This past weekend the world of racing had two big Derby prep races and Hall of Fame jockey, Mike Smith, posted his 5,000th win. He was aboard Amazombie in the $150,000.00 Potero Grane Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Congratulations!!
In the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, Gemologist went on to win for Todd Pletcher. This was Gemologist's second race this year. He raced on March 16 at Gulfstream Park where he won by by seven-lengths. Closing out Gemologist's juvenile season in 2011, he posted a win at the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs. Handicappers will look at Gemologist's fondness of the Churchill Downs track.
Gemologist ran the Wood Memorial in 1:50.96. Not a blazing time for a mile and an eighth race but it was good enough to win.
Hansen, last year's two year old champion will be racing next week in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and Union Rags, the Derby front runner right now, is coming off a disappointing Florida Derby last week.
The big race out west, the Santa Anita Derby, saw the big 9-10 favorite, Creative Cause, get beat by a nose by I'll Have Another. The Santa Anita Derby is another mile and an eighth Derby prep. I'll Have Another ran this mile and an eighth in 1:47:88. Creative Cause's trainer, Mike Harrington took the blinkers off for this race. Creative Cause was wondering in the stretch during it's previous races and Harrington needed Creative Cause to focus more. The blinkers will stay off for the Derby.
You have the Blue Grass Stakes next week which is basically the last of the prep races. The horses have all run a few races as three year olds and on May 5, it will be the moment of truth for these there year olds.
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