saw the santa anita and arkansas prep races yesterday, where cobalt blue and curlin won...your thoughts?

I saw them too, I have been awaiting the comeback of Cobalt Blue. He ran a good race that didn't seem to take too much out of him. He is "behind" others in his training, but I honestly believe that if Doug O'Neill nurtures him along he really has a shot of getting to the Derby.

Curlin was impressive too, but his competition wasn't top notch. But on the other hand since he was privately purchased for 3.5 Million, you have to believe the new owners have the same idea in mind. I was truely impressed that this was only his second start, and he handled EVERYTHING that was thrown at him. New to 2 turns, the bigger crowd, the long strtech at Oaklawn and stepping up in class. He looked like a much more seasoned horse.

All in all I give them both a fighting chance of getting there. But as we all know , it all comes down to Graded Stakes money earned to get on to the Derby!

Street Sense ran a great race in his first sophomore start in the Tampa Bay Derby. However, I have to question him taking such paths, since most of the horses that go from Tampa Bay Downs to Churchill tend to not do so well in the Kentucky Derby. Yeah, he fended off a game horse in the race, but I will wait until he runs in a major April prep race, especially if it's the Florida Derby, to see if he's good enough to try to break the BC Juvenile/Ky Derby jinx.

Curlin ran a decent race in the Rebel, but unlike the last few years, I think the Oaklawn path is weak this year, and I think any horse that go to Churchill from the Arkansas Derby will be mid-priced or heavy longshots.

I'm not real sure about the strength of the Santa Anita path too, as Cobalt Blue beat a small field. I want to see him try to beat a larger field, and I don't think the Illinois Derby is the way to go. I think Merv Griffin should consider Keeneland or the SA Derby.

And I won't be real sure on how the Wood Memorial path will fare either. With the nasty winter weather there in New York, it will certainly hinder training time there, especially on Aqueduct's main track.

Both races I thought were below par form wise, however the way Curlin and Cobalt Blue won it will be interesting to see how they move forward in their next races. Curlin will face a few tougher ones in the Arky Derby and will probably get a full field of horses trying to get some graded earnings with their $1 mil purse. As for Cobalt Blue I don't know who will show up at Hawthorne, so he may well go into the Derby as a wild card, however he will be bottoms on my tickets at best. I do think Curlin more talent and promise than Cobalt Blue. this year is turning into a great one with so many horses that look to be on the same level, I'm still sticking with Circular Quay though until he proves me wrong.

Curlin looked very impressive. He rated perfectly in his second race and had plenty in the tank for the stretch run. The interesting story about Curlin is that he was purchased for $57 thousand, ran one race and then was sold for $3.2 million. Cobalt Blue did not look bad, but it was a small field without much talent.

Additional comment: You're right about the Sheiks buying up a lot of quality horses. Here's another story:

Storm Mayor purchased for World Cup

Argentine champion STORM MAYOR (Bernstein), two-time winner of the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini (Arg-G1), has been purchased by Saudi Arabian interests and will contest the $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 31, according to La Nacion. The bay has not raced since taking the Carlos Pellegrini on December 16 at San Isidro for owner Angel Dijiani.

I'm not sure it's fair to say Curlin didn't beach much. Teufelsberg seems like a pretty fair horse to me. As for Cobalt Blue, if Victor stays on him he will have to be considered a player. Elsewhere, I though Street Sense solidified his standing in the Tampa Bay. And I still think Stormello is a real player. Desormeaux can really rate a horse, I wouldn't put to much into the fact that he put him on the lead last out...he may have wanted to see what he could do, knowing the real race is on Cinco de Mayo.

I didn't see the Santa Anita prep race, but Curlin was very impressive. If Curlin wins the Arkansas Derby, I would look for Curlin at a good price at the Kentucky Derby.

Cobalt Blue is nothing to speak of. Small field, prep for Santa Anita Derby. Santa Anita should be ashamed of themselves in putting this race together.

All the entrants were no better than non-winners of one other than maiden.

$ 250,000 for non-winners of one. Shame on them.

Curlin was excellent. Drew away. Steve Asmussen has a replacement for Tiz Wonderful.

But the actual race of the day was Street Sense & Any Given Saturday. Street Sense was a rocket ship down the backstretch. Very exciting race.

My pick for the Derby has not changed, though.

NOTIONAL!