Paddock To Post – The Triple Crown

By Jennifer Thibodeaux Bourque

Special to BASN Newsroom

 

(Editor’s Note: Our contributor Jennifer Thibodeaux Bourque is a racing aficionado with a strong knowledge of thoroughbred bloodlines based in Southwest Louisiana. She has graciously consented to share her expertise with BASN)

 

LAFAYETTE, LA (BASN/basnnewsroom.com) It’s about that time, y’all – the First Saturday in May is the day! I’ve checked the bloodlines of those entered and this is what I’m thinking…

I’m looking at Classic Empire (PP 14) to win it or at least finish in the money. He’s got the lines to take it with ease if it’s a good day for him but it’s a full field. I’m not seeing any others that jump out at me to do anything spectacular to fill out show and place.

When dealing with a field this size, the two crucial things to look for are trip and pace. As previously stated,  in a full field of twenty, a couple horses may get screwed if they can’t get out clean, especially if they happen to be closers; and if the pace is too slow, anything looking to come from out of the clouds is dead in the water.

I saw something that bothered me in the Florida Derby replay when Javier Castellano (on Gunnevara – PP 10) came up shaky with a questionable ride. It hurts the horse’s performance when the jockey can’t consistently ‘clock out’ where he/she needs to be in order to put his horse in a suitable striking position…

That said, I can’t make him my Derby long shot, but I’ll tell you who I like: Sonneteer (PP 12) is out of Midnight Lute, who is the only colt to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in back to back years. His finish in the Grade II Arkansas Derby along that short backstretch at Oaklawn Park showed me something. He also has my fellow Cajun Kent Desormeaux – who is a three-time Derby winner (Big Brown being his last one) as an added advantage!

My homeboy Brian Hernandez is riding McCraken (PP 15), who might get some late money. He’s a Ghostzapper (another speedball colt) who could get the distance, but my play is I’m going to be watching Desormeaux on board Sonneteer to possibly pull an upset. He’s a great jockey on a pretty good horse that’s got the blood to get the job done if the gods of horse racing decide to smile.

That’s my gut reaction after looking at the bloodlines, the jocks and the horses working…

Now may the fickle horse gods smile on us. How bad ass would it be if a second triple crown win happened with another like Pharoah?

How bad ass indeed, Jenny!

 

THE PLAY:

We will do a $10 exacta box on Classic Empire and Sonneteer (14, 12) = $20 

A $1 triple partial (12, 14 with 12,14 with all) = $20 

A $5 quinella box with (12, 14, 15,and 10) = $20

A $5 WPS  on Sonneteer (#12)

A $10 WPS on Classic Empire (#14)

 

As always, what we say – we play!

Later today the filly Triple Crown begins with the running of The Kentucky Oaks. Paradise Woods will likely be the favorite after eatin’ up much of this field at 8-1 in California at Santa Anita.The 4/5 favorite, Abel Tasman, stumbled at the start, was blocked (what did I tell y’all about ‘trips?’) yet was full of run when she scooted up for place…

So here’s your Oaks/Derby Double: $5 DD #4 Paradise Woods and #13 Abel Tasman with #12 Sonneteer and #14 Classic Empire = $20

Total: $125.00

Good luck to everyone, and enjoy the best two minutes in sports!

And if you see your Hoss charging down the stretch, scream at the top of your lungs:

WORK THAT NOBLE BEAST!!!

basneditor@basnnewsroom.com