Setsuko under serious consideration apparently too..

It has something to do with Ike and Dawn Thrash. They use their own names a lot (Sister Dawn, Third Dawn, Dawn After Dawn, Hurricane Ike). Perhaps they have a son named David. Yeah, as far as ole John S, go with what was previously said.

NT

That sounds ambitious, but then again, what does he need, another 40k in earnings or so? Seems feasible.

ETA - I would think Hurricane Ike would be at least partially named for the damaging storm of circa 2006 or so.

He is not far from drawing in already, given today's events. Must be a tough call--hope for more defections or make unplanned race 2 weeks out.

I do not want this horse in the race. If he makes it, he will have to be prominent on my "fall apart" tickets.

I'll second this.

Aikenite to try Derby Trial instead of Derby
By Jay Privman

Aikenite, who finished eighth of nine in the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, will be wheeled back in the Grade 3, $200,000 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs on April 24, but he is not going to be considered for the Kentucky Derby one week later, Cot Campbell, the president of the Dogwood Stables partnership that owns Aikenite, said Wednesday.

"Our colt's reversal of form in the Blue Grass has made the Kentucky Derby an illogical move, but we are - after exhaustive postrace tests that show the colt to be in perfect health - going to draw a line through the Blue Grass and wheel Aikenite back in the one-mile Derby Trial Stakes," Campbell said in a press release issued by Dogwood. "The Blue Grass was puzzling in that three of the favorites ran in the last three spots. The horse that won it, Stately Victor, a 40-1 shot, had been defeated by Aikenite by seven lengths in their only previous encounter.

"The synthetic tracks have proven to be unpredictable in form and for all of these reasons we're going to 'throw the race out,' regroup, and go again - although without any thoughts of the grueling Kentucky Derby on May 1," Campbell said. "The Blue Grass is the only truly bad race Aikenite has run," Campbell added, "and we're certainly not giving up on him."

Eightyfiveinafifty hopes Trial takes him to Derby
By David Grening

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - So much still has to happen for Eightyfiveinafifty to make it into the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby, but the speedy colt took one small step toward that goal on Wednesday with another typically fast workout at Aqueduct that kept him on target for the Grade 3 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs on April 24.

With former jockey Nick Santagata in the irons - and barely moving a muscle - Eightyfiveinafifty worked five furlongs in 58.09 seconds Wednesday morning over Aqueduct's main track. He did drift a little in the stretch while galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.

Eightyfiveinafifty was scheduled to leave for Louisville, Ky., on Thursday afternoon and will work one time over the Churchill Downs main track next week in preparation for the one-mile Derby Trial. Should Eightyfiveinafifty win the $200,000 Derby Trial, he could accrue enough graded stakes earnings to crack the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby a week later. The first-place purse of $120,000 would double his graded earnings to $240,000 which, as of Wednesday, would put him 21st on the earnings list. Though the Derby field is limited to 20 runners, two candidates ahead of Eightyfiveinafifty - Noble's Promise and Interactif - are 50-50 or less to run.

"The Derby is not out of the question until he says it is," trainer Gary Contessa said Wednesday, referring to Eightyfiveinafifty. "I'll have a pretty good idea when he hits the wire of the Derby Trial where we're at."

Go Gary Go. I love pace meltdowns.

A pace meltdown might not be the only meltdown that occurs if he enters.

Bits everywhere cringe

Am I the only one who didn't realize Mission Impazible is half to Forest Camp?

Yes...Jk....10 panels? No.

4/24 (AQU) G3 Withers S.

D' Funnybone



4/24 (CD) G3 Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial

Aikenite
Eightyfiveinafifty
Game On Dude
Tiz Chrome



4/30 (CD): G1 Kentucky Oaks

Amen Hallelujah
Blind Luck
Champagne D'Oro
Devil May Care
Evening Jewel
It's Tea Time
Joanie's Catch
Quiet Temper
Seeking the Title
Sheer Beauty
Tidal Pool



5/1 (CD): G1 Kentucky Derby ($2MM)

1 Lookin At Lucky $1,480,000
2 Noble's Promise $738,000
3 Rule $645,000
4 Sidney's Candy $630,000
T-5 Eskendereya $600,000
T-5 Line of David $600,000
7 Mission Impazible $473,434
8 Ice Box $457,500
9 Stately Victor $450,000
10 Endorsement $400,000

11 Conveyance $386,000
12 American Lion $378,000
13 Dublin $373,208
14 Super Saver $363,832
15 Discreetly Mine $355,000
16 Dean’s Kitten $326,475
17 Interactif $292,950
18 Awesome Act $285,000
19 Paddy O'Prado $250,950
20 Homeboykris (g) $250,500[/quote]

Game on Dude to the Derby Trial

when do they draw the Cliff's Edge Race?

Today. They had a hard time closing out the card though. Has been done about an hour and still no sign of the overnight.

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbH...C-CD-20100424D

Overnight's out. 10 in the Derby Trial.

NT

As in Opening Weekend at CD and they had a hard time filling the races?

That's surprising.

Eightyfiveinafifty on the outside. This could be a fun race.

They're plenty worried about what's going to transpire after Derby Week..

I got a good laugh from you and Chuck on Monday...Chuck saying matter-of-factly "The KY Program is so down, the Indiana Breds are staying home so they don't blow through their conditions..."

That to me was kind of telling.