The Derby Trail picks up some steam on Saturday, with the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Lecomte Stakes (G3) bringing together a combined 20 three year olds, including Champagne winner Homeboychris, and four time stakes winner Jackson Bend.
A three year old broke his maiden on Wednesday on the turf at Gulfstream Park that is already getting more ink than any of Saturday’s 20 starters.
Lentenor graduated going 1 1/16 miles on the turf in the ninth race on Wednesday, his third career start for trainer Michael Matz and owners Lael Stables.
If the silks looked somewhat familiar, you are right. The colt is the younger brother of 2006 Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
The colt made his debut on polytrack, and his last two starts were on grass, so does he have a shot of heading down the Triple Crown Trail?
We’ll see how he comes out of it and take a little time to evaluate what might be next,” Matz said after the race.
“It could be an ‘a other than’ or maybe even a turf stakes if we think he’s up to it,” he continued. “Naturally with a horse like this there are thoughts of a Triple Crown race, but it’s much too early to say whether he’d be far enough long to consider something like that.”
Lentenor already has a legion of fans, and it will be interesting to see where this promising colt shows up for his next few starts.
Let’s not forget his big brother Barbaro started his three year old campaign by winning the Tropical Park Derby (G3) over the grass course at Calder.
It will be fun to see how this colt progresses over his next few starts, and to see how he stacks up in stakes company, which likely will be in his near future.
To purchase my full card report for Aqueduct that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:
AQU Race 1 Clm $14,000 (12:30 ET)
#3 Corcho 3/1
#5 Fuzzy's Story 9/2
#2 Irving Rules 2/1
#6 Harlan Rush 6/1
Analysis: #3 Corcho is the lone runner in this field that has beaten winners, the gelding taking a $16K claimer last out in the slop at Laurel Park in gate to wire fashion at 9/5. He has been prepping at Philly for his return off a two month break and looks like a good fit here. Two back in his first start against winners he checked in fifth against $25K starter allowance types, a race in which the top pair both won next out, the winner Place Value beating $35K claimers, then winless in three starts since, two of those in stakes company. There are a couple in here that can keep this guy company early, but if he runs back to his last effort or his career top which came in his maiden score, he will be tough in this spot.
#5 Fuzzy's Story was claimed for $35K three back and was a decent third two back against $25K, then he regressed last out when shipped to Philly to face $15K non winners of two. This guy owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers, but this guy did fail as the chalk in his last two starts and may end up a lighter price than the 9/2 ML.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 2,3,5,6
TRI: 3,5 / 2,3,5,6 / 1,2,3,5,6
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 8 Alw $50,000s (3:49 et)
#7 Gimmeanotherwink 7/2
#3 Kidstrong Fever 9/2
#5 Tutor 3/1
#6 Run to Grand Ave. 4/1
Analysis: #7 Gimmeanotherwink was a smart looking maiden winner in his debut at Calder, then had a bit of trouble last out in his local debut. The colt was bumped coming out of the gate and made a good late run to finish third behind a gate to wire winner taking advantage of a speed favoring racing strip. The colt was coming back off nearly a three month break and figures to move forward doff that effort for a sharp barn. Terranova is 29% winners (with a +ROI) with horses making their second start off a 61-180 day layoff.
#3 Kidstrong Fever was taken off his game last out with a lousy start and a wide trip, making a mild late rally to finish fourth over the speed favoring surface. Two back in his first go against winners he set the early fractions before having to check while getting bumped while down along the rail, weakening to finish a length behind the winner, who was DQ'd. Hard to knock anything McLaughlin sends out, the barn hitting at a 40% clip, while Jara has had his fair share of troubles at the meet, winning just four races.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7
TRI: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7 / 2,3,5,6,7
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Aqueduct
R3: #3 Thundered 10/1
R5: #3 Coney Island 8/1
R6: #4 Laudable 8/1
R6: #9 Acclimate 8/1
R7: #3 Hello Gold 10/1
R9: #5 Byrnie’s Mr. Smee 10/1
Good luck today!
