To me he looks like a horse that was always trying to play "catch up" last year. No 2 year starts then right after a maiden win he was thrown into the Arkansas Derby. There was a obviously a reason for that, but it was too much too soon.

They brought him back to his conditions and he ran into the Wicked Witchcraft colt on a sloppy track. I think Wild n' Wicked probably wired. I can't remember, but loose speed on a wet track is an equation for a wire to wire score on many days. A good second. I don't know where the winner is now, but he had lots of potential. Then a big win, then another stakes try on a dragstrip surface. Three year performances at the distance being exceeded. Perhaps a stalking trip that never had a chance to overcome the leader. A game placing. Then a turf try. Theres lots of turf breeding in Ballado and Devil's Bag, but it didn't work out. Maybe the trainer thought he wasn't as good a dirt horse as he might of been. Then a wide loss at Saratoga to a decent horse but a layoff thereafter suggesting something may have been amiss.

Thereafter a trainer change. Now handled by "Son of leading trainer". Two wide recent wins in hand suggesting good current form, the later of which in competitive time. How much faster could he have run? Did the effort take something out of him?

Then a breezing work at the track in 58:2 and the most interesting thing to me, he's been at the Fair Grounds for a month apparently acclimating for this race. All of which add up to support the cautious and reserved recommendation to...

Notify derby1492 to not talk about horses im considering...lol I feel like TGJB after the Rag board posters called the numbers of his future bets.

He's quick with a lightish impost and should be right on the pace. Theres serious competition in here and its a major step up in class. 8-1 will be fair odds.

I know, I gave you credit for the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.

:)

CtC