Time for a Derby Prep!

Dear Partners and Friends,

It is indeed time for a Derby Prep! ARKLOW will run in the TEN KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS  Grade III La Compte at Fair Grounds Racetrack in New Orleans on Saturday, January 21. Entries will be this Friday, January 13 as entries are taken eight days in advance at Fair Grounds.

The top four finishers in the La Compte will be awarded DERBY QUALIFYING POINTS.

Please let us know by Monday, January 16 (after entries) if you plan to attend so we can make seating arrangements. We will also have MANNING running that day in a MSW race; his first try on dirt which will be his preferred surface. There will be additional surprises associated with this big day of racing so make your plans now!

Speaking of the Derby...we had our biggest first week sale of Derby tickets in Donegal history and are close to being sold out. If you want Derby tickets let Hillary or Alex know (hillary@donegalracing.com; office@donegalracing.com) this week. After this week we will do our best but have no clue how many more we can get.

All of our Derby prospects are now three years old as every horse has January 1 for their birthday. This required cake of course!

And now some good news on our horses. Donegal has a lot of bullets in its gun!

DONEGAL MOON is back on the track and Todd loved his first work back.

KEEN ICE had a bullet work on Saturday as he gets ready for the Pegasus.

ARKLOW'S breeze today put a big smile on the face of Brad Cox and Bridgemahon said, "The longer they go the tougher this horse will be." Have we heard that before? :)

JJ Pletcher reports that HY BRASIL looks terrific as he gets back in to training. Will go to Todd in a month.

IRISH FREEDOM has been battling heavy rains in SoCal that have kept him on the sidelines for a number of days off and on. Arrogate has had the same problem. IRISH is expected to breeze in two weeks (would have been this week with decent weather). Mike Marlo (Baffert Forman) says he could not be looking or moving any better and he is totally sound.

OATFIELD won again for us and Jordan Blair and PATRICK'S DAY will have his toughest test yet this coming Friday.

EIRIGH impressed everyone with his win in a very tough field last Friday. Ran a 96 Beyer.

BALLAGH ROCKS was equally impressive running a 95 Beyer.

PUCA (Donegal's darling to be sure) came out of her terrific victory in fine shape. Unfortunately, she has now developed a skin rash that will keep her from racing for a few weeks. If we have to have a problem, skin rash is my top choice ;). She will be pointed to a stake and had a bullet over the weekend.

FAHAN MURA won last week and as a Pennsylvania bred she could be a money making machine in the PA stakes schedule this summer. 

I consider the ten above all to be Stakes caliber. A lot of stakes horses for our small stable!

Jerry