Posted on
3/7/2008 3:54:53 PM
Horse Racing Odds - The Grade III Gotham Stakes & The Grade II Louisiana Derby
By D.S. Williamson
There are two huge three year old preps this weekend. At Aqueduct is the Grade III Gotham Stakes where all eyes will be on sophomore Giant Moon. At the Fairgrounds is the Louisiana Derby where top-rated 3-year old Pyro will continue his march towards the Kentucky Derby.
Let’s get to it!
The Grade III Gotham Stakes
Aqueduct Racecourse - - Ozone Park, NY
1 1/16th Miles on Aqueduct’s Inner-Track
Giant Moon looks to be a major player on the Derby Trail this year. He’s undefeated and boasts the services of jockey Ramon Dominguez. That should be enough to like him in this race, right? Not for me. I think he will turn into a terrific horse by the age of four but his style is not conducive to a Derby win this year. It’s not even conducive to winning the Gotham this Saturday. Moon will have to wire the field from the one-hole. That’s unlikely to happen as both Saratoga Russell and Southern Terminus will show a lot of speed. I’m going with Roman Emperor on top. The son out of Empire Maker lost by a half length in the Whirlaway Stakes in his last. He is bred to be a winner and is trained by Steve Klesaris who has a 28% win percentage on the year. I think Roman Emperor could turn into a terrific Derby prospect. I expect him to run huge on Saturday. Giant Moon is good enough to hang on for second. He will have to fight hard to put away Saratoga Russell who is stretching out from six furlongs, but Moon has the talent. I just don’t think he’s ready to make that all important 3-year old jump just yet. For third, I really Texas Wildcatter races for the Todd Pletcher barn. Wildcatter has a chance to win this race. So, if you like him over Giant Moon or Roman Emperor don’t hesitate to bet him. His odds should be good and he is out of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos.
1. Roman Emperor
2. Giant Moon
3. Texas Wildcatter
The Grade II Louisiana Derby
Fairgrounds Racetrack - - New Orleans, LA
I spent a few hours looking at this race, yes a few hours, because I tried desperately to find a horse that could beat Pyro in this thing. Unfortunately, there is nobody who has a shot against him. Pyro is a beast and even though Majestic Warrior and Tale of Ekati have some class, they aren’t close to the level that Pyro is. Pyro proved in his last race that he could run behind a wall of horses and then turn it on when he needs to. I don’t think he has to run from so far back, actually. I believe that Pyro is good enough to lay three or four lengths off and then blow-by his rivals. This is the Kentucky Derby winner until somebody knocks him off the pedestal. For second I’m going with Tale of Ekati. He didn’t like the track in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but should find the ground at Fairgrounds a bit nicer. He’s a quality animal trained by a former Kentucky Derby winning trainer, Barclay Tagg. Third place logically should go to Majestic Warrior, but I didn’t like Warrior over the summer so why jump on his bandwagon now? I can’t. I’m going with Stevil for trainer Nick Zito. Stevil isn’t no where near the talent of Zito’s other two Derby betting horses, Cool Coal Man and War Pass, but he’s good enough on paper to finish third in this race.
1. Pyro
2. Tale of Ekati
3. Stevil
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