I think you're right about Combustion, Winter.....it's such a commitment to train, travel, adjust to different time zone, surface, etc....understandable that few make the journey.  It only makes sense if the horse is a triple crown contender, and comes out to race in the final prep, acclimates the to the US for the next month.

Derby jockey Jose Lezcano for colt Morello has some 'esplaing to do on his ride Sunday Race 1; $12,500 claimers..

Six horse race. Perplexing.

Dogs Squinting; this is hard to unpack..

First and 2nd were not claimed.

3rd place claimed plus 2 other horses claimed.

https://youtu.be/wGcsqKXSB8w

DELTA Colt - Louisiana Derby by 8th ranked sire Munnings, top of the radar trainer Brad Cox, long time serious and commited husband/wife owners and breeders who are "way-way under the radar....

ZOZOS

Messier likely to swap trainer of record for April 9 Santa Anita Derby.

BTW again the DELTA horse can be sometimes in obvious situations, the favorite; like key Secretariat or Seattle Slew. Or the one with all 4 legs.

Oft times though it is a mention for beyond the menu of the 20 runners.

Example

The favorite won the 2 yr old BC juvey + Delta was exactly 2nd Knicks Go.

The favorite won 2017 Derby + Delta was exactly 2nd Lookin at Lee.

So Derby players want the Delta hamburger helper Zozos NOT win but run 2nd Saturday. Otherwise he goes into Derby undefeated with points and payroll. 

Second & FINAL Notice

Attention: Trainer Doug ONeill

Goggles on SLOW DOWN ANDY in the Derby.

This might help... remember what I said about that Meydan dirt being slow?  OK, Crown Pride ran 1 3/16 miles... 0.36 seconds slower than it took Secretariat to go 1 1/4 in the 1973 Derby.  I know he won the Belmont by 31 lengths but not the Derby!  The rest of the field took >2 MINUTES to get the distance!
 

Meydan Race 5 UAE Derby Sponsored By Mubadala Purse 1000000 March 26, 2022 1900 Meters Dirt Thoroughbred	View Trakus T-Charts™ (Fractional Times) Click here to print Sectional Times
400m 800m 1200m 1600m Finish CROWN PRIDE (JPN) 50.25L 25.29 50.75L 48.11 50.25L 1:12.15 21.50L 1:38.15 1-  1:59.76 SUMMER IS TOMORROW (USA) 1 - 24.72 1 - 47.63 1 - 1:11.81 1 - 1:37.90

The Gang that couldn't run straight 

Yep...just the media story line the Churchill Downs / Kentucky Derby + (TC) peeps want...AHH sweaty nightmare 

DQed  for drugs trainer last year; his DQed horse dies who won that Derby + DQed trainer has colt(s) "in" the 2022 Derby by adverse possession explained to the public as legal  musical chairs raz-a-mataz.

Hoofnote; public is on drugs + substances and may find the drug suspect horses got edge; .. said He-Hawingly.

And to add insult to injury the media covers Bob's take on the Tri Series tossed salad. The Belmont no-no is ahead. Who says there are no train wrecks in horse racing. 

The owners have every legal and investment right and path to race their runners. 

So as I coined it earlier:The gang that couldn't run straight, we now have, a track that  specifies the outcome at other tracks who then have option to run in their Derby race. But although they have removed DQed trainer  Bob B and now a colt he formally trained is in the Derby..The Churchill / Derby peeps got all the mess PR.. Again! 

Maybe the soap opera will attract new viewers.  (Insert horse face szit eating grin here ).... Box 'Kim Kar-dash with setting a bad example to public 'Oscar Slap and 'Ticky Tok in the 4th. Learn to plead the 5th. After the race 

Today the Derb fav would go off at about 5/1.

Sport of Kings Blue Bloods now no New Bloods

 the video crack generation doesn't even go outdoors let alone to a track or simo to Bet.

They are not even the future to bet remotely and watch on TV or phone.

The Meta TicTok gen no comprende nor want experience nearly anything in real life, rather, real time digital god by machine.

Jockey Club stats: Handle says 2021 a banner year.  Comes after Covid. And a rash of favorite and Triple Crown winners year after year. I remember as of late the free sheet handed out on Derby day at simo had the Superfecta printed dead nuts cold.  

https://www.jockeyclub.com/default.asp?section=FB&area=8

One will see over the years the amount of handle drops from on track to nearly all off track. With 2021 handle being record breaking this year will tell the tale. Perhaps there will be a mid year update 2022.

FOR the Derby 2022

6/5 Under

Even $ Over

Alex I'll take the Under and buy a vowel.