caracaro | Horse Racing Free Tips

The Derby 20 Presented By NYRA Bets: Decisions, Decisions

Less than two weeks from the 2020 Kentucky Derby, and while we've learned that fans won't be in the stands, connections have been working hard to finalize their plans for this year's contenders.

The list of 20 contenders below appears to be the total number of expected entrants for the Run for the Roses, and includes, for the first time since the introduction of the Derby points system in 2013, a horse with no points at all. That's Shirl's Speight, a Charles Fipke homebred undefeated in two starts in Canada for trainer Roger Attfield. He's a talented colt by Speightstown and gets Corey Lanerie in the saddle, bringing a little more intrigue to this year of the unexpected.

The only jockey left to be decided is that of Rushie, the Michael McCarthy trainee expected to ship to Louisville from California on Tuesday.

Updates to this list will be made as contenders go through their final workouts over the next week, potentially moving a few horses up or down for the final Paulick Report rankings.

The updated points leaderboard is available here: Derby Oaks Leaderboard

Where did your favorite Derby horse end up? Be sure to click on the expandable boxes for each Derby candidate to get all the latest information in this edition of The Derby 20!

Tiz the Law

Connections

Pedigree

372

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

1st

Paulick Report Ranking

Honor A. P.

Connections

Pedigree

140

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

2nd

Paulick Report Ranking

Art Collector

Connections

Pedigree

150

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

3rd

Paulick Report Ranking

King Guillermo

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

4th

Paulick Report Ranking

Caracaro

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

5th

Paulick Report Ranking

Ny Traffic

Connections

Pedigree

110

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

6th

Paulick Report Ranking

Thousand Words

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

7th

Paulick Report Ranking

Authentic

Connections

Pedigree

200

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

8th

Paulick Report Ranking

Sole Volante

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

9th

Paulick Report Ranking

Max Player

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

10th

Paulick Report Ranking

Enforceable

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

11th

Paulick Report Ranking

Shirl's Speight

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

12th

Paulick Report Ranking

Major Fed

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

13th

Paulick Report Ranking

Finnick the Fierce

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

14th

Paulick Report Ranking

Attachment Rate

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

15th

Paulick Report Ranking

Necker Island

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

16th

Paulick Report Ranking

Rushie

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

17th

Paulick Report Ranking

Dr Post

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

18th

Paulick Report Ranking

Storm the Court

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

19th

Paulick Report Ranking

Winning Impression

Connections

Pedigree

Derby Points

Next Expected Start

20th

Paulick Report Ranking

The post The Derby 20 Presented By NYRA Bets: Decisions, Decisions appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Caracaro Breezes In Saratoga Slop For Self-Described ‘Derby Dreamers’

While Grade 1 Travers and Belmont Stakes-winner Tiz the Law pushed his work back a day due to sloppy conditions over the Saratoga main track, Travers runner-up Caracaro went back to work on an overcast Saturday morning, recording an easy five-furlong breeze for trainer Gustavo Delgado.

Heavy thunderstorms hit the Capital Region around 8:00 a.m. ET, resulting in sloppy conditions over the main track, but the show went on for the bay son of Uncle Mo, who went the first quarter in 25.60 seconds before finishing off his work in 1:01.02 under exercise rider J.J Delgado.

“We wanted something easy. In his first work after the Travers, we just want to see where we're at,” said Delgado's son and assistant Gustavo Delgado, Jr. “Ideally, we'll have [Hall of Fame jockey] Javier [Castellano] aboard next Saturday. We'll see during the week how he comes back from this work and where his energy level is at, but so far, he's doing well.”

Delgado said Caracaro is familiar with breezing over a wet track, having worked twice over a “wet fast” track in June at his home base of Gulfstream Park West.

“He kind of likes it. He does well over it,” Delgado, Jr. said.

Owned by Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing, Caracaro earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure in his second-out graduation in January at Gulfstream Park ahead of a strong runner-up effort to Country Grammer in the Grade 3 Peter Pan on July 16 at the Spa.

Last out, Caracaro garnered a career-best 101 Beyer when runner-up to likely Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law in the Travers finishing 5 ¼ lengths behind the four-time Grade 1 winner.

Caracaro will be Delgado's third Kentucky Derby starter after Majesto [18th, 2016] and Bodexpress [13th, 2019], both of whom arrived at the “Run for the Roses” off runner-up efforts in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

“We've always been Derby dreamers,” Delgado, Jr. said. “With Majesto and Bode, we were really trying to qualify for the big race. Bode was a maiden when he ran, and he was in the 21 post. We only needed one scratch and it was [morning line favorite] Omaha Beach. This one has shown so much talent since we got him. His speed figures are improving.”

Caracaro will put the finishing touches on his serious Kentucky Derby preparation next Saturday and is scheduled to fly out to Louisville the following day. He will be joined by Bodexpress, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.88 on Saturday, and will likely target an allowance event on Churchill Downs' Kentucky Derby undercard.

Bred in Kentucky by SF Racing, Caracaro was purchased as a weanling for $95,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale, where he was consigned by Buckland Sales.

The post Caracaro Breezes In Saratoga Slop For Self-Described ‘Derby Dreamers’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Caracaro Works Despite The Rain, Tiz the Law Move Postponed

The connections of presumptive GI Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law (Constitution) called an audible Saturday morning when heavy rains pelted Saratoga, opting for a gallop (XBTV video) and moving a scheduled breeze for the treble Grade I winner to Sunday. But the inclement weather did not stop ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Caracaro (Uncle Mo), as he posted a five-furlong move in 1:01.02 over the main track (XBTV video). It was the first serious piece of work for the bay colt since his distant runner-up effort to Tiz the Law in the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 8.

“We wanted something easy. In his first work after the Travers, we just want to see where we’re at,” said Gustavo Delgado, Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado. “Ideally, we’ll have [Hall of Fame jockey] Javier [Castellano] aboard next Saturday. We’ll see during the week how he comes back from this work and where his energy level is at, but so far, he’s doing well.”

Accorded ‘Rising Star’ status off his six-length graduation going Gulfstream’s one-turn mile Jan. 11, Caracaro was off six months before running Country Grammer (Tonalist) to a neck in the GIII Peter Pan S. on opening day at the Spa July 16. He earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his Travers, in which he was 5 1/2 lengths behind Tiz the Law and two lengths ahead of Max Player (Honor Code).

Caracaro is scheduled to depart for Louisville Aug. 30.

The post Caracaro Works Despite The Rain, Tiz the Law Move Postponed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

On To The Derby For Travers Runner-Up Caracaro; Rice Keeping Max Player’s Options Open

It's on to the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing's Caracaro, runner-up in Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado said he was pleased with the way Caracaro exited the “Mid-Summer Derby,” his second race in three weeks off a six-month layoff.

“He came back very good. He's happy, he ate his food, he's relaxed. Right now, he's sleeping. Everything's good,” Delgado said. “We'll check with the vet and talk with the owners and my son and decide. As long as there's no problems, we'll go to the Derby.

“Yesterday was a big race, a strong race. I consider Tiz the Law the best horse in the country,” he added. “In the Travers, they were all good horses. It was his second race after the six months and to run second again was very good for us.”

Caracaro earned 40 qualifying points for the Derby in the Travers, where he was 5 1/2 lengths behind Tiz the Law but two lengths clear of Max Player in third. Caracaro picked up 20 points for his neck defeat in the Grade 2 Peter Pan on July 16 at Saratoga and ranks 10th, solidifying his spot in the 20-horse Derby field.

“That's what we wanted and that was the plan. It's always been the plan with him. We're kind of satisfied that we accomplished that,” Delgado's son and assistant, Gustavo Delgado, Jr. said. “Of course we know there's a freak horse around. We do think that our horse still has a lot of room for improvement. He's still developing, you can tell, and we were asking a lot from him.

“I think running after three weeks, one more furlong, out of that effort in the Peter Pan, to come back in the Travers, a tougher race, a tougher field, and he showed up again,” he added. “His figure numbers keep improving. He handled the distance pretty well. You can tell he kept going, at his own pace, but he kept going. We were just second-best. But he beat all the other horses, so that was good.”

Delgado, Jr. said Caracaro is expected to remain in Saratoga to train for the Derby, which was rescheduled from May 2 to September 5. It will be the third trip to Louisville for the Delgados, who ran 18th with Majesto in 2016 and 13th with Bodexpress in 2019.

“It's going to be a long and very exciting three weeks,” Delgado, Jr. said. “It's more likely that we will stay here. I don't think shipping the horse the next few days would be good for him. He will go through regular post-race stress so it's better if he stays here, and he likes it here, the weather and everything. Ideally, we will stay here and train for the Derby and ship right before the race. That's what makes more sense right now.”

'Baby Steps' Forward For Third-Place Finishers Max Player
George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds' Max Player continued his career-long trend of finishing in the money, earning third-place honors for the second consecutive Grade 1 with his black-type effort in Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Just like in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20, Max Player stayed off the pace in the 151st running of the Travers before finishing strong to earn a placing in a race won by New York-bred Tiz the Law.

Under jockey Joel Rosario for the second consecutive start, Max Player went four-wide in the upper stretch and hit the wire two lengths back of runner-up Caracaro, who was 5 1/2 lengths behind the runaway winner and 1-2 favorite.

Bred by K&G Stables in Kentucky, Max Player is 2-1-2 in five career starts for trainer Linda Rice.

“He came out of it really well,” Rice said. “He's a little tired, but otherwise, he's in good shape.”

Max Player earned a 99 Beyer for the effort, the best of his career and exceeding his previous high of 92 garnered in the Belmont Stakes. He has improved his speed figures in every start, beginning with a 68 in a second-place debut effort as a juvenile in November at Parx. After breaking his maiden at second asking to cap his 2-year-old year in December over a sloppy and sealed Parx main track, Max Player earned an 86 for his 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Withers in his stakes – and sophomore – debut in February at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“We were pleased with it,” Rice said. “He's continued to improve and taken baby steps forward. So, we were pleased with that. He's been pretty consistent and has been moving forward with gentle progress. We're happy with that. He came out of it fine and he's sleeping a lot today since he ran hard and is a bit tired. But all in all, he came out of the race well.”

Max Player earned 20 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby on September 5 at Churchill Downs, with the Runhappy Travers awarding 100-40-20-10 to the top-four finishers. He sits ninth on the Derby leaderboard with 60 total points and $337,500 in non-restricted stakes earnings. With the “Run for the Roses” expected to draw its usual full field of 20, that would put Max Player in contention to give Rice her first career Derby starter should the connections decide to ship him there.

“We're certainly going to keep that option open,” Rice said. “We'll give it a few days and I'll discuss it further with George and Joe De Perio [president of SportBLX] and talk about that later in the week.”

The post On To The Derby For Travers Runner-Up Caracaro; Rice Keeping Max Player’s Options Open appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post