Georgie Boy

With a quick burst of speed the final 16th of a mile last Saturday, Georgie Boy stamped his derby ticket.  Georgie Boy is one of the most intriguing contenders for this year's Kentucky Derby.

Kathy Walsh is  a long-time trainer, who has trained some of my favorite horses from past year's.  Telephone Canyon, Turbo Launch, Staff Riot, Knight Tracker are a few favorites that come to the top of my head.

Georgie Boy has a strong mixture of racing experience, yet is still lightly raced this year.  With 3 races at Delmar last fall he was able to race himself into shape.  This spring he has only 2 races, and only one race around two turns.

His last 2 races have been strong, yet defeated a slightly injured Into Mischief in a short field in the San Vincente and then came back against sprinters and another small field in a compactly run San Felipe.

The pedigree screams 6-7 furlongs, and also screams injury-prone.  Actually getting to the Kentucky Derby starting gate should be considered a success for this son of Tribal Rule, who himself was very frail and has thrown some lightly built sprinters.

The decision where Georgie Boy runs next will be a tough one for Kathy Walsh.  If she enters the Santa Anita Derby, Georgie will go to Kentucky with no races on "real" dirt.  Also, I believe the West Coast contingent this year is very strong, the speed figures are slow, the race shapes are slow, but El Gato Malo, Colonel John, Gayego, have all been training solidly since January.  I still feel Into Mischief has more talent than anybody in this crop.

The Santa Anita Derby is also a tough decison.  It may come up with another short field.  The pace may again be slow, and it could be  a very toughly fought stretch run.  Colonel John and El Gato Malo have both shown they can gallop and finish just as strong as Georgie Boy.  Colonel John still has the most speed of these 3 horses, and I think that will be proven later this year.  His last 3 races have been all about getting him to rate.  He may be forwardly place in the Santa Anita Derby.  Bob Black Jack will be pointing for the Arkansas Derby.

The positive for Georgie Boy are numerous.  He has raced against the top West Coast horses, has a quick burt of speed, and solid trainer.  

The negatives, no consistent jock, only one route race going into April of his sophomore campaign.  The past 3 or 4 races have been small fields for Georgie Boy and a start in the Santa Anita Derby could insure another small field.  The Derby field of 20 horses, could be a whole different ballgame.