You know spring has arrived when Aqueduct switches to its main dirt course from the speed laden inner track today, Wednesday, April 2. Also this week Keeneland opens on Friday in what I consider along with Saratoga and DelMar as the premeier meets. In addition Woodbine opens this Saturday.

Today's Pick 6 carryovers:

$14,467 Pick 6 Beulah Park April 02, 2008
$12,522 Pick 6 Tampa Bay Downs April 02, 2008
$12,481 Classix Oaklawn Park April 02, 2008
$10,009 Pick 6 Turfway Park April 02, 2008
$4,593 Pick 6 Laurel Park April 02, 2008

This weekend, the Santa Anita Derby, Wood Memorial and Illinois Derby as well as the Apple Blossom, Oaklawn Handicap and Fantasy here at Oaklawn, and the Ashland (Proud Spell vs. Country Star) at Keeneland.

One horse who can't consider is Georgie Boy, who injured a leg, and will be out three to four months. A tough break for trainer Kathy Walsh. She deserved better.

The owners of Eight Belles and Proud Spell put up $6,000 apiece to make those fillies eligible for the Triple Crown.

Larry Jones, who trains them both, will have some kind of dilemma if Eight Belles and Proud Spell prove decisive winners of the Fantasy and Ashland.

It's a problem any trainer worth his license would like to have.

As for Big Brown's win in the Florida Derby both trainer and jockey postponed their trip to Dubai to stay in Flordia...

Big Brown will easily be the first or second choice in the Kentucky Derby, and may very well be the most talented three-year-old later in the season. However, there's a big difference between the spring and the summer - just ask Curlin. The recent Dubai World Cup winner also went into Kentucky with only three lifetime starts under his belt, and was a well-beaten third to Street Sense.

For those getting ready to anoint Big Brown the new champ, be advised that only one of 16 horses in the history of the Derby has won with just three career past performances, and that victory came all the way back in 1915.

Graded races this weekend

3 CENTRAL BANK TRANSYLVANIA S. KEE 04/04 3 8.0 T

1 WOOD MEMORIAL S. AQU 04/05 3 9.0

1 CARTER H. AQU 04/05 3/up 7.0

1 ASHLAND S. KEE 04/05 3 f 8.5

1 APPLE BLOSSOM H. OP 04/05 3/up f/m 8.5

1 SANTA ANITA DERBY SA 04/05 3 9.0

2 ILLINOIS DERBY HAW 04/05 3 9.0

2 OAKLAWN H. OP 04/05 3/up 9.0

2 PROVIDENCIA S. SA 04/05 3 f 8.0 T

2 ARCADIA H. SA 04/05 3/up 8.0 T

2 POTRERO GRANDE BREEDERS' CUP H. SA 04/05 3/up 6.5

3 BAY SHORE S. AQU 04/05 3 7.0

3 EXCELSIOR BREEDERS' CUP H. AQU 04/05 3/up 9.0

3 PAN AMERICAN H. GP 04/05 3/up 12.0 T

3 JOHN B. CONNALLY BREEDERS' CUP TURF H. HOU 04/05 3/up 9.0 T

2 FANTASY S. OP 04/06 3 f 8.5

3 LAS FLORES H. SA 04/06 3/up f/m 6.0

Harness racing feature races this Saturday

Race Date Track Age, Sex, Gait Name of Race Purse
04/05/08 MEADOWLANDS 3YO C&G PACE R J SUSLOW 22,500
04/05/08 NORTHLANDS 3&4YO H&G PACE SUNWAPTA 40,000
04/05/08 POCONO CDN PACE TEN GRAND 10,000
04/05/08 WOODBINE 4&UP OPEN PACE SPRING PACE CHAMPS 88,000
04/05/08 YONKERS FREE FOR ALL PACE GEORGE M LEVY 50,000

Harness tracks opening in April

Opening Date, Closing Date, Track, Location

04/01/08 09/13/08 Pocono Downs Wilkes Barre, PA
04/05/08 07/12/08 Hoosier Park Anderson, IN
04/10/08 05/17/08 Players Blue Grass Downs Paducah, KY
04/11/08 07/06/08 Running Aces Harness Park Minneapolis, MN
04/11/08 11/16/08 Bangor Raceway Bangor, ME
04/12/08 10/26/08 Raceway Park Toledo, OH
04/18/08 09/27/08 Hazel Park Hazel Park, MI
04/18/08 11/08/08 Vernon Downs Vernon, NY
04/20/08 12/18/08 Harrah's Chester Chester, PA
04/20/08 07/03/08 Harrington Raceway Harrington, DE


Wire to wire efforts this past week

March 26
AQ races 2,3,7,8,9
TB races 1, 10

March 27
AQ 1, 2,3, 5, 7, 9
GP races, 1,2 3, 7
SA race 8

March 28
AQ races 4, 5
GP races 1,3
SA race 8
TB races 9, 10

March 29
AQ races 6,9
GP races 2,3,4,10
SA races 3,4
TB races 1, 10,11

March 30
AQ 1,3,4,5,6,8
GP race 4
SA races 2, 7,9

March 31
GP race 9
SA races 3,7