derby futures

Las Vegas - Jumping down to North Carolina for some ACC action and gonna ride Georgia Tech over Wake Forest.
Nine points seems like a bundle to lay on the road, but Tech head coach Josh Pastner KNOWS how to close out a regular season. Back in 2020, the Yellow Jackets won and covered six of their final seven games. This year, they buzz into Wake on a 5-0 straight up roll and even more impressive, SIX & OH against the spread. The Jackets beat the Demon Deacons back in January, 70-54, easily covering a 9.5 point spread. And if you're worried about Tech playing on the road, DON'T. The last two times out, they beat Miami-Florida, 87-60 and Virginia Tech, 69-53. You ready for the UGLIFIED? Understand that Wake has had to deal with a bunch of injuries as well as COVID-19 issues, but MAN, the last five losses have been embarrassing. They came up short against Duke at home, WAY short, losing 84-60. Then they were busted by NC State, 80-62, DESTROYED by Clemson, 60-39, OBLITERATED by Virginia Tech, 84-46 and stunned by Pittsburgh, 70-57. They've lost by an average of almost 23 points per game, and have not covered a game (0-5) since February 13. Gotta believe that Tech will WRECK these Demons. BOOK IT!

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For all of you that love the ponies, my MAIN master Jedi of the horses, Martin Calia, has done some serious homework...

Here are some of his thoughts that could lead you to a BIG FAT bump in your bankroll...

Talk to 'em Marty...

The fourth Kentucky Derby Pool opens Friday (3/5) and closes on Sunday 6pm EST. So here are some "pony " updates for AmericasLine Nation.

- Essential Quality - Brad Cox trains the BC Juvenile winner who is now 4-4 after winning the Southwest Stakes. He earned a 96 speed Beyer and now has a total of 40 Derby points. His next race will either be the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland on April 3, or the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 10.

- Greatest Honour - The Shug McGaughy trainee has won the Holy Bull (1/30) and the Fountain of Youth Stakes (2/27) at Gulfstream Park. He earned an 89 Beyer in the FLY and he sits atop the leader board in KD points with 60. His next race will be the Florida Derby on 3/27. Might be second choice in futures pool 4 depending on how the Baffert horses fair on Saturday.

Speaking of trainer Bob Baffert, he has four horses who could possibly make it to the gate on May 1.

- Life is Good - Is a perfect 2-2 and was last seen winning the G3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. He earned a triple digit Beyer (101) in the Sham, but that was on January 2nd, and he just hung on to beat stablemate Medina Spirit at the mile distance. Life is Good is entered in Saturday's San Felipe at Santa Anita.
Life was bet down to 6-1 in the last Derby pool and only has 10 qualifying Derby points.

- Medina Spirit - He won his maiden race (12/11), then finished a fast closing 2nd to Life is Good in the G3 Sham. Spirit then gamely won the G3 RB Lewis on January 30th. He currently has 14 KD points. His next race is Saturday in the San Felipe at Santa Anita.

- Concert Tour - Won the G2 San Vincente at Santa Anita, but has zero derby points. He is pointed toward the Rebel.

- Spielberg - Finished 2nd to Essential Quality in the Southwest Stakes and has 17 Derby points. He will probably run in the Arkansas Derby on April 10, at Oaklawn Park.

Two more Brad Cox trainees are on the Derby trail.

- Caddo River - Won the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn in record setting time on 1/22. He has 10 Derby points and is pointed toward the Rebel Stakes on 3/13 at Oaklawn Park.

- Mandaloun- Won the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds and is pointed to the Louisiana Derby on 3/20. He currently has 52 Derby points.

Chad Brown has two derby hopefuls.

- Risk Taking - Won the Withers at Aqueduct on 2/6, and is pointed toward the Wood Memorial on April 3. He has 10 Derby points.

- Highly Motivated- Last seen winning the Nyquist Stakes on 11/6/20. He set a track record that day at Keeneland and has been working steadily for his return on Saturday in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. No derby points.

- Midnight Bourbon- Trained by Steve Assmussen, this colt won the G3 Lecomte at the Fair Grounds, but finished 3rd to Mandaloun in the Risen Star. Has 26 Derby points and will run in the Louisiana Derby 3/26.

- Candy Man Rocket - The Bill Mott trained colt won the Sam Davis at Tampa Bay Downs, earned 10 Derby points, and will run Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby.

- Hush of a Storm - Won the J. Battaglia Memorial on the synthetic track at Turfway Park and earned 10 Derby points. He is trained by William Morey and will run on 3/27 in the J.Ruby Stakes at Turfway.

- LePerouse- Won the Hyacinth in Japan on 2/21, and earned 30 Derby points. He is pointed toward the Fukuryu Stakes on March 27 at Nakayama Racecourse. The Fukuryu awards 40 Derby points to the winner. The last KD pool had him 125-1! If you can get him bet him!

Other notables:

- Rock Your World- Won the Pasadena Stakes on 2/28, and will run next in the SA Derby. No points.

- Known Agenda- Todd Pletcher trainee romped in an allowance race at Gulfstream and is looking to run in the Florida Derby. No points.

- Prevalence- Won a seven furlong maiden special race at Gulfstream by 8 1/2 lengths and had a 89 Beyer speed rating. He was targeted for the FOY but spiked a fever and missed training time.

- Dream Shake- Trained by Peter Eurton, this Twirling Candy colt won his 6 1/2 MSW race by 4 3/4 lengths and earned a 96 Beyer Speed rating. He also trounced the highly regarded Baffert firster Bezos ( 11-1 in the last Derby pool) by 15 lengths. He is entered in Saturday's San Felipe at Santa Anita, and will have to tangle with Baffert's two top guns ( Life is Good and Medina Spirit). If he improves off that 96 Beyer, he could upset the Baffert apple cart.