Grade 3 Spiral Offers 50 Derby Points in Great Betting Race

Limited to three year-olds, the Spiral could propel one of the contestants to the Kentucky Derby as the first through fourth place finishers will earn qualifying points on the 50-20-10-5 scale. 3/1 morning line favorite Airoforce will try to regroup after finishing tenth in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes February 20 at Fair Grounds. Previously untested on fast dirt, the classy colt's poor effort can likely be attributed to the surface. A multiple graded stakes winner, Airoforce's only other loss was a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The Spiral will be the Mark Casse trainee's first attempt on Polytrack - a surface many turf runners adapt to well. Previously ridden by Julien Leparoux in all five career starts, Alvin Jimenz will be in the irons breaking from post 10. 

Motion horse should be more fit

Kasseopia (6/1) is a logical contender for trainer Graham Motion after finishing third in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby February 13 at Golden Gate Fields. The effort was perhaps even better than it looked, as it was the colt's first start since October 4. Kasseipia is a well-versed Polytrack horse, making four of his five career starts over the surface. Like Airoforce, this stretch-running colt will benefit from a swift early pace. 

Jensen tries to follow grandpa

Jensen (6/1) is an intriguing item for trainer Larry Jones. The speedy colt projects as one of the primary pace players in the race, and, despite never having raced on a synthetic track, is well-bred for the surface. A grandson of 2007 Spiral (formerly called the Lane's End Stakes) winner Hard Spun, Jensen is a logical choice to move forward.