and then the bell. Nothing like it in any sport anywhere, anytime.

This will be by far and away the most interesting prep thusfar, with huge variables to consider. I am hoping Majestic Warrior, and Tale of Ekati are carrying some rust with them, and praying for J Be K to get some earnings to make it in the Derby (simply to keep War Pass honest). So with that being said, my pick is

J Be K/Pyro/ with Vicar,BBRoad,and Maj.Warrior for third.

I really feel J Be K can make THIS distance, and his speed can't be questioned, however he will stand no chance on Derby day should he make it, so by no means am I on his (rather roomy) bandwagon..... well maybe just for this race.

Agree absolutly 100% with Phil

J Be K / Pyro / Unbridled Vicar

However, I will say if J Be K gets 1 1/16m I will be all over him the rest of the way. In the future it will be whether he can rate or not.

The more and more I look at it, I think Majestic Warrior may get up for a piece of the prize.

And Jill,

You got a late Pick-4 for us at the Fair Grounds?!?!

Jill, thank you for response. You could have very easily given a quick response and dismissed my post. You did give me a very detailed response, I appreciate that. I also appreciate you giving some of your vast racing experience in your reply. In your blogs you appear to me to have something against that horse or it's connections. You have responded, so as far as I'm concerned case closed. Again, thank you. I will continue to read your blog, as well as the other ones.

PYRO laid the smack down once again, and he was up close also very interesting.

Pyro was nice, but I'm not so sure that this field was any stronger than the Risen Star field, now that we've seen that Tale of Ekati and Majestic Warrior are both waaaaay behind the eight ball. I will make sure that I bet enough on Pyro to at least break even on Derby day, but I think I will still try to beat him and War Pass both. Z Fortune is only flattered by Pyro's dominance, I think.

Like wise Visionaire

Maybe they're worried about overcoming too many horses on Derby day and know they'll need to get a relatively clean jump to get all the way up to Hard Spun, I mean War Pass. That could be the reason that they took Pyro up closer yesterday to try an position him a little bit more, and he seemed to be very manueverable, which is encouraging because before he sort of looked like a dead closer only. I will say though that he did not have the same late kick that he did when he sat back and closed...I think he looks great but I still have distance questions for Pyro to answer before betting those low odds not knowing his post, etc. He must still improve to win the Derby, I believe.