As of posting time — on this Saturday — The Sham has just been completed at Santa Anita.  It was a very nice run for Goldencents – who is developing nicely on his quest to be a factor in Kentucky in early may.   I get the sense that he will have to develop quite a bit beyond his current ability level, as this race had a very nice setup for Goldencents as he beat limited competition in an “okay way”,  but was NOT spectacular to me . Still it’s worth remembering that O’Neil is very capable, getting better and better at handling Derby stock, so this colt has a chance to be going forward in development.   On the East Coast, we saw a very game Vyjack win over a major long-shot in Siete De Oros who didn’t have much of a fig coming into the Jerome.   The fact remains that Vyjack was racing with the bias, so for this race to suggest that he is a contender for the Kentucky Derby, I will have to see some seriously big figures, otherwise it will always look like a hard earned victory- “while racing with an inside speed bias”.

The “inside Speed Bias” was very strong at Aqueduct on Saturday!

Princess of Salymar looked great in winning the Busanda, which after her “perfect” trip, she needed to opening up on that field, and she did!   It will still look to me as if she won against modest company while racing with the bias, but that being said, she did what was required and when she got some running room at the 3/16th pole, she took off in a nice way…   She seems pretty good to me and probably better than the fig she will have earned today…

Today’s racing features the Jerome at Aqueduct and The San Pasqual at Santa Anita  — these are both important races with great match-ups.   The Jerome is replacing the Count Fleet and becomes the first major race for 3 year olds who have an eye for Kentucky in May.   Generally, this is a little early for someone to see a good looking colt and declare they have an idea that we might be looking a Kentucky Derby hopeful.    What I find especially interesting is that all the colts entered did NOT race in the Breeders’ Cup Juvy race, which makes me take them all much more seriously.   Mudflats one of two STAR horses in the race,  races for California trainer Doug O’Neil, but this does not qualify as a ship in, as D. O’Neil takes this one away from Eddie Kenneally — business is business.

The horse I will be looking  at is my other STAR horse…

As for the San Pasquale, is just loaded with exciting runner, such as Jaycito, for trainer Baffert,  who absolutely blew everyone away at BF-Hollywood on 12/1, running a big 79.8 that day on the synthetics.   But I don’t love this horses chances at Santa Anita.  The race also has John Scott who took the worst of it in his BC attempt back on 11/3, but has been allowed to freshen off the big day of racing.  Everyone who has listened to me, knows I think that betting against the horses who competed in the BC is the right move, but this horse still deserves consideration and the freshening might be a good move by trainer Carla Gaines.  the race fills with some other really interesting horses, such as the VERY FAST -EARLY Speed type Ultimate Eagle and the hard hitting Tres Borrachos and then Baffert has another terrific horse in COIL who has not done too well in either the BC or the Cigar Mile.  This one has done alot this fall and added plenty of travel to his schedule.   I’m thinking he needs  a little time to get things turned on again…

The Power Page’s should give you plenty to think about on tomorrow’s card…