Pumped up prep purses

Eight weeks away from the Kentucky Derby and I hardly know who any of these horses are in this weekends prep races. The Tampa Bay Derby, which has thrown off a few good ponies the last few years like Super Saver and Street Sense, may be the most overlooked $350,000 race so far this season. I mean with the winners share being $210,000 somebody is going to jump up in the earning list. And the same can be said for the San Felipe at Santa Anita with a $300,000 purse. Who are these horses?

     I still contend that with all these pumped up prep purses it may take north of $250K to get in that green starting gate on May 5th and unless all the current leaders continue to dominate I think that figure may be more like $350,000. I mean look at what's coming up in the next five weekends; Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, and Arkansas Derby all with 1 million dollar purses, the Santa Anita Derby and Bluegrass carry $750,000 each, the Spiral (or whatever it's called this week), the Rebel and Illinois Derby with 500,000 each and of course that god damn cowboy Derby out there in New Mexico with 800 K on the line. I won't even bother you with the two $150,000 contest this weekend in Hallandale, the Swale (7 furlongs, 8 weeks out, really?) and the Palm Beach on grass (Animal Kingdom ran on grass, so can we ! ) and the other nine sub $250,000 races yet to be run. 

     The top ten in graded earning right now are over $200,000. So, the racing might not be the thing, it might just be the right spots for the right pay check. Damn, just get your hands on a three year old and then sell him after the first Saturday in May. My picks this weekend are any colts not trained by Todd Pletcher and any Dale Romans horse to hit the board.

-R-