Fountain of Youth

Lots to talk about this week.

First Crown of Thorns is off the Triple Crown trail, earlier this week Richard Mandella announced that he had suffered an injury.

Then late in the week Mandella again says that Into Mischief is doubtful for the San Felipe because of the a bad foot, he continued to hint that he had a bad foot going into the San Vincente, the foot has been giving him problems this year. Mandella goes on to say that it will eventaully clean up. This is not good news for a horse with very high potential.

Check out the funky splits in the San Vincente. Keep in mind the Santa Anita Strip has been very fast this spring with lots of track issues. But splits are splits. :23 1/5 for the quarter and :45 and 1/5 for the half, the 2nd split was run faster than the first, and for no reason, Massive Drama wasn't going to get a big lead anyways. Into Mischief still has a good shot, speed and positioning are always important in the Derby, and this horse is in shape, getting over the foot issue is a big step, but hopefully he doesn't miss another work. He needs to work-out in the next 3 or 4 days, not a very good sign if he doesn't.

Meanwhile War Pass and Pyro continue to march along without any troubles. Why do the favorites never encounter any injuries on the trail?

Meanwhile this Sunday the Fountain of Youth Stakes takes place. A full field of 12 horses is lined up. Another question is why do all the East Coast Races have double-digit fields and next week will probably be another 6 horses field in the Sham Stakes?

Anyways 2 surprising late entrants by Ahmed Zayat. Halo Najib, who I think is a good horse, who has a chance to get better in the next 30 days is being wheeled back 13 days after his OBS win. The original plan was to wait until the Lane's End. Zayat has also entered Z Humor who comes off a flat finish in Tampa Last week. He may have had problems in the paddock down in Tampa. But he still had the lead turning for home in that race and then just did not do anything. I would be very surprised if he improves in this spot. Seems like a waste, he already has the earnings, if he loses this race, then he could go into the Derby with 3 straight losses.

Monba has been having long slow gallops for over a month and looks to be the favorite in Sundays race. Visually Adriano impressed me very much in his Turf win and being by A P Indy this is the time of the year they get good.

Meanwhile, Halo Najib should get some speed to run at, and I expect a top 4 finish by this colt as well.

Adriano has a morning line of 20-1. He is my selection to win the race, with Monba and Halo Najib rounding out the top three. This looks like the spot for Adriano to have his coming out party.

Horses that look live are Elysian Fields and Anak Nakal who has been training steadly for over a couple of months.

Meanwhile Sebastian County has been training superbly for his '08 debut. He runs Saturday at Oaklawn in a sprint. An even run should set him up perfectly for the Rebel. This is another horse I think will be heard from this spring.

Miner's Claim continues to fire bullets down in Ocala. The early plan for the imposing son of Mineshaft is to run next weekend in the Battaglia at Turfway. A steady work-out pattern has this horse ready.