Hi :)

So this is where I begin my blog, and y'all read it, and hopefully enjoy it.

I figured a good way to start was to lay a foundation for this year in racing, 2008. The three-year-old season begins soon, with the Grade 3 Fountain of Youth coming up at EDIT: Gulfstream. (Thanks to Phil J. for the tip!) Soon we'll be enjoying the Lanes' End stakes, the Florida Derby, the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes, and finally, on May 3, the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Which horses are good? Who's bred the best, who's record is the best? I'll post two analyses of Derby contenders each day. Here are my thoughts. :)

Anak Nakal
dk.b/br. c., 2006. Victory Gallop x Misk (Quiet American)
3-2-1-0; $189,716 graded earnings

Anak Nakal has an impressive record, never having been out of the money in three starts--two of which were graded. He jumped straight from a maiden special weight victory at Belmont to a win the G3 Nashua. He seemed to handle the 1 1/16m well, being swung four wide on the far turn and winning by 1 1/2 lengths.

Anak Nakal is bred to be a stayer. His sire, Victory Gallop (who's sad that Victory Gallop is headed for Turkey? Me!), won the 1 1/2m Belmont Stakes, beating Real Quiet (who is interestingly enough a brother to Anak Nakal's first dam. We know Anak Nakal's top side is good (Victory Gallop gets an A- in my book), but what about his bottom? Some nice black type, with accomplished mares and a little Quiet American--who will certainly get you the classic distances.


Blackberry Road
b. c., 2005. Gone West x Strawberry Reason (Strawberry Road)
7-1-2-2, $93,417 graded earnings


Although Blackberry Road has only won once, his racing record is not terrible. Out of seven starts, he's been in the money five times. The other two starts were a fourth in the Bashford Manor (G3), and a seventh in the Arlington Washington Futurity (G3), in which he didn't fire. He's run a close second in a G2, but hasn't yet competed with a G1 field.


Blackberry Road is sired by Gone West, who tends to throw speed, as is apparent in Elusive Quality, Mr. Greeley, and Grand Slam. There is some value in Strawberry Reason, who herself won about $150k on the track. But: will she give Blackberry Road the distance ability he needs to run the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont? He's been a 1 1/16m, beaten a 1/2 length by Anak Nakal. We'll see if he can stay for the 1 1/4m. While Blackberry Road seems to be a trier, and a consistent one at that, he doesn't sparkle like some of the other contenders do.

-FurlongBaby

PS: If anyone notices any errors in information, please feel free to let me know. :)