“You don’t forget how to win The Derby” in reference to The Coach D. Wayne Lukas’ chances come the first Saturday in May. Not exactly sure how many pints had been downed at that point but the notion does make some sense. The pressing question for this week is: Do you forget how to win The Rebel?
If not then it goes to either Bob Baffert who is on a three-year Rebel win streak, Steve Asmussen who has one Rebel title with Curlin, Lukas with one – but he may be having a memory lapse – as Manashtash Ridge won for him in 1989 or Canterbury’s perennial leading trainer Mac Robertson who scored with Win Willy at 56-1 in 2009.
The free-to-enter Road to Kentucky Handicapping Contest features the 11-race Oaklawn card including the double-point Rebel. Post time and contest entry deadline is 1:00pm.
Baffert has a pair entered in The Rebel including likely favorite Super Ninety Nine. The Pulpit colt dominated in the Southwest in February and has two Baffert-like drills at Santa Anita for Saturday’s Derby prep. For Beyer players this looks like a cinch as Super Ninety two most recent figs are better than any other challenger’s single best number.
Robertson teamed up with Jer-Mar Stables in ’09 for that Rebel shocker and they are back again Saturday with Stormy Holiday. The late running colt should be double digit odds with Beyers – an indicator of where the money goes – a cut below the rest of the field. Stormy Holiday, like Win Willy, broke his maiden at Canterbury Park as a 2-year-old in his only local start. He sprinted two weeks back, suffering a bad start, and a very wide late run. Plenty to run at today for D. Bell if he can save ground and charge on late maybe we see a Robertson Rebel repeat at a huge contest-winning price.
For all the Derby news visit The Daily Racing Form online. Their Top 20 page provides a great summary of who has done what and where they are headed.
Congrats to Tammy D.
Former Canterbury Park trainer Tammy Domenosky gave birth to a baby boy March 3. Tammy reports that young Maverick is doing very well. “I’ve come to realize that being a race horse trainer is easier than taking care of a newborn child,” she said.
