BloodHorse information editor Byron King presents his Derby Dozen with a evaluate of his main contenders for the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve on Might 3.
King’s newest listing displays the outcomes of the Southwest Stakes held at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 25 and appears forward to 3 extra qualifying factors races on the calendar scheduled for Feb. 1.
Try America’s Greatest Racing’s Triple Crown web page to maintain updated with tales and statistics on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Sovereignty
As promising as his future seems to be – this late-running colt rolled within the 1 1/16-mile Avenue Sense Stakes Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs over a subject that included current Southwest Stakes runner-up Sandman – his placement right here is tenuous owing to the absence of a daily breeze schedule. After ending his 2-year-old season sooner than his counterparts, he has recorded simply two revealed exercises at Payson Park as of Jan. 27, one on Dec. 24 and one other on Jan. 15, for Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott. If he can get into extra of a gentle exercise routine, it should elevate the arrogance degree. Alternatively, he may dip or fall from these rankings altogether with out elevated exercise.
2. Barnes
In distinction to Sovereignty, he has twice labored a couple of week aside since profitable his final race within the Jan. 4 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park, first with a solo half-mile there Jan. 20 in :48.60 after which a joint transfer in the identical time with last-out maiden winner March of Time. The latter stayed simply in entrance of him via the work and on the gallop-out, even with the Barnes’ rider giving him a bit encouragement after the wire. That breeze could be seen on XBTV after a signup. A $3.2 million buy who’s good in two begins for Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert, Barnes is loaded with capability, however he has but to race past seven furlongs.
3. East Avenue
Requested about this colt over the weekend, coach Brendan Walsh appeared inspired by how he has been coaching. Pressured out of his front-running recreation after stumbling in the beginning within the Nov. 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Offered by TAA at Del Mar, he will get an excuse for working a non-threatening ninth as the favourite. Observers know from his earlier kind from 2024, when he received a maiden race at Ellis Park and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, that he’s a high-class prospect. Pointed to the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes at Honest Grounds.
4. Citizen Bull
The champion 2-year-old male of 2024, when he received the American Pharoah Stakes Offered by DK Horse at Santa Anita Park and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, kicks off his 3-year-old marketing campaign Feb. 1 within the 1 1/16-mile Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. With simply 5 entrants, one in every of which, Valentines Sweet, seems badly outclassed, the race doesn’t have depth bettors prefer to see, however all three of the Bob Baffert trainees do seem of top of the range. Stablemates Madaket Highway and fellow Derby Dozen 3-year-old Rodriguez are worthy opponents, as is the speedy graded stakes winner Clock Tower.
5. Chancer McPatrick
Put up-Breeders’ Cup surgical procedure delayed a resumption of coaching, however he’s again breezing, notching a simple three-furlong transfer in :39 at Payson Park Jan. 26. Coach Chad Brown figures to amp up the colt’s coaching within the coming weeks as he zeros in on giving the 2024 Champagne Stakes and Hopeful Stakes winner two preps earlier than the Kentucky Derby. Ought to all go nicely, the March 8 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs and April 5 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland can be in his future as he seems to rebound from a disappointing sixth-place end within the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
6. Disco Time
To look merely on the clock after his victory within the Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes at Honest Grounds and see him timed in 1:47.07 wouldn’t do him justice. He had each proper to lose when he was shuffled again and fanned large nearing the stretch, but he discovered a approach to win within the slop. “I’m more than happy with the horse,” jockey Florent Geroux stated after Disco Time improved to 3-for-3. “I really feel like I gave some floor to the runner-up (Constructed) who had a bit little bit of a greater journey than mine, however my horse was capable of overcome it. He proved he was the very best horse in the present day.”
7. Journalism
After falling off the work tab after reportedly getting sick, the 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity winner breezed Jan. 23 with a half-mile in 49.80 at Santa Anita. Working comfortably, he appeared conscious of his rider when requested to quicken a contact over the ultimate furlong. Like most progeny of Curlin, he’s at his greatest over a route. The Michael McCarthy trainee is now 2-for-2 since being stretched out since a debut third when sprinting. Co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions lists the March 1 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita as this colt’s possible subsequent begin.
8. Sandman
Although this $1.2 million 2-year-old-in-training buy misplaced the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes, he’s the 3-year-old who opened probably the most eyes together with his efficiency. After breaking poorly and recognizing the sector a number of lengths, the Tapit colt recovered to threaten and completed second with a large journey, overwhelmed a size by frontrunning Velocity King. A pair hours after the race, Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse posted a image on X of Sandman’s awkward exit from the beginning gate and famous he’s “extraordinarily happy with him and enthusiastic about his future.” He isn’t alone.
9. Coal Battle
Already nicely regarded in his area, he was flattered when Velocity King, whom he had overwhelmed within the Remington Springboard Mile, dealt with a top quality subject within the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. Throw in that Coal Battle subsequently received the Jan. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes and is 4-for-4 on filth, and there may be a lot to love about this hard-trying 3-year-old. Two post-Smarty Jones works seem to depart him on track for the Feb. 22 Insurgent Stakes at Oaklawn.
10. Velocity King
He cracks the Dozen after main all through within the $1 million Southwest Stakes. He had his method up prime via the primary flip, with favorites Patch Adams and Gaming nowhere close to the lead after early bother, however after that stage, American Promise turned up the warmth and made him work. They opened up on these in pursuit, and whereas American Promise weakened from this exertion, Velocity King saved going and had a lot left previous the wire with a spirited gallop-out. Nonetheless, a number of Southwest rivals skilled troubled journeys behind him, notably Sandman.
11. Rodriguez
In turning heads in his maiden win, he zipped to the lead from his inside put up and left the opposition seven lengths behind to finish a mile in 1:35.91 after placing away his tempo strain. Entered in Saturday’s Robert B. Lewis, this time he’s drawn in the course of the five-horse subject, with frontrunning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-winning stablemate Citizen Bull to his inside and the fast Clock Tower to his outdoors. Absent scratches, the Robert B. Lewis ought to present barometer on his deserves from each a tempo and sophistication standpoint.
12. Grande
There was a lot to love about that Jan. 11 debut victory at Gulfstream Park – overcoming a sluggish begin and throwing down a really fast backstretch fraction going a mile – however he dips within the rankings because of inexperience and taking part in catchup with others from a seasoning perspective. He additionally has not breezed since his maiden win, which isn’t essentially a shock given how laborious he ran in his unveiling. A two-turn, 1 1/16-mile race would appear logical as a subsequent step for a colt with a really excessive ceiling.
