Power Surge

Colonel Power Stakes
I dont think there is a lot of genuine speed in here, but I do think that Storm Surge is the fastest horse in the race. With Clock Stopper coming from the same barn surely the aim is to go to the front with him. He was brutal in his last effort against a similar type of field. However this time he should get the rub of the green pace wise. Private Vow may try to go with him but I dont think he can, I really dont think he has enough speed to keep up. Storm Surge is dangerous if he can find the kind of form that saw him run a close 4th in the Amsterdam. The horse who beat him that day is live here again. Santana Strings had lost his way as well but he seemed to come back into form with his last race. We know he is good enough on the right day but I think the pace will be against him. I dont know who will be favoured here but Meteor Impact is the horse to beat. He's been very tough and he has enough speed to stay in contention or adapt to anything that comes along. If I go against him its only for the sake of value. I do hope Clock Stopper finds some form again. He was an old fave of mine but I dont know if he's a great win bet here.

1)Storm Surge
2)Meteor Impact
3)Santana Strings

Tiffany Lass
Although this is rather a minor stakes race I am rather excited about the prospects. I am quite high on Get Ready Bertie, not only do I think she is far and away the best filly in this race but I think she is one of the best fillies in the nation. I'm looking for her to develop into a real G-1 type filly and obviously if she going to do that she must be a near lock in this race. There is some speculation that a flat mile will be too short for her. I think its a legitimate concern but she should outclass her rivals by a long margin so it really shouldn't matter. She is listed at 9/2 on the morning line but I would expect that anything above 9/5 is a gift. Normally I list 3 selections for each race but in this case I think its Get Ready Bertie or nothing.

1) Get Ready Bertie

San Rafael
I have added Tenfold to my Derby top 10 list but this race is vital to his chances for further inclusion. I personally think that he'll do very well around two turns. I'm glad Baffert is starting him off at 8f instead of sending him much longer. He has run a bit keenly so it would be nice to see him settle a little bit. Perhaps just behind the cheap speed of Half Famous. The main danger here is Notional wihtout a doubt. True he has never returned to the scintillating form he showed in his maiden, but then this is the first time he'll be running on conventional dirt since then. His two all-weather attempts werent bad but they arent enough to win this. However if his problem was simply surface related he could bounce back in a big way. I actually hope that he does run a good race, it would be nice to see if Tenfold can handle him at his best.

1)Tenfold
2)Notional
3)Silent Soul

San Fernando
Even during the Triple Crown Trail of last year most people figured that races like this would be bread and butter for Brother Derek. So far in his career he has proven two things.First, he is a pretty awesome horse going two turns and Santa Anita, and second he is not nearly as good anywhere else. He has tried these conditions 5 times and thus far only Lava Man has managed to beat him. I think that speaks very well of his chances. However he is also at a bit of a crossroads. His results say that he might not be the same horse he was last spring. He has finished in the money just once in his last 6 races. So this race is very important for him. If he cant win at his favorite track going his favorite distance some serious questions will emerge. But I'm not feeling gloomy about him I think he can do it. I think his form has been better than it looks. Arson Squad on the other had is a horse I dont like at all. I think he is an inferior horse going two turns. Midnight Lute is a big danger. He has never tried the distance but he has also never looked like a sprinter. Baffert is already talking about taking this horse to the Strub. He is bred for two turns and this may just be a coming out party for him. He's very dangerous. Another horse I fear very much is Spring At Last. He may be the best value in the race. He has never run a bad race on the dirt and his Malibu showed that he can run with this class, he isnt just a big figure allowance horse. O'Neill should have him ready and he two should appreciate the extra ground.

1)Brother Derek
2)Midnight Lute
3)Spring At Last