Weekend Showcase: Can Dolphus and All Out of Aces put their names on the Derby map?

Sunday's 6th race at the Fair Grounds is a 2yo Maiden race at 6 furlongs. Among those entered are All Out of Aces, a Proud Citizen colt who is a 1/2 brother to Hard Aces; Sleet, an Ice Box colt who is out of stakes winner Fleet Caroline; Mason County, a Haynesfield colt who is a 1/2 brother to 2014 Derby starter Harry's Holiday and a member of the same female family as Beholder and Into Mischief and Double Dare, a Harlan's Holiday colt out of stakes winner Interest Only.

However, the horse who has the most pressure on him is Dolphus, a Lookin at Lucky colt who is out of the stakes winning mare Lotta Kim. Hmm, the mare's name sounds quite familiar doesn't. Maybe it's because she's the dam to the Medaglia d' Oro filly Samantha Nicole? Or is it that she's the 1/2 sister to stakes winner Lotta Rhythm. Wait a minute, doesn't Samantha have a full sister? She does!



Yes Dolphus, is a 1/2 brother to the one and only Rachel Alexandra. Dolphus is actually Lotta Kim's second colt, her first colt Empire Ruler (by Empire Maker) sadly died of Wobblers as a 2yo. Joe Sharp trains him and Brian Hernandez who people may forget rode Rachel before Calvin Borel rides.

Here is the full field:

6th Race - Fair Grounds - Sunday, November 22nd, 2015
MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. 6 Furlongs Dirt. Purse $40,000. FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD. Weight, 120 lbs. (Preference To Horses That Have Not Started For Less Than $25,000 In Their Last 3 Starts). (03:54 PM) (10)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Krafty Boy 2 G L 117 Clark Kerwin D. Thornbury Jeffrey D.
2 Biblical Strength 2 G L 117 Murrill Mitchell Meaux Jason H.
3 Dolphus 2 C L 120 Hernandez, Jr. Brian Joseph Sharp Joe
4 Sleet 2 C L 115 Murray E. M. Duhon Joe O.
5 Roman's Chance 2 C L 120 Sanchez Diego Dorochenko Gennadi
6 Mason County 2 C L 120 Geroux Florent Jones J. Larry
7 Start A War 2 C L 120 Mena Miguel Calhoun W. Bret
8 Double Dare 2 C L 120 Castanon Jesus Lopez Cox Brad H.
9 All Out Of Aces 2 C L 120 Riquelme Jose Jones J. Larry
10 Desert Harbor 2 C L 120 Torres Francisco C. Morris Brent

Looking at their sires, All Out of Aces is the one who might have the slight disadvantage, the reason being in that Dolphus' sire was a 2yo champion. Mason County also has a good chance, even though his sire did better going longer. I would love to see Dolphus start his career on a good note.

Picks

Win- Dolphus
Place- Mason County
Show- All Out of Aces