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Seven Sophomores Set for IND Derby
By
COZMAN
Oct 3, 2009,
7:46:53 PM
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10/3/2009 HOO Post Time 3:45 EDT
RACE 10 HOO IND Derby (GII)
$500.000 3yo 1 1/16m Main Track
Lucky seven is the number of combatants, HOO is the venue and we now take a look at the field for the 2009 running of the IND Derby (GII) - a mile and a sixteenth main-track stakes, and this looks to be a wide open affair.
I'm going to give my nod to a horse that has shown a ton of ability throughout the year, and although his TC hopes were a bit bitter sweet, Flextime has shown that he can run with the best of them. A solid win in the Barbaro (GIII) and then a narrow defeat in the Woodward (GI) while facing older horses for the first time - well, it just seems to be his Derby to win.
Speaking of the TC and being a handful of horse, I certainly wouldn't go to the window without including Sweet Talkin Jed on my ticket. A narrow miss when second in the PRK, he's gotten a check in his last two starts, although minor ones. Still, he can certainly hold his own, and I think he is a big factor here today. Obviously, there's a bunch with a shot here, so sit back and let's see how this one plays out.
Here's the Field -
1 Qowkacola he's put a nice piece of change away this season, but his best shot seems to fire north of the boarder. WO races put most of that in the bank, and his recent tries have been v. GI types. This is a bit softer.. but not really.
2 Slow Lane very consistent form and although he hasn't gotten a lot of wins in big races, he's certainly been around for parts of things. I would expect more of the same here - maybe not the big prize..but some prize.
3 Break Dancer kind of an up-and-down year for this one - came into the TC Races with a bit of steam, and that went away quickly with three lopsided losses. He has shown some signs of life, but unless he can break out that spring form, this could be another long day at the office.
4 Flextime narrow defeat at SAR last out when headed in the Woodward (GI). He's been solid in all starts as a sophomore, and I would expect more of the same here. I'm looking for a huge effort here today and think he has every shot to get the job done in a big way.
5 Sweet Talking Jed another that is always around when they hand out checks. Only one seasonal win, and that was a long time ago, but he was second in the PRK, so you know he has all the ability that you could want in a racehorse. Look for another good effort and being right in the thick of it late.
6 Pavarotti two solid summer efforts while winning a GIII at CD and then just missing in the Dwyer (GII) at BEL. Faltered when trying older horses last out, and is not back with the sophomore class. Solid shot at a smaller check but I don't see him getting the job done here today.
7 Social Reject his spring gave all of the hope in the world, but he also suffered double digit defeats in the TC series, and didn't fare much better when ninth at LAD in his most recent try. A wake-up call is in order to see any parts of this.
COZMAN Picks 4 / 5
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