Lambs

As we get hip deep in our little fantasy season, there are five races to consider this weekend. After going through and peeking at them, I’ve concluded that real movement in fantasy point totals is a distinct possibility. This is an unusual week. Not too many of the front-line horses are racing. Desert Party in Dubai is the most intriguing. Dunkirk and Quality Road get a lot of hype. Big Drama makes his much-anticipated return in The Swale. Aside from those four, the fields are quiet this weekend.

The real point movement will no doubt come in the trainer and jockey categories. Garrett Gomez is aboard two top contenders in the Florida Derby and Swale. Psst...Europe is a rabbit for Dunkirk. Here’s a McPeek. Click on the links and you may go somewhere.

Mar 28 2009 Florida Derby I

1 Toby the Coal Man (KY)

Julien R. Leparoux
Nicholas P. Zito

10/1

2 Quality Road (VA)

John R. Velazquez

James A. Jerkens

2/1

3 Casey's On Call (FL)

E. T. Baird

Alec Fehr

15/1

4 Dunkirk (KY)

Garrett K. Gomez

Todd A. Pletcher

9/5

5 Sincero (FL)

Elvis Trujillo

Manuel J. Azpurua

20/1

6 Theregoesjojo (KY)

Kent J. Desormeaux

Kenneth G. McPeek

5/1

7 Danger to Society (KY)

Mario Madrid

Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.

6/1

8 Europe (KY)

Christopher P. DeCarlo

Todd A. Pletcher

20/1

9 Stately Character (KY)

Rene R. Douglas

Gerald Procino

20/1

My Pick: Quality Road...Got to go with the VA horse. Plus, rabbits are tricky.

Mar 28 2009 Swale II

1 This Ones for Phil (FL)

Garrett K. Gomez

Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.

3/1

2 B Z Warrior (KY)

John R. Velazquez

Todd A. Pletcher

5/1

3 Sabi Sabi (FL)

Jose Lezcano

Edward Plesa, Jr.

8/1

4 Custom for Carlos (KY)

Kent J. Desormeaux

Eddie Kenneally

4/1

5 Brave Victory (KY)

Julien R. Leparoux

Nicholas P. Zito

4/1

6 Big Drama (FL)

Eibar Coa

David Fawkes

2/1

My Pick: This Ones For Phil...too much Drama for Big Drama

Mar 28 2009 UAE Derby II

1 Regal Ransom

Garcia Alan

bin Suroor Saeed

4-1

2 I Am The Best (GB)

French R L

Al Raihe Ali R

30-1

3 Lelah Dorak (KSA)

Prado E S

Resaque Badar

15-1

4 Muy Ponderado (ARG)

Smith W

Jbin Shafya Mubarak

50-1

5 Desert Party

Dettori L

bin Suroor Saeed

1-1

6 Redding Colliery

Egan J F

Brown Herman J

8-1

7 So Shiny (ARG)

Jara F

Barton Jerry

20-1

8 Ra Junior

Spencer J P

Meehan Brian

20-1

9 Balcarce Nov (ARG)

Marwing W

Brown Herman J

20-1

10 Jose Adan

Durcan T E

bin Suroor Saeed

12-1

11 Soy Libriano (ARG)

Ajtebi A

bin Shafya Mubarak

10-1

12 Naval Officer

Kinane M J

Barton Jerry

6-1

13 Paso de Gloria (ARG)

Supple W J

bin Shafya Mubarak

30-1

My Pick : Regal Ransom...too much hype for Desert Party

Mar 28 2009 San Miguel

1 Triumphant Flight

Espinoza V

2 Flashmans Papers (GB)

Bejarano R

3 Turk

Rosario J

4 Gotmymojoworkin

Garcia M

5 Reynaldothewizard

Flores D R

6 Charlie's Moment

Sorenson D

My Pick: Flashmans Papers

Mar 29 2009 Sunland Derby

1 Valid Stripes

Lanerie C J

2 Santamonicacanyon

Flores D

3 Advice

Velazquez J R

4 Dumar

Contreras L

5 Mayor Marv

Espinoza V

6 Scorewithcater

Baze M C

7 Mythical Power

Gomez G

8 Kelly Leak

Smith M E

9 Mine That Bird

Lambert C T

10 Infernal

Villa M A

11 Mark S the Cooler

Nakatani C S

12 Smokin' Legend

Espitia J

My Pick: Advice

In our contest, !Xabbu continues to lead the way, although his lead has gradually evaporated. Poop Man and Antilles are in hot pursuit. Clifton Pond is making a strong bid while Schanuci and Driving in Circles are spinning their heels. There is no reason for Spontaneous Combustication other than he may have thought this was some new form of SCRABBLE!

Rank	Score	Stable	Player	Hometown
1	90	!Xabbu	Thomas Ryder	Roanoke
2	79	Antilles Stable	Elizabeth Ryder	Roanoke
3	79	Poop Man, Caped Crusader of Muck	John Wallace	Berryville
4	67	Clifton Pond	Rebecca Ryder	Lexington
5	58	Driving in Circles	Joey Ryder	Blacksburg
6	57	Schanuci	John Ryder	Blacksburg
7	17	Spontaneous Combustication	Andrew Ryder	Vienna

!Xabbu Locks On

There is no clear favorite right now in the run for the roses. In fact, the whole sorting process is rather jumbled. This was a huge weekend. Undefeated Derby favorite Old-Fashioned ran in Rebel at Oaklawn Saturday and got locked in a speed duel with Silver City. Silver City tired and a 56-1 longshot, Win Willy (son of Monarchos)


There were other races that were just as important. Friesan Fire blasted the field in the Lousiana Derby at Fairgrounds. Pioneerof the Nile walked away with the San Felipe at Santa Anita. The other upset was Musket Man taking the Tampa Bay Derby with favorites Hello Broadway and popular picks General Quarters, and Bear's Rocket finishing poorly.


So with that all said, here's who I currently like...my top ten.


1. Friesan Fire: Big win is the slop at Fairgrounds Saturday


2. I Want Revenge: Most impressive 8.5 length victory in Gotham at Saratoga last week, weak field.


3. Pioneerof the Nile: Big win at San Felipe. Easy field though. Faces # 4 next...


4. The Pamplemousse: The true every man horse. Few predicted this horse to do as well as he has. The horse is named after a restaurant across from Del Mar. He's owned in part by Alex Solis II and ridden by his father.


5. Old Fashioned: My former # 1. When you look at it, his previous wins weren't all that impressive. He may have peaked too early.


6. Quality Road: A Virginia horse (yeah!) and winer of the Fountain of Youth over Theregoesjojo and my favorite, Capt Candyman Can. He may head to New York for the Wood or to the Florida Derby.


7. Dunkirk: Pletcher horse. Lightly raced. Hype.


8. Chocolate Candy: Another West coast horse (along with #3 & 4). Except he's come from Golden Gate. Undefeated...known speed but is proving skeptics wrong on distance. My second favorite horse (behind Pamplemousse)


9. Stardom Bound (Filly): She most likely won't try the Kentucky Derby.


10. Theregoesjojo: Stoopid name. Solid horse.



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In our little family contest, !Xabbu continues to lead but Poop Man, Caped Crusader of Much is making a run (pun intended).

[Click to enrage]

Decision time

Lot's of big scoring races this week in the Road to the Roses contest. League leader !Xabbu is faced with dropping one of his six stable horses that are running this week. Who will he not choose to activate?

What would !Xabbu do?

Air

Did you folks notice that until Saturday, I'm on the front page of the leaderbaord for the Run For the Roses contest?

I've never breathed that air before.