(Horses that have started at a route distance are eligible)
1. Uncle Mo- Pletcher
- Most publicized of his crop, had his first breeze back on Sunday at Palm Meadows. Record is flawless and has been flawless visually. Has shown in every-which-way that he is a super horse. In tremendous hands.
- Working steadily for HOF'er Mott. Connections have been quite clear the Fountain of Youth is next. That spot is turning into one heckuva race. Has all the potential in the world. Love the freshening they gave him and is absolutely main threat to the man at the top.
- Zito hasnt just been lucky to win a few triple crown races. He practically told the public he has a serious horse when he scratched out of the NW1x on Jan 21 in favor of the Holy Bull off of just one run. His horse backed him up. Scary performance with still plenty of ceiling to improve. Dangerous.
- Son of Distorted Humor schooled a solid MSW group at the Fair Grounds going 6f in his debut. He did it the right way that day winning from well off the pace by 5 lengths. Came back on short enough rest to win from off the pace again, by the same distance, in a two-turn NW1x score. No horse has ever won the KY Derby without a 2-year-old start.
- Strictly reading between the lines on this super-juvenile, I would have to regretfully say, he is off the trail. Top conditioner pulled the plug on Holy Bull and was quoted with a, "I don't have to make the Derby with this horse," plea. Dutrow knows what he's doing and knows there is a lot of money to be made. Kept on trail list of contenders out of respect, and slim hope he is still in the hat.
- You want to talk about turning the corner. Galloped at Churchill Downs with a "where did that come?", performance, then took his confident mindset to Santa Anita where he thrashed foes in first stakes attempt. No secret on how Santa Anita dirt has been playing.....zzzooooom. Something I hear they are looking into, this is an interesting one that I feel may be more of a player in the preps than in the big one itself.
- Can he handle dirt? Well, he can sure handle slop. Whether you chose to call him Barbaro or Big Brown after his NW1x romp on the Gulfstream slop is up to you. Either way, he was impressive. Connections have been outspoken on how they still are curious as to how he'll handle a dry slip. Efforts sprinting on dry track suggest he handled it just fine. On the day of his front-running victory, on the lead was the place to be.
- Love the time Pletcher has given the little-brother of last year's Derby winner. A winner in both lifetime starts, Brethren is all set to go in the G III Sam Davis on Feb 12. Ceiling is high since he has yet to travel two-turns.
- Winner of the Lecomte was unlucky to not win in his NW1x prior to that which was won by the erratic Justin Phillip. Game in the Lecomte, although not sure how good of a race that was. Will get litmus test in the Risen Star.
- McPeek has given this one plenty of time after his solid effort in the Breeders' Cup. Solid grass form translated to Churchill's dirt in that contest as he was no match for Uncle Mo and Boys At Tosconova. Wait and see but must be watched. Will he end up back on the weeds?
11. Santiva- Keneally
- Love the time Keneally has given the KYJC winner. Has trained like clock-work since and is aimed for th FOY. Will make his second start for current conditioner as he has been passed around three times already.
- Son of Lemon Drop Kid was second to Machen in his debut and galloped out like, well, a Lemon Drop Kid going 6f. Came back to win like an absolute pro on Jan 31. Like rival Machen, Sour is lightly raced having just the two starts. Looked like sky's the limit in his maiden scamper.
13. Comma to the Top- Miller
- Cannot fault anything he's done as he has already totaled over $550k in earnings. That said he has never raced on dirt and I would not tout him while trying it. Think he'll end up on the grass and should make a nice stack of coin there. Paddy O'Prado ended up there, that said, he wasnt beaten far in the Derby.
- Another precocious one. I feel that the classic's distances are a bit out of his reach. This time of year, you need to find out though. Think he's a player in the preps but a toss in the big one.
15. Gourmet Dinner- Standridge
- Tried very hard in the Holy Bull. Do not like that this horse has not had a break. His earnings are there, if the Derby is the connections' plan. Form would look a whole bunch cleaner if he stayed on the east coast and was given some time rather than make that Cash Call trip. All said after the fact, of course. Distance limitations.
16. Sweet Ducky- Breen
- Ran his guts out in the Holy Bull and gave you the feeling like he's the kind of horse with a huge heart that makes him competitive against horses that are still improving. Need to respect his grit in the Holy Bull, and could be useful if not rushed to the task. Gives me a Jackson Bend feeling.
- Has raced in every month since his debut in April. Hate to see that as he will face fresh horses all spring and summer. Majority of connections in this country couldnt be paid to take a break at this time of year. I'll always go with the fresh horse. With all that said, can't hate on what he's done.
18. Mucho Macho Man- Ritvo
- To Honor And Serve (2x), Gourmet Dinner, Dialed In and Curlinello are the horses that have won the races this a-other-than has ran respectively in. If the timing is right, why not run him in a first-level allowance and run him back in a major prep. This horse may need a relief in competition.
19. Stay Thirsty- Pletcher
- Another one Pletch has given plenty of time. Super erractic when overwhelmed in the BC. Note that was his first time around two turns and he was running against Uncle Mo and Boys. Every reason to improve.
20. Cool Blue Red Hot- Penna
- Has done nothing wrong in his three lifetime starts. In his most recent, he dueled with Soldat, and although the winner went on to win by 10, I feel this one deserves another shot. Maybe he ran on talent and class and didnt handle the slop? Maybe, maybe not. We'll see him again, whether its another 1x or something like the Sam Davis.
21. Toby's Corner- Motion
- Has captured two straight at Laurel in impressive fashion. Has yet to travel two-turns as it seems he may be begging for it. In that case ceiling is high. Looking at it from the other side of things, what did he beat at Laurel? Motion doing the right thing and bringing him along slowly and conservatively. Whirlaway next.
- Two-for-two Violette colt did it like he will appreciate more distance in his NW1x victory. Aimed for the Whirlaway after showing a few breezes at Palm Meadows. That could be taken either way, but certainly a short price in the Whirlaway after two professional victories.
23. Monzon- Corras
- Captured the Count Fleet on Jan 1 and will head to Tampa for a swing at graded money in the Sam Davis. Finshed well in the Count Fleet as everybody up front tailed off, besided for #23 JJ's Lucky Train. Interested to see how he handles tougher at Tampa.
- Ran a head-scratcher in the Count Fleet before getting nipped by Wilkinson in the Lecomte. Would bet he shows back up in the Risen Star, which will be a much deeper field. Between he and Wilkinson, they should have their hands full in the next step in the Big Easy.
- Ran super in the Count Fleet and is absolutely one to reckon with in the Whirlaway on Saturday. While everything else up front faded in the Jan 1 stakes, he hung gamely. Can he repeat the performance? Can he improve? We'll see.
- Not a big fan of the Smarty Jones winner, but he continues to prove me wrong. Do I think he beat much in that spot? No particularly. However, the Southwest is right around the corner and he'll have another shot to keep proving me and all other doubters wrong.
- Good effort from the son of Pure Prize in the Tropical Park Derby. Thought he handled the distance while being beat by less than a length on the lead. Not over the moon on this one but his November handling of Wilkinson bodes well.
- Problematic Zayat colt, may benefit from castration, blinkers off, and a magic wand. Talent is there, mind seems to be somewhere else.
- Was quite impressive winning an off-the-turf MSW at Gulfstream. His effort against Pletcher shooter Stay Thirsty at Saratoga shouldnt go without mention as well. Turned off by the fact that McPeek had him entered on the grass after such a promising debut on dirt. Roman Ruler & Silver Charm may keep the sharp conditioner's mind on the dirt.
30. Shadow Warrior- Arnold
- Feel like this AP Indy colt ran well enough in his recent third-place finish in a Gulfstream NW1x. That heat was won by Black N Beauty, a pace presence in the Holy Bull. Could see him in the next NW1x going 1 1/8m. Think this lightly-raced one will relish the added distance.
31. Elite Alex- Ritchey
- Used his sophomore debut as a right tune-up for what seems to be the Southwest. Ritchey has had a nice one before, this one's papa.
32. Lumberjack Yard- Stidam
- Can't complain about his two starts, most recently a MSW score at the Fair Grounds. Flashed speed in his debut and got caught. Grew up a bit and stalked in a convincing graduating effort.
- New York bred was impressive against his restricted company on Jan 1 in a NYB stakes. Will run in the Whirlaway on Feb 5 and see what he can do.
Sprinters (not eligible): Travelin Man, The Factor, Heron Lake, Runflatout, Manicero, Indian Winter, Fort Hughes, Crossbow, Sovereign Default.
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