COLONEL JOHN (#10) Nakatani / Harty 4-1
Two for two this year at Santa Anita on the polytrack surface
and bullet work over the Churchill strip for the big race,
his running style suits him well & gets ideal post position. His experience factor should make him the favorite…but it won’t.
COURT VISION (#4) Gomez / Mott 20-1
Has yet to reach the winner’s circle this year… but closed well in his two prep races, showed speed in bullet work at Churchill & gets blinkers on for today. Sharp two year old form & improving races this year make him a dangerous contender.
VISIONAIRE (#8) Lezcano / Matz 20-1
Won the foggy Gotham Stakes on a sloppy sealed track closing from behind, made a lot of ground up in the Bluegrass Stakes on that quirky Keeneland surface, trainer knows how to win this race.
SMOOTH AIR (#12) Cruz / Stutts 20-1
Second best behind the “monster” Big Brown in the Florida Derby,
Had a slight fever last week that questioned whether he would race, His seventy year old trainer is very excited to be here and you can’t help but root for his connections.
Z FORTUNE (#6) Albarado / Asmussen 15-1
This N.Y. bred has been a gem of consistency expect one race in six starts, closed in the Arkansas Derby & earned a 102 Beyer speed figure while galloping out well, figures to be a “live longshot” in the gimmicks.
PYRO (#9) Bridgmohan / Asmussen 6-1
He along with War Pass were the early derby favorites this year,
Came to Keeneland as the even money favorite in the Bluegrass Stakes and failed, now the question is…was it the track surface or is he going off form?
EIGHT BELLES (#5) Saez / Jones 20-1
This talented three year old filly chose this spot instead of running in the Kentucky Oaks the day before, She’s a top three year old filly…but found a very tough spot to go longer than she’s ever been,
may have wished they ran one day earlier in the end.
MONBA (#14) Dominguez / Pletcher 15-1
Made it to this spot with a victory in the Bluegrass Stakes, well bred colt must now prove his victory just wasn’t a polytrack fluke, haven’t given up on the colt and may be a good one later on this year.
TALE OF EKATI (#2) Coa / Tagg 15-1
Returned to his excellent two year old form with a victory in the Wood Memorial on that slow Aqueduct surface, connections won this race five years ago with Funny Cide, a price to use underneath.
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COOL COAL MAN (#1) Leparoux / Zito 20-1
Loved Gulfstream Park earlier this year with two wins there and then like so many others failed on the Keeneland polytrack surface, nice work over the Churchill strip & won here as a two year old, never count out Zito!
BOB BLACK JACK (#13) Migliore / Kasparoff 20-1
Speedy world record holder for six furlongs on the polytrack surface at Santa Anita, very game when stretching out to route distances in last two starts, blinkers on today & will attend the pace.
DENIS OF CORK (#16) Borel / Carroll 20-1
Got lucky and made the field after bizarre prep race path, very talented horse might have waited for the Preakness than this spot, gets the “acid” test today against seasoned runners.
GAYEGO (#19) Smith / Lobo 15-1
Had the second best speed figure (103) of any three year old prep this year in his Arkansas Derby victory, gets the worst draw from the outside with other speed horses, may get cooked in a duel.
ADRIANO (#15) Prado / Motion 30-1
Another runner who was undecided to race in the Derby until the last minute, sharp in his Lane’s End victory at Turfway Park on the polytrack, one dirt try was terrible though, better on grass.
BIG BROWN (#20) Desormeaux / Dutrow 3-1
You would think that this horse is the second coming of “Big Red”, unbeaten…yet NOT tested. Trainer took a lot of guts picking post 20 to go from… foot issues & facing pressure from the other speed horses is a BIG question, if he wins from there…I tip my hat, but also he could end up being the next Arazi.
COWBOY CAL (#17) Velazquez / Pletcher 20-1
Just missed on the polytrack in the Bluegrass Stakes, but ALL his better races are on grass, confident “throw out” here,
like Adriano…should point for just grass races.
ANAK NAKAL (#3) Bejarano / Zito 30-1
Never under 4-1 in his career, dull in all three starts this year, blinkers off may get him closer to the pace.
RECAPTURETHEGLORY (#18) Baird / Roussel 20-1
Upset winner of the Illinois Derby at 16-1 wiring the field, will be company for Big Brown on the front end, good chance to finish last.
Z HUMOR (#11) Douglas / Mott 30-1
Only reason he’s here is from the big purse earnings from his Delta Jackpot dead-heat win last December, blinkers off…but shown nothing this year.
BIG TRUCK (#7) Castellano / Tagg 50-1
Got the victory in the Tampa Bay Derby when War Pass didn’t fire, statebred would be better pointed to the “Big Apple” Triple Crown than here.
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