Handicapping the Kentucky Derby Preps: Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby & Wood Memorial

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland, GI Santa Anita Derby and GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct. All three offer 100-50-25-15-10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Last Saturday's Results – Commandment (Into Mischief) established himself as one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby with a thrilling last-to-first victory at 9-5 in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. Blackout Time (Not This Time) sat the trip I was looking for just behind the leaders, but had no answer when the real running began, finishing a well-beaten fifth at 9-2 in the GI Arkansas Derby.

GI Toyota Blue Grass S. – With the defection of GII Rebel S. winner Class President (Uncle Mo)–I really did love him again in here–I'll pivot to Further Ado (Gun Runner).

Further Ado returns to the site of his 20-length 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' maiden win and was a fantastic runner-up off the bench in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby. The latter run looks even better now after The Puma (Essential Quality)'s bang-up second in the Curlin Florida Derby last weekend.

Expecting an aggressive ride from Irad Ortiz, Jr., especially if Reagan's Honor (Honor A. P.) is left alone up front.

Selection: #6 Further Ado (8-5).

GI Santa Anita Derby –  Intrepido (Maximus Mischief) ran hard throughout and battled back gamely in defeat in his first attempt of the year in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Last year's GI American Pharoah S. winner needed that start off the bench and should be forwardly placed in a race without a ton of early speed. The price will be right, even with only seven runners lining up.

Prefer Potente (Into Mischief) of the Bob Baffert pair. The unbeaten GII San Felipe S. winner is going to want every bit of this 1 1/8 miles distance.

Selection: #7 Intrepido (7-2).

GII Wood Memorial S. – Don't let that outside draw scare you away. The Wood Memorial goes through Iron Honor (Nyquist). The 5-2 morning-line favorite ran down a very sharp sprinter in Crossingthechannel in his big-figure debut win going six furlongs at the Big A, then validated that performance with a going-away victory over a stubborn and much more experienced foe in the one-turn mile GIII Gotham S. The son of Nyquist out of a Blame mare should only move forward with this stretch out to 1 1/8 miles and has enough early speed to get into position beneath Manny Franco heading into the clubhouse turn.

Is this the spot we finally see Courting (Curlin) live up to his potential? The $5-million KEESEP yearling and full-brother to MGISW Clairiere was solid enough at two–including a fourth-place finish in the track-and-trip GII Remsen S.–to give another chance at a price off a disappointing run with blinkers added (they come right off for Pletcher here) in his sophomore debut in the GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds. Will certainly have plenty of pace to close into.

Albus (Yaupon) didn't beat much, but did it the right way, kicking off his 3-year-old season with a good-looking maiden win at third asking at Tampa. Interesting longshot to consider for the gimmicks.

Selection: #13 Iron Honor (5-2).