US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 21 March 2008 / 1

The best decision Nick Shiambouros made this week was to ignore the strong favourite in The Tampa Bay Derby. Find out why, and catch up on the rest of the news in his stateside update.

In what can only be described as the biggest upset in recent years War Pass was sensationally beaten at odds of 1-20 in The Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday. After the gates opened he was squeezed for racing room. That meant he could never get to the front to show the blistering early foot he possesses. Amazingly, he finished the race in last position! When I looked at the screen on Betfair before the race I must admit I was tempted to unload on the favourite. He was available at [1.25] in the win market which looked like value. Thankfully, over the years I have learned to resist such temptation.

Trainer Nick Zito was naturally disappointed after the race but the good news is that he could not find anything wrong with the deposed Kentucky Derby favourite. All the blood tests and x rays came back negative. War Pass galloped a very easy mile at the Palm Meadows training centre on Wednesday morning and his next target will be the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5th. As I have previously reported I think War Pass has to much speed for his own good and his one dimensional running style is a real negative in terms of winning the Derby.

Over at Oaklawn Park, another short priced favourite did carry my money in the shape of Z Pass but he was soundly beaten in to fifth place behind easy winner Sierra Sunset who put up a very good performance in this warm Grade 2 event. There did not appear to be any excuse for the favourite and quite frankly he was very disappointing. The winner will come back for the $1m Arkansas Derby next month and will probably go off as favourite based on this smart effort.

There was one race last week that did go to the script. The San Felipe at Santa Anita went to Georgie Boy, who displayed a nice turn of foot to win after finding trouble in the lane. I think this performance definitely puts him in to the Derby mix. Trainer Kathy Walsh was very pleased with this colt's performance and suggested that he would settle better with a stronger pace. I can think of several worse outside bets for the Derby than Georgie Boy.

Not forgetting the ladies, I saw the best performance by a filly this year in the shape of Eight Belles who annihilated a decent field in The Honeybee at Oaklawn Park. It was all smiles for trainer Larry Jones who did such a good job with Hard Spun last year and I think this filly could be a real superstar based on this effort. The winner is very well bred and it would come as no surprise if John Ferguson comes round with a large offer for this daughter of Unbridled's Song.

This week the main race for three year olds is The Lane's End Stakes run at Turfway Park and this Derby trial has attracted a field of twelve horses to be run over nine furlongs on the Polytrack.This race is really wide open but I am going to take a chance with Halo Najib win and place who should be around [12.0] .He does have form on this surface as he broke his maiden at Keenland last year in great style and I hope he can recapture some of his earlier smart form in this Grade 2 event.

Over at Santa Anita later on Saturday The San Luis Rey Handicap run over a marathon mile and a half attracts the usual contingent of ex- European challengers and I think On The Acorn should go well in this Grade 2 event. This son of Inchinor should go off at around [3.5] in the win market.

On a final note an independent film about six trainers and the build up to the 2006 Kentucky Derby, won by Barbaro is receiving sponsorship from Churchill Downs Inc and will be distributed in 15 major cities in America next month. The film is titled "The First Saturday In May" and has received some really positive reviews. A link to the film and a trailer can be found on www.thefirstsaturdayinmay.com.I commend Churchill Downs for this very kind act in helping independent film makers realise their dream.

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1. Hennegan Brothers | 21 March 2008

   Thanks for the mention Nick!!!

   Please tell your stateside friends to go see the film the first weekend it opens (4/18). If it doesn't do well that weekend then it won't be asked to stay for a second week and we're screwed!

   Thanks for your support!!!

   Best,

   Hennegan Brothers
   www.thefirstsaturdayinmay.com

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