Quest For The Triple Crown: Spectacular Bid Stakes Analysis

There are no graded stakes races for three year old horses this weekend, so an analysis of the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday will have to suffice. Although this race may be lightly regarded as a Kentucky Derby prep, it does have some entries that are hopeful of making it to Churchill Downs on May 1st.

The Todd Pletcher trained Discreetly Mine enters off a three month layoff. In the early fall Discreetly Mine finished second in the Grade II Futurity Stakes and Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, earning Equibase Speed Figures of 95 and 96 for those races. A good showing in this race could mean a start for Discreetly Mine in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on February 20th.

The main challenge for Discreetly Mine will come from Wildcat Frankie. Wildcat Frankie crushed his competition in his debut, wining a Maiden Special Weight race at Calder Race Course on December 12th by 15 1/2 lengths. He earned a very impressive 108 Equibase Speed Figure for that effort. However, he got an easy lead and was ridden out, so battling for the lead will be a new challenge for him.

Grand Times enters the Spectacular Bid Stakes with two wins in three career starts. He earned a 93 Equibase Speed Figure for his last start, a first level allowance win at Tampa Bay Downs on December 12th. His outside post should give his rider, Elvis Trujillo, the advantage of tracking the speed to his inside.

Trained by Tony Dutrow, Westover Wildcat won the Bold Lad Stakes at Belmont Park in late October, earning a 97 Equibase Speed Figure for that triumph. It is important to note that Westover Wildcat will start from gate five, so he should be the controlling speed if Discreetly Mine and Wildcat Frankie go to the lead.

Another horse that romped last out is the other Tony Dutrow trained entry A Little Warm. He won his in his first race in four tries on November 23rd at Philadelphia, besting his competition by 10 3/4 lengths and earning an Equibase Speed Figure of 106. A Little Warm will be coming home late and has a great shot at winning the Spectacular Bid Stakes if a speed duel develops on the lead.

The Plays: $10 Win/Place/Show on Westover Wildcat = $30

               $10 Place/Show on A Little Warm = $20

               $10 Win on Wildcat Frankie