Super Six Derby Pix

There was considerable change to the Super Six Derby Pix following the three major prep races this past weekend. Brethren dominated, Comma To The Top looked a little short, and Tapizar looked a little nuts. It has now come out that Tapizar has a bone chip following his disappointing run in the Robert Lewis this weekend and is now off the Road To The Roses. There will, of course, be more to come this weekend on the Derby Trail with the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes looking very promising with a strong field of ten scheduled to go to the post. So without any further ado, here are the Super Six Derby Pix:

#1- Uncle Mo- He finally seemed to get back into form with his workout on Sunday, going four furlongs in 47.45 seconds. His previous two workouts had not been up to snuff, according to reports. There are also questions as to whether his lineage supports the 1 1/4 mile distance he will need to get on the First Saturday In May. Of course, he has been nothing short of brilliant on the racetrack. We just have to wait until the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12 to see where he is.

#2- To Honor And Serve- Continues to live off his impressive win in the Remsen last fall and he is scheduled to return to the races in the Fountain Of Youth in Florida on February 26. The Sire, Bernardini, has been in the news a lot lately due to the pending pairing with Zenyatta. He is also, you must remember, a classic winner in his own right with the 2006 Preakness to his credit. It will be just as interesting to see where this Bill Mott trainee is when he returns as the top pick.

#3- Machen- The two horses closest to him in his sensational maiden-breaking win, Sour and Birdie Beats Par, have both come back to win equally impressively. Machen followed up that first score with a route victory at 1 mile and 70 yards. He is listed at 6-1 on the morning line in the Risen Star Saturday at the Fair Grounds. I think it is a pipe dream to believe you will get anything close to 6-1 come post time. He has been the hot horse in Louisiana since the season opened in New Orleans. It wouldn't surprise me if he were the favorite in the Risen Star.

#4- Brethren- Did you see the Sam F. Davis this weekend at Tampa Bay? This horse was brilliant in victory from the outside post and made the nice win he had at Churchill Downs last fall look like a preamble to what was to come. I appreciate the field was not the strongest in the Davis last weekend. However, an impressive win is an impressive win. Keep in mind that he will likely go in the Tampa Bay Derby next and that means a matchup with Uncle Mo.

#5- Santiva- He will go postward for the first time in 2011 in the Risen Star on Saturday at Fair Grounds. He needs to build off the gutcheck win he scored in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs over Astrology last autumn. The Beyer number for that race didn't dazzle, but the heart he showed in repelling the challengers did. I will be anxious to see if he repeats that kind of determination again on Saturday if presented with another tough spot.

#6- Dialed In- The star of the Gulfstream season so far after his come-from-behind tour de force in the Holy Bull on January 30. He appeared hopelessly beaten at points in this race and when the finish line rolled around, he had won by a healthy margin. Nick Zito has won the Derby twice, but not since 1994. He has had many chances to get that third Derby victory on his record, but this one could be one of the more likely opportunities of them all.

Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!