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Mint Slewlep - Some said that Xchanger could be this years "Scrappy T.", well heres the real connections of that one. He's gonna need a very very good race in my opinion.

Xchanger - He gets credit for one over the course, but will undoubtedly have to run from behind today. Theres some good horses in this race. Even a pair up plus might be hard to land this one any better than 3rd.

Circular Quay - After careful review he did have a tough (wide) trip. He likes to ride the rail and then swing out for the drive. Should be able to get to the rail from this post today. Will undoubtedly give ground on the final turn and running inside on this card is questionable. If he tarries on the rail early it could impact him late. After careful review do believe his Derby trip compromised him and he was running hard at the end. He got the distance, he'll need the top 3 to run lesser races though.

Curlin - Did not get in as much trouble as I thought last. He did get squeezed early and had to extricate himself and closed well late. He and Circular Quay are very close in ability in my opinion. Edge to Curlin on tactical speed. Edge to Curlin on wager emphasis.

King of the Roxy - He stopped so badly at the finish of the Santa Anita Derby against clearly mediocre horses that its very hard to project him chasing better and finishing in the money at longer distance. He's a blocky horse. He needs to sprint. Expecting breeding value diminution in this race.

Flying First Class - The track looks fast. That has to help this one. Of all those taking cracks at the Derby top 3, this one scares me most. I'm not sure he can stay the trip, but barring a bad break he will have the lead and could muck things up. I think you have to use him in second with your top pick and "Teuflesberg" with him just in case he forgets to slow down. Realistically, I think his best case scenario is second to one of the top 3. If he fades worse than second I don't expect him to hit the lower exotics.

Hard Spun - Halo Crowns Secretariat Rowdy Six Angel

Halo was the broodmare sire of Pine Bluff. The dam was Rowdy Angel. Fusaichi Pegasus was out of a mare that was a full sister to Rowdy Angel. That one's name was Angel Fever. Pine Bluff of course won the Preakness.

Secretariat was the broodmare sire of Chief's Crown. The dam was Six Crowns, named after Secretariats Triple Crown and Six Crowns Triple Tiara winning mare Chris Evert. Chief's Crown was beaten in the Preakness in the final jump by Tank's Prospect.

What Pine Bluff and Chief's Crown have in common is their sire, who of course was Danzig.

Danzig's have done very well at Pimlico and of course the last of the Preakness Danzigs is in this field.

Street Sense - My sense is that the rail is not ideal even if he can get there. However, I believe today he will have to go wide. He's a good horse, but probably not good enough to go wide. Though he might be.

CP West - Another that could take some minor exotics money.


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