US Racing: Zenyatta came out of retirement in the group 1 Santa Margarita Hcp at Santa Anita to blow the other fillies & mares away at 5/1 on fav($1.20). In so doing, she kept her 15-0 undefeated record intact. While she is rated 10-15 lengths better than them she was first up over 1800m since in November 09 (the Breeders Cup) and gets back so needs luck, and did get into trouble on the turn. Unfortuntely Rachel Alexander could only manage 2nd in her comback race at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans, so the much anticipated $5M match race between them scheduled for Friday April 9th at Oaklawn in Arkansas is now off.
Road to the Kentucky Derby: Big race is 6 weeks away and Eskendereya remains $6 Future Odds favorite by virute of his win in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park (Miami) last month, but he got the perfect trip and I think it was flattering. Apparently he is working well, however. Lookin at Lucky (tr. Bob Baffert)is second elect ($10) in KY Derby futures. The champion 2yo of last season, he was pretty impressive in the fast-run Rebel Stks at Oaklawn (Arkansas) on Saturday. L@L started 10/9 fav, first up over 1700m at first run on dirt and first run in blinkers, got bumped at start, settled towards rear loose, then checked heavily (everyone saw it) when making a move in the back straight, before going wide on the home turn and proving too strong in the stright under hard riding with a big surge in the shadow of the post to prevail in a photo (I thought he raced a bit greenly in the straight under pressure, but "ultraimpressive in victorious return" is how he is being described by the scribes). The 2nd & 3rd Noble's Promise & Dublin are rated highly. i thought NP had an relatively easy trip and as he is now 0-3 vs L@L, it's hard to have him. Dublin weakened in final 100m and appeared to change leads so gets a black mark from me. Therefore, L@L is my early KY Derby tip...but stay tuned!
Australian racing: Horses to follow
Stryker: no luck in Challenge Stks
Lady Lynette: flew home at Flemington
Shoot Out: great win
Hot Danish: first up specialist won RWK barrier trial impressively last Friday
Motspur, Centennial Park, Emperor Bonaparte: all aimed at the Donny
Hinchinbrook: for Slipper
Gold Water (Syd), Tootsie (Melb): working well
NRL Round One: less said the better. another false dawn for the Bunnies.
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