The road to the Kentucky Derby is only six weeks away and with this being the first “official” day of spring, also comes my first “official” Derby Dozen list. I usually start this list quite earlier in the prep race season, but with the late start of my column this year we get a clearer picture of the main contenders for May 1st than if we would in mid February.
Top horse on the list is the Fountain of Youth winner; Eskendereya trained by Todd Pletcher. With a solid victory in that stake prep at Gulfstream Park , it was announced this week a change in plans for this runner in his next start. He will pass on today’s Florida Derby and race two weeks in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. This plan was by design since another Pletcher runner will be contending in the Florida Derby instead; more on him later in my column.
The Bob Baffert trainee and last year’s Juvenile Colt Eclipse winner; Lookin’ at Lucky gets the second spot. He started last weekend in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and was victorious in making the transition from the Pro-Ride surface to dirt. With this effort, he can only move forward to his next start in the Arkansas Derby on April 10th.
The Todd Pletcher horse that will be racing today in the Florida Derby is Rule who comes in at #3. Recent wire to wire winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, he skipped the prep race there last Saturday for this spot at Gulfstream Park . It was stated from the beginning that Todd Pletcher wanted to keep his two top Derby prospects separated and he has.
Conveyance is another Bob Baffert runner who also has made the switch from polytrack to dirt and is at #4 on the list. It was a gate to wire effort last start at a mile and goes from Oaklawn Park back across country to race in the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park in a week and one day. This was the race that last year’s Kentucky Derby winner; Mine That Bird used as prep for his upset win.
Number 5 on the list is another Todd Pletcher runner and a recent addition to the barn this year. Discreetly Mine shipped from Gulfstream Park to the Fairgrounds and promptly won the Risen Star Stakes. Another Pletcher runner with keen speed, he’ll stay in Louisiana and contend next in that Derby in one week (3/27).
Last weekend at Santa Anita, Sidney’s Candy (#6) went wire to wire in the mile and a sixteenth; San Felipe Stakes. This son of Candy Ride out of a Storm Cat mare showed he could handle the two-turns for the first time. He’ll continue the California route and start next in the Santa Anita Derby in two weeks.
No Kentucky Derby list would be complete without a Nick Zito runner and the first one here is Jackson Bend #7. A Florida based horse; he has had a good record of in-the-money finishes this year after showing brilliance as a two year old runner. Next start for him, he’ll ship north for the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
The list of horses making the transition from synthetic tracks to dirt continues with Noble’s Promise #8. He just missed last weekend versus Lookin’ at Lucky in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park . Making his first start of year, he showed extreme gameness losing the race by a head. He adds more pace to the race.
A lightly raced three year old with tons of upside came on the Derby prep scene last weekend in the Tampa Bay Derby . Odysseus #9 (which was a Greek god) got up in the final jump over six others for victory as the second choice in the wagering. Making his stakes debut, Odysseus is unlike most runners on this list and can come from back of the pack.
A European import that raced last year as a two year old on grass came to New York a few weeks back and beat nine others in the Gotham Stakes. Awesome Act #10 ; trained by Jeremy Noseda who is a Euorpean conditioner, found a great spot to make his dirt debut and launched himself into the Derby picture. Next out for him is the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Alphie’s Bet #11 upset the apple cart in the weather delayed Sham Stakes at the route distance of a mile an eighth on March 6th at Santa Anita. He was overlooked in the betting at 8-1 and rallied smartly down the track to victory. Due to his relatively unknown connections may be a square price next time out in the Santa Anita Derby .
Super Saver #12 who was my personal “horse to watch” on the Derby Trail, finally made his three year old debut last weekend in the Tampa Bay Derby . Having not raced since last Fall, he ran well for 3rd and may have needed the race. It will be interesting where Todd Pletcher decides to run this colt for his next prep race. Although he was beaten, I’ll continue to watch him and look for an improvement next time out.
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