Rule

Rossington · I really like Rule as one of my potential Kentucky Derby horses to use this year. Winner of 4 in a row on conventional dirt, and never off of the board in 7 lifetime starts, all on dirt. Rule is a big, physical horse that likes to run up-front and wear down the competition. His biggest challenge in this race will likely come from the colt from Great Britain, Radiohead. I've watched replays of Radiohead's races in the UK on attheraces.com and RacingUK. He's a quick colt with a very nice turn of foot. I haven't as of yet seen him race over dirt, but he did look quite impressive in the UK on Turf. · 2 days ago

medlocke · I don't think there's any question that Rule should be the favorite for the Florida Derby. With 4 straight wins, and never off of the board in 7 starts, all on dirt, he certainly has the most established credentials of any of the other horses going into the race. But one potential contender, Radiohead, has already established some credentials of his on, allbeit on Turf, in Great Britain. Here are Radiohead's races and their results during his 2009, 2yr.old campaign in Great Britain: 1. 5-13-09 Newmarket- stanjames.com Maiden Stakes: 2nd to High Spice 2. 5-18-09 Bath- Online Betting Forum EBF Novice Stakes(class 5): Won 3. 6-18-09 Ascot- Norfolk Stakes (Group 2): Won 4. 8-21-09 York- Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 2): 3rd to older horses. Won by 8yr.old Borderless Scott. 5. 9-19-09 Newbury- Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 1): 4th to undefeated Awzaan. 6. 9-02-09 Newmarket- Shadwell Middle Park Stakes: 2nd to undefeated Awzaan Now in the U.S., He finished a far back 7th in the 09' B.C. Juvenile won by Vale of York. He most recently just defeated Homeboychris in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. So, IMO, Radiohead may be the one horse in the Florida Derby established enough so that he could really step up and challenge Rule. He's got an impressive turn of foot, and has raced all of the best 2yr.old's now turning 3yrs.old in Great Britain. Plus, as a 2yr.old, raced older horses in the Nunthorpe Stakes. I still give Rule the edge because he's much more accomplished on dirt, but Radiohead's Turf accomplishments leads me to believe he may be a factor in the race. JMO. NOTE: In Radiohead's first race, the initials EBF, for those who don't know, stands for (European Breeders Fund). · 2 days ago

horses · Word on the street is that Jess Jackson may be buying Eskendereya... you know Zayat needs the money! · 3 days ago

mdracing69 · WinStar racing manager Elliott Walden said Drosselmeyer would go in the Louisiana Derby if Rule opted for the Florida Derby. That looks like the scenario with Eskendereya skipping the Florida Derby in favor of the Wood. · 3 days ago

bband · Elliott told TVG on Saturday that Drosselmeyer was going to the La Derby. · 3 days ago

Rossington · This colt is on a role, now having won 4 straight and never out of the money yet in his career. For me, if the Kentucky Derby were tomorrow, I'd have to bet Rule as my horse to win the Derby, unless between now and the first Saturday in May someone unexpected springs onto the scene that impresses me more than Rule has up to this point in the season. JMO. · 29 days ago

mid0827 · Rule has put in some great efforts, and it would not surprise me to see him to continue to dominate fields going right into the Derby. But, unfortunately, game, classy frontrunners like this almost don't stand a chance in the Derby. Nearly every year, there are a few sprinters in there with no real chance, and they compromise the chances of frontrunners like this. There have been very few wire jobs in the Derby over the years, and even those came under specific circumstances. War Emblem was a horse nobody respected, and he wired the Derby the year after Monarchos won in a suicidal pace. Rule is much more likely to end up like Hard Spun or Lion Heart - flash speed, run a big race and then fight to hold on for second - than anything. · 28 days ago