#10 Zandon at 3/1 odds
Who’d thought after the Blue Grass win, he’d be the morning line favorite in the Kentucky Derby at 3/1!
I texted a buddy a few weeks back and said you think Zandon will be less than 9/1 come Kentucky Derby, we both said yes around 5/6-1, I didn’t BITE and what a NUT kick now as Mike B., post him at 3/1!! Not let’s get down to business on Zandon, we CASHED big on him in the Blue Grass and our write-up and logic was spot on that afternoon.
Chad has babied this colt, one glaring thing I noticed last year, was going from that maiden win to the 1 1/8th Remsen, also not in those two races, he was a stalker and not a stone cold closer as he’s been as a 3yo.
Zandon’s stride is something remarkable and it’s really been on display of late in the mornings after his big Blue Grass win. He was right back working just 14 days after his big win in the Blue Grass and our “Keeneland Contact” stated his 48.3 work looked like a 46 flat and they couldn’t believe their watch that morning.
They stated he was “Under STOUT restraint” for 3/8th and finished like a beast! He then came right back 6 days later at Churchill and was even more impressive and that work has made him the morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
He had no shot in the Risen Star when facing Epicenter for the first time, he was coming into that race off a 70+ days and shipping into NOLA without a comeback effort going 1 1/8th off works is tough to do.
Zandon then hopped at the start to put himself at a further disadvantage, but he did come with a powerful late run and got up for the show money as Smile Happy finished a half-length in front of Zando at the wire.
Risen Star Internal Fractions Internal Fractions first 1/4 mile — :24.15 second 1/4 mile — :24.92 third 1/4 mile — :24.18 fourth 1/4 mile — :24.33 final 1/8 mile — :12.10 final 3/8 mile — :36.43 – SERIOUS TURN OF FOOT
They decided to bypass the La. Derby and shipped into Lexington for the Blue Grass Stakes and Zandon ran that afternoon to our expectations! He gobbled up that field with ease and passed Smile Happy down the lane, like he was tied to the rail! The second most impressive win, we’ve seen during the Triple Crown prep races.
Blue Grass Internal Fractions Internal Fractions first 1/4 mile — :25.04 second 1/4 mile — :24.25 third 1/4 mile — :24.48 fourth 1/4 mile — :24.29 final 1/8 mile — :12.29 final 3/8 mile — :36.58 – Another serious finish!!!
No one was CLOSE to him on the gallop out! This is one serious colt and Chad has babied him since the Remsen, one big eye catcher from our POV, he wintered at Payson Park and that is a very deep surface and you can get fit big time when you continuously work over that surface.
Chad not once, ever thought about entering Zandon at Gulfstream Park, just right down the road, he decides to ship into the Big Easy for the Risen Star back to Payson and then ships to Lexington for the Blue Grass Stakes. He bypassed Florida all together with this colt as he knew he could get him fit working him at Payson and wanted to get two 1 1/8th races under his belt, before the Kentucky Derby.
Here’s a quote form Chad Brown about Zandon, after the Remsen! Chad Brown said, “As you know, I have NEVER stretched a horse out that far off just one six-furlong race, but this horse is freaky good and can win the Derby.” Zandon’s Thorograph projections is a beautiful site for those that use them as their speed # bible.
ZANDON #’S – “6 ½” to “4 ½” to “2 ½” to “1 ½