Ed DeRosa of TwinSpires.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap each prep race leading up to the GI Kentucky Derby. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets – highest bankroll after the Lexington S. wins.
DEROSA: Last Week – We picked up $1,410 last week thanks to Old Time Revival's breakthrough effort in the Gotham. For a moment turning for home I thought I was going to clinch this bad boy, but Enticed was clearly best. I don't want anyone else out of that race going forward. A smaller pittance came from McKinzie's “second-place” finish. The DQ talk has been beat to death, so I'll just be thankful for the $120 to add to my “score.” The Tampa horses continued to underwhelm me on the trail. BANKROLL: $2180.
GII Rebel S. – The Rebel is far more likely to be applicable to the Triple Crown, but the now-called Jeff Ruby Steaks has a full field and has provided big payouts the past two years. All that said, I'm going with chalk in both. I think Solomini solidifies the conventional wisdom that West is best currently. He's posted a couple triple-digit Brisnet Speed Ratings as a 2-year-old, which easily puts him on top of this group. Selection: #3 Solomini (3-2).
GIII Jeff Ruby S. – I really like Hazit's tactical speed, and think it will play even better going 1 1/8 miles on synthetic with Drayden Van Dyke in for the mount. Selection: #7 Hazit (5-1).
SHERACK: Last Week – Both Vino Rosso and Free Drop Billy were huge disappointments, then the stewards landed the final blow of the day, taking down McKinzie in one of the worst calls I've seen in quite some time. Thankfully, it didn't cost me much. Time to make my move now. BANKROLL: $1170.
GII Rebel S. – Solomini and the unbeaten Magnum Moon both look like very serious players and deserve to vie for favoritism. That being said, I'm going to take a swing on Title Ready, who looked like a different horse in his sophomore debut last month while trying two turns for the first time versus allowance company at Oaklawn for the loaded Asmussen barn. He has speed and the rail, and also picks up Jose Ortiz. Son of More Than Ready is live at a price. Selection: #1 Title Ready (8-1).
GIII Jeff Ruby S. – I always prefer horses with nice grass form in these 'synthetic' Triple Crown preps. Pony Up certainly fits that criteria with a huge, come-from-behind second-place finish behind subsequent GIII Sam F. Davis upsetter and GII Tampa Bay Derby runner-up Flameaway in the Kitten's Joy S. at Gulfstream in early January. Speed Franco also exited that race to win and finish a close second in a pair of Grade III attempts since. Ignore Pony Up's well-beaten fifth in Audible's breakthrough GII Holy Bull–this switch to the all-weather and stretch out in distance to 1 1/8 miles (he's out of an A.P. Indy mare) is going to suit him very well. Selection: #4 Pony Up (6-1).
DIDONATO: Last Week – Two of my plays did nothing, but I guess I got lucky to have Bolt d'Oro put up. That was a tough call either way. Ed's cutting this thing close all of a sudden so I better come up with something good this week. BANKROLL: $2590.
GII Rebel S. – This might be a start or two too soon for him, but I'm pretty interested in Higher Power going forward. He's a big, powerful horse who did well to overcome some early trouble and blow by highly regarded 'TDN Rising Star' and next-out winner New York Central going a flat mile last time. The more real estate the better for this well-bred half-brother to another 'Rising Star' in Alternation. He needs to get faster, but he has every right to. Selection: #5 Higher Power (20-1).
GIII Jeff Ruby S. – Archaggelos hasn't been seen since finishing a disappointing fourth (he was already empty when he checked) in the Display S. up at Woodbine in December, but if anyone's going to have him ready to go for this it's Michael Dickinson. His GIII Grey S. win was very convincing, and he really doesn't have to get much faster, but he should given expected progression. Selection: #3 Archaggelos (6-1).
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