US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 25 April 2008 /

Nick Shiambouros looks ahead to the upcoming racing from America as he dreams of sipping Mint Julep cocktail with the song My Old Kentucky Home wafting across Churchill Downs.

The big story of the week was not what happened on the racecourse but what occurred off it as the news broke that Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner War Pass will miss the Kentucky Derby due to an injury. Trainer Nick Zito was understandably disappointed, "It's just been an uphill battle and a tough winter" he said from Churchill Downs.

It does not appear that the injury to War Pass is serious; he has a very small fracture of the sesamoid bone (fetlock) which showed up on an x-ray taken after the Wood Memorial race on April 5th. Nick Zito has had no luck this winter with this colt and as I have previously reported I think War Pass will recover fully and come in to his own later this summer. It is likely though he will return over shorter distances, perhaps the Kings Bishop at Saratoga over seven furlongs could be tailor made for this speedy colt.

As for last Saturday's Lexington Stakes at Keenland, that man Todd Pletcher struck again with Behindatthebar who came with a storming run to beat outsider Samba Rooster in a thrilling finish. A month ago Todd Pletcher did not have a serious Derby contender but now has three with Monba and Cowboy Cal also qualified for the big race. Plans for the winner though are fluid as he is not yet a confirmed runner for the race.

Over at Santa Anita on Saturday Foxysox beat a desperately unlucky Black Mamba who ran in to terrible traffic problems and was beaten by a nose in this Grade 2 event. Trainer Carla Gaines was responsible for the winner who only has a modest pedigree but earned some valuable Black Type which will enhance her value enormously. As for the runner up Black Mamba she must be followed next time out wherever she runs. As the curtain came down on the Santa Anita meeting a decision still needs to be made on which surface will be installed at the Southern Californian track after the cushion track caused so many problems earlier on in the year.

This weekend is the last before the Kentucky Derby and historic Churchill Downs opens its doors on Saturday and the feature race is The Derby Trial Stakes for three year olds. There are two horses in this race that were really talked up as Derby contenders in Kodiak Kowboy and Majestic Warrior last year. I am going to take a chance on the latter for this race with trainer Bill Mott putting the blinkers back on this colt in a hope to recapture his very smart two year old form. Majestic Warrior should be a round [10.0] on the exchange and I will be backing him in both markets.

Over at Aqueduct, The Withers Stakes this weekend should go to J Be K and I shall be backing him for the win. The selection was most impressive last time out when he won The Bay Shore Stakes easily in early April and he should be available at around [3.0] for the win.

Next Saturday is Kentucky Derby day and next week I will be previewing this great race with a in depth view of "the greatest two minutes in sport" as it is known in America. I have been lucky enough to have attended this truly great event on numerous occasions and there is no place like Churchill Downs on Derby day. Before the big race everyone sings the song My Old Kentucky Home and if you are at the course it will really make you tingle all over, as the effects of the very potent Mint Julep cocktail which is a must for racegoers is felt. The atmosphere is truly electric if you are standing in the infield and every race fan should make the effort to attend at least one Kentucky Derby in their lifetime.

It really is the greatest two minutes in sport anywhere in the world.

Click here to visit the official Kentucky Derby website

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