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Santa Anita problems in the past: roll on kentucky!

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It seems Santa Anita is coming out of a treacherous period and Nick's thoughts are now firmly fixed on that famous race, the Kentucky Derby.

Now that Santa Anita has put its troubles behind it for the time being we can now focus firmly on the racing at hand and the run up to The Kentucky Derby. This is really a great time of the year as the build up to this great race gathers momentum with trials taking place across the country every week.

Last week was no exception as Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner War Pass made his debut in a modest Allowance race at Gulfstream Park last Sunday. The Winter Ante Post favourite for The Kentucky Derby bolted up in this event as expected but we did not learn very much as this was no more than a workout for this very smart colt. He will have a much stiffer test on his next assignment which is The Tampa Bay Derby on the 15th of March won last year by the brilliant Street Sense. I know it is early but Pyro remains my choice for The Derby as I think his running style will suit the long daunting straight of Churchill Downs and I feel War Pass may have to much speed for his own good.

Also on the Sunday card at Gulfstream in The Fountain of Youth trainer Nick Zito saddled the winner in Cool Coal Man who held on grimly in this hot contest from Elysium Fields. I am glad to see Nick Zito have such a strong crop of three year olds going in to The Derby and he joins War Pass as a live contender based on this effort.

On Saturday in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Shamdinan was very disappointing behind Einstein who was brilliantly ridden Jose Lezcano to take this valuable prize.Shamdinan did need the run but he really folded tamely in the lane and is best watched until he shows some of his old sparkle.

At Santa Anita last Saturday Spring House proved far to strong for his rivals in The San Luis Obisbo Handicap over a mile and a half. This division does not look very strong at all this year so I would look out for any European horses later on in the year showing up to make some easy prize money.

There is more great action on offer this weekend and The Santa Anita Handicap Grade 1 takes centre stage on a great card on offer on Saturday. The "Big Cap" as it is known looks a typically competitive affair but I like the look of Awesome Gem in this one at around 5.0 for the win. The selection ran a great race in defeat in The Breeder's Cup Classic finishing third to Curlin.A reproduction of that form will see him go close in this race.

Earlier on the card I really like the chances of El Gato Malo in The Sham Stakes and I think he should go off at around 4.0 for the win. This looks like a fair Kentucky Derby trial and if the choice can win well then he would have to merit respect for the Derby.

Over at Gulfstream on Saturday Kiss The Kid has a good chance to upset the probable short priced favourite in Fairbanks trained by Todd Pletcher.The selection should be around 4.0 in The Gulfstream Park Handicap. This horse has some very smart form in the book and should go very close in this contest.

Finally I was deeply saddened when I heard the news that bloodstock agent Richard Galpin was on a life support machine after a fall in a car park in south Florida. Richard is very well known around the world and he is a regular visitor to the sales in Florida. Everyone was shocked when Fasig-Tipton announcer Terence Collier broke the news to everyone at the sale. Please get well Richard, we all miss you.