I'm not seeing any major impact from outside the big three yet, but to this point I haven't looked for indications.

No firm and fast decisions yet, but the unavoidable fact is that Hollywood, per usual, is playing to front end types. I've never seen so many :44 and 1:08 fractions. (Little wonder FuSham wired his maiden field last Saturday.) I'm of the opinion that Wilko ran even better than many think last and that he is superior to DeClan's Moon, but he's facing DeClan's on a very biased home track. Wilko is working well, certainly better than coming into a race off turf past performances and no works, but he hasn't shown the types of works DeClan's has. That said, Wilko hung pretty close to them in the Juvenile. His one hole and quick run to the first turn could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on his turn of foot. He did run gamely inside in his last European start. DeClan's of course hasn't faced two turns yet.

Proud Accolade is an enigma. He scored a huge 2 yr old number in the Champagne and 21 days later, in the B.C., you could figure him to bounce. He's back with blinkers trying two turns for the second time. His breeding makes him hard to discount for the Derby. (Its very solid on the dam side.) If hes got a big Derby shot why is he here? Assume that means his connections think he's a more viable Two Year old champion than Derby horse. If thats it, is he ready to fire large?

They are low odds horses, but its a very interesting race.

CtC



Post Edited (12-16-04 23:04)