Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - February 13

Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021

By Bob Ehalt and Matt Shifman

The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, Golden Gate Fields, Race 8

8th race – (7) Javanica only start on a synthetic surface was a second in a Woodbine stakes. Add in two seconds in turf stakes – while keeping in mind how turf horses generally handle an all-weather surface pretty well – and she shapes up as the most likely winner while facing males. (5) Petruchio has yet to race over Golden Gate’s synthetic surface but based on his two tries on turf, including a maiden win, plus a third in the Los Alamitos Futurity he has the kind of overall consistency that paints him as a main threat. (8) Governor’s Party won a starter race over the track and could sneak into the picture at the end. (9) Rombauer broke his maiden on turf and this Grade 1-placed runner is working sharply for his 3-year-old debut. Can’t ignore him in this spot. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta and trifecta box: 5-7-8-9.

The $400,000 Risen Star (G2), Fair Grounds, Race 13

13th race- (5) Senor Buscador has a perfect record in two starts at Remington Park including the Springboard Mile which was a Kentucky Derby prep. In that race, he made an impressive closing move, going from last to the lead while racing wide around the final turn. He is likely to get a good pace to set-up that late run again. He will race without Lasix in the Risen Star to be eligible for Derby qualifying points. (6) Midnight Bourbon made a victorious 2021 debut with a front-end win in the Lecomte (G3). He will face pace pressure in this large field while going an extra sixteenth of a mile. (4) Carillo won his debut race at Aqueduct going a mile while racing for Chad Brown. After the win, he was sold at auction for $850,000 as part of the dispersal of the horses from the late Paul Pompa and transferred to the barn of Tom Amoss. (2) Proxy ran second in the Lecomte behind Midnight Bourbon where he won a stretch battle for the place spot against the favorite. He gets a favorable rider change to Hall of Famer John Velazquez who would be expected to try and sit behind the leaders in this nine-furlong stake. Betting strategy:  Exacta key box: 5 with 2, 4, 6, 10, 11.