Weekend Stakes Races – Grade III Derby Trial Stakes and Snow Chief Stakes

The Kentucky Derby is about a week away. That means that this Saturday is the last chance for horses to get into the Derby field.

Ten horses will line-up for the Grade III Derby Trial Stakes on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Those 10 horses are hoping that they can garner enough graded stakes earnings in order to make it into the Kentucky Derby starting gate on May 1st.

The Derby Trial Stakes is the first of our two Weekend Stakes Races. The second is the Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Churchill Downs – Race 10

Race-time: 5:17 pm EST

Grade III Derby Trial Stakes

$200,000

For Three Year Olds

1 mile on dirt

There is speed and then there is speed. Eightyfiveandafifty is speed. The son of Forest Camp can rate if jockey Ramon Dominguez so desires but the truth is that there just isn’t any other horse in this that can run with him on the lead. Dominguez could very well take the lead right out of the gate if the rest of this field decides not to go for it. If that happens, then Eightyfiveandafifty should win by 6 or 7 lengths in this. He’s just too fast for this field to handle. Wow Wow Wow should be chasing but because he most likely won’t challenge Eightyfiveandafifty early could find himself hanging on for 2nd place. The son of Broken Vow is at 20 to 1 on the morning line and if this turns into a merry-go-round race, and it could, then Wow Wow Wow might add some value in the exotics as Eightyfiveandafifty figures to go off at even money or 4 to 5 once the gates open. For third, Hurricane Ike looks like a great possibility. He tried to challenge Eightyfiveandafifty early in the Grade III Bay Shore but simply couldn’t hang with that horse. Jockey Calvin Borel might take off a bit more early on in the Derby Trial, about 3 lengths or so, meaning that getting to Eightyfiveandififty won’t happen but securing a top three placing is a possibility.

1. Eightyfiveandafifty
2. Wow Wow Wow
3. Hurricane Ike

Hollywood Park – Race 6

Tip-off: 6:35 pm EST

Snow Chief Stakes

$200,000

For Three Year Olds Bred in California or California Sired

1 1/8 miles over cushion track

There appears to be a lot of early speed in this race. All of that early speed should set up likely chalk Alphie’s Bet, who won the Grade III Sham Stakes during the Santa Anita meet, and Self Made who is coming off of an allowance victory. Out of the two, the horse that appears best suited to winning this race is Self Made. The son of Old Topper is 2 for 2 so far in his brief career, gets the rail, and can either run from way off or lie right behind the expected speed duel. He’s a better wager in this race than Alphie’s Bet. Not that there’s anything wrong with Alphie’s Bet. The straight closer should get the needed pace in the Tiznow Stakes that he didn’t receive in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. Not only that, but there are no Sidney’s Candys nor Lookin’ At Luckys in this race. Alphie’s Bet could win this as the likely chalk. For third, Working Capital could improve enough with blinkers added to hang on. The Doug O’Neil trainee figures to be a part of the quick pace, but out of the speed horses, Working Capital has the greatest upside. The horse goes second time for O’Neil and keeps jockey Joel Rosario.

1. Self Made
2. Alphie’s Bet
3. Working Capital

Good luck!

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