Brisnet.com Triple Crown Throwdown: Blue Grass Stakes

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins.

DeRosa – Indiana Derby Result – Earner was fourth. Bankroll: $3680.

GII Blue Grass S. – Art Collector and Swiss Skydiver are the most likely winners. Not sure if they'll be as far apart in the wagering as the morning line suggests, but the separator for me even at equal odds is Art Collector's breeding. I much prefer Bernardini out of a Distorted Humor mare going long than Daredevil out of a Johannesburg mare. Art Collector looked awesome in both starts at Churchill, and there's no reason to think he can't maintain that form here with one of the game's most underrated trainers in Tommy Drury at the controls. Selection: #3 Art Collector (5-1).

Sherack – Indiana Derby Result – Extraordinary got bet much harder than I was anticipating and could do no better than fifth. Bankroll: $2605.

GII Blue Grass S. – Yes, Art Collector has cashed in on favorable pace scenarios in his last two starts. But, man, has he looked good doing it. Shared Sense's mid-week win in the Indiana Derby certainly makes him look even that much better now. Selection: #3 Art Collector (5-1).

DiDonato – Indiana Derby Result – Shared Sense (+$620) won convincingly as the favorite. What was up with that objection? Bankroll: $4375.

GII Blue Grass S. – Rushie's done nothing wrong this year since stretching out, and took another big step forward last time against tougher in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. A duplication of that effort back again at nine panels figures to make him pretty tough, and any improvement will make him close to unbeatable unless Art Collector runs back to his last. Trainer Michael McCarthy's having a huge year, and his shippers always seem to fire (see Ce Ce, Smooth Like Strait, Speech and Rushie himself at Oaklawn in May). Selection: #10 Rushie (5-1).