"He ran a heck of a race"

Starlight Racing likes what they saw from Shanghai Bobby in the Holy Bull Stakes.  Hard to disagree, he still ran a personal best 100 Beyer despite losing to Itsmyluckyday, the show horse finished 11 1/2 lengths behind him.  While this race most likely makes Itsmyluckyday the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, you'd have to agree with Shanghai Bobby's owners, it doesn't diminish his chances at taking down the 139th Run for the Roses, he only lost by two lengths, still breaking the old track record.  We did learn that Shanghai Bobby can go out and get the pace from the rail.  But I'd have to disagree with the article's author that "times did not seem inordinately fast,", Shanghai Bobby's stable mate, Kauai Katie romped to a 96 Beyer in her score in the Forward Gal and Traver's co-winner Golden Ticket jogged (!) only 0.81 slower in his 62.5K Allowance Optional Claiming fourth race than the record setting pace in the Holy Bull.  This track was fast, despite Orb's late close in the relatively slow fifth race.  I just think that was a paceless race with an opening fraction of 24 1/5, lending itself well to a big close by the Shug McGaughey trained, 3 year old colt.  So take Itsmyluckyday's run with a grain of salt.  Fast track + decent pace = track record + nice Beyer.  
     Two caveats to that equation, they have only run about 100 races at Gulfstream at that distance, over the past two years.  So its not a decades old, battle hardened, historic record which the grey hairs of South Florida reminisce about, recalling two war horses battling down the stretch, pushing each other to the limits of exhaustion in blazing a new track record.  But it's still a damn fine performance over the Eclipse award winning two year old colt, trained by Todd Pletcher.  And a 104 Beyer isn't exactly mind blowing.  A great number in a Derby Prep race, much higher than some past Derby winners prep races, much it doesn't make you fall out of your chair.  So what's next for Itsmyluckday?  Owner Laurie Plesa is pointing her 3 year old son of Lawyer Ron towards the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30th back here at Gulfstream with another 170 points available on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Take Charge Indy wired the field in last year's derby, beating odds on favorite and eventual Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags.

       On another note, where in the hell were the other horses people were picking to upset Shanghai Bobby?    Bern Identity, Frac Daddy and Dewey Square all finished out of the money behind the synthetic speedster, Clearly Now and behind 132/1 shot Joshua's Comprise.  Bern has the best excuse getting bumped early and shuffled back; jockey Paco Lopez did the smart thing and clung to the rail, saving ground, but still should have over come these much less logical horses.  Those three horses lost by 14 1/2, 16 3/4 and 28 1/2 lengths respectively.  This was domination over a relatively strong field with a few horses likely be among the twenty in the starting gate for the 139th Kentucky Derby.  

      Dale Romans has a Zen-like patience with horses, especially for ones he has high expectations.  Dewey Square will come back and improve in his next race.  However, I feel Ken McPeek and Kelly Breen might have to rethink a run at the Derby.  They were trounced.  Soundly.  Even beaten by the longest shot on the board to make the superfecta spot.  The pace was honest for a route.  Only Dewey Square has any real excuse.

      Starlight Racing managing partner, Jack Wolf felt the field was better than the Breeder's Cup Juvenile.  We all read that and scoff, but it did look a strong field, much stronger than a Grade 3 would normally be, but this is because these are valuable points on the road to Kentucky Derby.  The fields in these races will belie their purses and gradings.  Everybody in racing wants to go to the Kentucky Derby and everybody wants to win the Kentucky Derby.  Fact.  So get ready for more records smashing performances, more great stretch runs, more blinding paces to be set, more, more, more great racing ahead!  Stay tuned to Road to the Kentucky Derby for more updates, analysis, recaps, video replays, history plumbing insight and most important great picks!