BloodHorse information editor Byron King presents his Derby Dozen with a have a look at his main contenders for the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve on Could 3.
King’s inaugural Dozen for the 151st Derby assesses prospects among the many crop of newly-turned 3-year-olds upfront of the upcoming Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 25.
Take a look at America’s Finest Racing’s Triple Crown web page to maintain updated with tales and statistics on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Sovereignty
After ending strongly in a pair one-turn races in New York, Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott ran him two turns as a maiden within the 1 1/16-mile Avenue Sense Stakes Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs, and the colt circled the sphere to attain simply by 5 lengths. He defeated a top quality lineup that included runner-up Tiztastic, a subsequent third within the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes, and third-place Sandman, an allowance optionally available claiming winner at Oaklawn Park this winter who’s entered within the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes at that monitor. Given day without work after the Avenue Sense for a 3-year-old marketing campaign, Sovereignty has labored simply twice at Payson Park this winter. He begins atop the Dozen as a consequence of his potential to excel on the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 ¼ miles.
2. Barnes
Since promoting for $3.2 million at The Saratoga Sale at Fasig-Tipton in 2023, expectations have been excessive for this powerfully constructed colt, and he has delivered on that promise in two begins. First, he overcame a troubled journey to win his Nov. 27 debut at Churchill Downs at 5 ½ furlongs, then stepped as much as stakes firm, romping within the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park. These performances for Churchill-reinstated coach Bob Baffert, a six-time Kentucky Derby winner, and his apparent attractiveness and pedigree, resulted in his closing because the 6-1 favourite amongst particular person betting pursuits within the newest Kentucky Derby Future Pool.
3. East Avenue
Favored within the Nov. 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Offered by TAA at Del Mar after rolling on the lead in two outings, his race was basically over in the beginning when he stumbled. Tyler Gaffalione rode him patiently quite than rush him ahead after the disastrous starting, however East Avenue by no means provided a bid and checked in ninth. Winner of the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland final 12 months in addition to a maiden race at Ellis Park, he has three sharp works beneath his belt this winter in New Orleans as he readies for the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes at Honest Grounds.
4. Citizen Bull
Having received each the American Pharoah Stakes Offered by DK Horse at Santa Anita Park and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he’s a close to certainty to be named champion 2-year-old male on the Eclipse Awards ceremony Jan. 23. Evaluating the power of his Juvenile is difficult contemplating the way it unfolded when East Avenue blew the break. That took away Citizen Bull’s principal tempo rival, and with a lot of the different pace horses being fellow Bob Baffert trainees, none of their riders wished to go face to face early with a stablemate. Nonetheless, Citizen Bull’s pace allowed him to capitalize, and it’s to his profit that he possesses it.
5. Grande
Debuting in opposition to a stacked maiden subject Jan. 11 going a mile at Gulfstream Park, he impressed with a handsome victory. Away somewhat sluggishly from his inside put up, he was rushed up by Corridor of Fame jockey John Velazquez to safe a ahead place after a quarter-mile in :23.61. Chasing Camp Hale, the twice-raced favourite, down the backstretch, Grande ran a fast second quarter and finally wore down the favourite to win by 2 ½ lengths. His last time was modest, 1:37.89 after a last eighth in :13.75, however the bizarre closing cut up was a facet impact of the energetic backstretch tempo.
6. Patch Adams
Racing with blinkers off after operating third Oct. 11 at Keeneland, he dusted maidens at Churchill Downs Nov. 30 by urgent the tempo and accelerating away for a 10-length victory. He zipped seven furlongs in 1:20.77, not far off champion Groupie Doll’s monitor file of 1:20.44 set in 2012. Much less enthusiastically, 4 horses have raced out of this maiden contest by way of Jan. 21, and all have been out of the cash in subsequent begins. His efficiency as the favourite in Saturday’s Southwest Stakes ought to present an extra gauge of his promise.
7. Disco Time
His successful time within the Lecomte Stakes Jan. 18 at Honest Grounds was sluggish –1 1/16 miles over a sloppy monitor in 1:47.07 – properly off the older horse Hit Present’s 1:44.91 when he captured the Louisiana Stakes Offered by Relyne GI by Hagyard a half-hour earlier. Nonetheless, the easy undeniable fact that Disco Time received is noteworthy. Accustomed to racing near the tempo, he was shuffled again to 10th early in a scramble to the primary flip, then fanned extraordinarily huge coming into the stretch. He defeated legit foes in runner-up Constructed, a stakes winner, and third-place Innovator, who had examined Barnes in a maiden race within the fall at Churchill Downs.
8. Chancer McPatrick
After successful his first three begins, together with the seven-furlong Hopeful Stakes and one-mile Champagne Stakes, his season ended disappointingly with a sixth within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, his first begin at 1 1/16 miles and round two turns. The absence of tempo within the Juvenile after East Avenue broke poorly didn’t go well with his late-running fashion, and Chancer McPatrick has since had minor ankle surgical procedure. Later than others to renew coaching, he has a tighter window to get two preps earlier than the Triple Crown, with coach Chad Brown mentioning the March 8 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs and April 5 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland as targets.
9. Journalism
The Los Alamitos Futurity Stakes was a brief however high quality race final month, luring Baffert trainees Gaming and Getaway Automotive – respectively second and fourth within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But neither might hold tempo with this robust finisher within the lane, who went on to attain a 3 ½-length victory. He’s 2-for-2 in routes after a debut third in a dash. Coach Michael McCarthy advised Day by day Racing Kind the colt would resume breezing later this week after getting sick. He’s pointed to the March 1 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
10. Rodriguez
After operating second behind the eventual San Vicente Stakes runner-up Romanesque in a Nov. 23 maiden race at Del Mar, this colt stepped up second out by whipping maidens by seven lengths with a mile in 1:35.91 Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park. That race earned him a flashy pace determine, albeit with a candy journey. He confronted solely 5 rivals and made the lead from the within put up with a brief run to the primary of two turns.
11. Coal Battle
He runs for a self-described “little man” coach in Lonnie Briley, who has guided him to 3 stakes victories and a 4-for-6 file, together with an ideal mark on filth. Usually a better, this 3-year-old confirmed a brand new dimension by racing on the lead in successful the Jan. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, largely as a consequence of that race unfolding with a sluggish early tempo. After maintaining an energetic racing schedule, he sits out Saturday’s Southwest Stakes to await the Feb. 22 Insurgent Stakes at Oaklawn.
12. Hypnus
This 3-year-old, described by coach Kenny McPeek to Honest Grounds publicity as “a beast” earlier than debuting there Jan. 18, lived as much as his coach’s excessive opinion by rallying for a 2 ½-length victory going 1 1/16 miles within the slop. His time of 1:46.33 could not leap out, however it was faster than the slowly run Lecomte on the identical card. He confirmed professionalism and a late end. Be aware of his pedigree, as he’s by record-setting stallion Into Mischief, the main common sire for the previous six years, and out of Grade 1 winner Dream Tree.
