Would have been 2 preps, likely a paired (fast) top, and on to Louisville. Now though it\'ll be 3 preps and in jeopardy of running the big one a race too soon. Baffert certainly knows how to get horses to run their best in the derby, no debate on that, but I\'d sure have liked him better with just the one more run into it.
While your point seems valid enough. It does add interest to what appears to me to be a star studded SA lineup. BB may ship that albino late runner or another of his new shooters. I\'m guessing Desormeaux and Texas Red may also be La. bound which was an earlier plan/rumor, before the injury.
If some of the other San Felipe runners are as good as hopes for them are high, BB may need options (and points). On Sunday, Dortmund, beast or bust s/b apparent.
As talented and tough as Dortmund has shown himself to be, this year\'s crop of three-year-olds is so amazingly deep, I would be skeptical of a horse like Dortmund being able to stay on top of his game for as long as he would need to in order to win the derby; whether he has two or three preps, he\'ll have a host of other talented three years who may be just as fast (or faster by the first weekend in May) as he is. An early-maturing (and likely heavily favored) type like Dortmund is usually a good play against, esp. when you got so many other good ones pursuing him. It\'s still way early, but this may be one of the greatest crop of three year olds I\'ve ever seen, and I\'ve seen an awful lot! This is a great year for a long-shot. I\'m thinking no dominant California Chrome types who rule over their inferior foes as he did, but rather an under the radar type (at least) between 10 and 20-1.