Synopsis: Arrogance in the Arctic, A Thriller for Withers

While the single digit KO’d Withers Stakes (G3) temperature last Saturday was in aqueductPreparations for the rescheduled 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) will go smoothly on February 11 at Big A.

After a six-man school was entered last week, seven will pass through the starting gate on Saturday, chasing qualifying points distributed 20-8-6-4-2 to the top five according to descending order. As for how the delay will affect results, there’s no definite answer, except that one favorite, Arctic Arrogance coach Linda Rice, told BloodHorse: “Ask me something. there on Sunday.”

first. Arctic Pride (Morning Odds 8-5): He’s been playing consistently, finishing no less than second in his five career starts. He’s a game runner-up in Jerome Stakes after missing a practice session and will be in better shape for this test, which takes the same 1/8-mile run as Remsen Stakes (G2) last year when he finished second in a better field. It will be hard to beat in this area, but he does alike second place.

2. prove it right (30-1): Last time he was very tired on the synthetic court during a match Race Park bet, lose 16 1/4 length. He ran better on dirt, but Prove Right finished 32 miles in Remsen. While the sloppy track might explain that poor performance, he is yet to win more than 5 1/2 distances and faces a major setback here.

RACER: Jose Gomez; TEACHER: James Chapman

3. Jungfrau (4-1): New player on the field. Another week convinced coach Bill Mott to send him north from Florida, where he took his first win at Gulfstream Park. It wasn’t the usual way for him to lose by nose just to be declared the winner by disqualification, but he showed enough ability at two innings to be a factor in the competition. This. Plus, Mott is in tears — winning the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and running 1-2 in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) over the past two weekends.

RACE: Dylan Davis; TEACHER: Bill Mott

4. impressions (9-5): Coach Brad Cox scratched him out of Southwest Bets (G3) January 28 at Oaklawn Parkproved to be a wise move after seeing the way Arab Knights won by a margin in that race. The position will be significantly easier and a better class test as he launches his bets thanks to a solid December win at Oaklawn which makes him a major threat. in this area—especially if he goes a step further in this beginning.

5. total bank (8-1): It’s been so busy lately, running for the 3rd time since mid-December. He’s had some exciting success on his last two attempts, winning $500,000 in the New York Stallion Series and most recently finishing third in the Jerome Stakes at the one mile. He’s back with jockey Eric Cancel, which is a plus, but in Jerome, this New York hybrid finished seven miles behind Arctic Arrogance, who would be one of the favorites here. , reducing his attractiveness.

6. Ninetyprcentmaddie (8-1): The Pennsylvania hybrid enters the classifieds joint stock company for the first time after finishing second to the Parx Juvenile Stakes opener on a sloppy track. He has some speed, but he has never run more than seven long distances and may find the two turns nine miles a bit overwhelming in the distance.

7. Andiamo and Florence (January 12): Half-brother with a man who earns $2.7 million the fire of Florence showed a lot of promise early in his career as he finished third in the Sanford Stakes (G3) and later joined the Funny Cide Stakes for New Yorkers. But he struggled in two one-mile races, finishing 13 miles behind the winner Knights of Lugan in Jeronimo. Would have thought that today’s distance would be even more of a challenge for him.