Sportsfrog.com

Sorry about missing last week, but it was unavoidable. The upside is we got the first serious Derby Preps out of the way last weekend. Quality Road’s win in the Fountain of Youth and The Pamplemousse’s victory in the Sham Stakes both vault them up the chart, while my #2 Capt. Candyman Can drops off the list with a disappointing fourth at Gulfstream Park. Midshipman falls off the list entirely as he has a soft tissue tear and will be rested through the Triple Crown to prep for a summer comeback.

This weekend’s Preps come from Aqueduct, the Gotham Stakes, and a race that usually impacts the first Friday in May only – the Santa Anita Oaks. Stardom Bound has been installed as the 2-5 favorite in what could be her last race against the fillies for a while; assuming a win it’s on to the Santa Anita Derby and the boys on April 4th. Will O Way seems to present to biggest obstacle to Stardom Bound’s winning tomorrow and I’d be surprised if the favorite loses. But the biggest female rival to last year’s Juvenile champ is Evita Argentina – winner in her last out against the boys in the San Vincente Stakes. It’s too bad that Evita Argentina is a sprinter and is unlikely to meet Stardom Bound this season.

The Gotham Stakes marks the stakes debut of Imperial Council, Shug McGaughey’s best Derby shot since Saarland. This son of Empire Maker is 1 for 1 this year, and 2 for 3 in his career, and coming off a terrific allowance win at Gulfstream Park. He’s been made the morning line favorite even though Haynesfield has won his last 3 races – all stakes, though the first 2 were restricted to New York breds. The horse I like to complete the exacta behind Imperial Council is I Want Revenge; the first and second choices on the morning line so it’s not really going out on a limb. Sometimes you just have to call it as you see it.

Now for the Top Twenty – last ranking and probable next start after name:

1. Old Fashioned (1- Rebel Stakes 3/14)
2. Pioneerof the Nile (3- San Felipe Stakes 3/14)
3. Friesan Fire (4- Louisiana Derby 3/14)
4. Desert Party (6- UAE Derby 3/28)
5. Hello Broadway (5- Tampa Bay Derby 3/14)
6. Quality Road (NR- Florida Derby 3/28)
7. Patena (10- Louisiana Derby 3/14)
8. Stardom Bound (9- Santa Anita Oaks 3/7)
9. Imperial Council (14- Gotham Stakes 3/7)
10. The Pamplemousse (18- Santa Anita Derby 4/4)
11. Giant Oak (8- Louisiana Derby or Rebel Stakes 3/14)
12. Papa Clem (11- Louisiana Derby 3/14)
13. Beethoven (13- Tampa Bay Derby 3/28)
14. Theregoesjojo (17- Florida Derby 3/28)
15. I Want Revenge (16- Gotham Stakes 3/7)
16. Flying Pegasus (12- Lousiana Derby 3/14)
17. Dunkirk (NR- Florida Derby 3/28)
18. West Side Bernie (NR- Florida Derby 3/28)
19. Take the Points (NR- Santa Anita Derby 4/4)
20. Haynesfield (NR- Gotham Stakes 3/7)

Knocking on the door: Capt. Candyman Can, Chocolate Candy, General Quarters, Mr Hot Stuff, Ryehill Dreamer, Silver City, and Vineyard Haven