Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: 'Right there’ with Game Winner

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

The lion’s share of No. 1 votes in this week’s first edition of the Kentucky Derby Media Poll assembled by Horse Racing Nation went to a trio of colts with clear cases for the top spot. But there seemed an interesting dynamic at work with the leader.

Game Winner, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile hero, champion and Bob Baffert trainee received 19 of 31 first-place nods. Still, few voters discussed him in comments provided with their ballots, and the ones who did expressed a wait-and-see attitude for a horse that has been dominant in his four previous starts, three of them Grade 1 wins.

“At this point, I'm not going to have anyone other than Game Winner on top,” said SportsLine’s Jody Demling, “but there's some real intrigue on the Derby trail this spring. Looks to me like there could be three or four others right there.”

Every time we see video of a new work by the son of Candy Ride, that sentiment seems to grow. On Monday, Game Winner breezed six furlongs from the gate in 1:13.60 at Santa Anita Park. On Tuesday, XBTV published that drill in company with older horse Dr. Dorr.

You be the judge.

Improbable ranked next with five first-place votes in the Kentucky Derby Media Poll, with TVG’s Megan Devine among those backing Game Winner’s Baffert stablemate.

“Tough to look past Improbable, who has a massive stride, floats over the ground and has passed every test they have given him,” Devine said.

War of Will held the No. 1 spot on three more ballots.

“Right now I am all in on War of Will, which started with his win in the Lecomte,” said TVG’s Scott Hazelton. “He has been so professional with his high cruising speed and he doesn't miss a beat.”

That trio was also 1-2-3 overall. Others farther down the list also received top votes with all but one of the major preps ahead of us.

The Southern California News Group’s Art Wilson and Joe Kristufek, Churchill Downs analyst, both voted Instagrand first. He ranked sixth on the consensus list.

“We haven't seen him since August and he's yet to be tested over a route of ground, but Instagrand could be a freak,” Kristufek said, “so at this stage, he's still my No. 1 prospect.” 

Mike Shutty, author of Horse Racing Nation’s Super Screener handicapping system, slotted recent Risen Star runner-up Country House at No. 1. He was eighth overall.

“Country House clearly needs to mature and run more professionally, but this colt is just loaded with talent and has the energy distribution profile — assuming he learns to break — that wins the Kentucky Derby,” Shutty said.

Brisnet’s Ed DeRosa has Galilean, last week’s California Cup Derby winner, atop his current list, with that colt ninth on the consensus list.

“Still waiting to be wowed,” DeRosa said, “so I’m in the meantime going against the grain with a No. 1 who could wow when he steps into the graded stakes ranks. From a most likely winner standpoint, though, it's Baffert's pair and everyone else.” 

More of the works

With Game Winner, Improbable and Instagrand each preparing for the March 9 San Felipe Stakes (G2), more looks at Monday’s penultimate breezes, usually the most serious works leading up to a race…

Improbable went the six furlongs in a bullet 1:12.00, diving through some traffic in the late. He did not have company.

Also drilling solo, Instagrand clocked seven furlongs — longer than his two career races — in 1:26.60.

Derby links

• BloodHorse’s Steve Haskin revealed in his latest “Derby Dozen” that impressive maiden winner Omaha Beach, originally pointed to the San Felipe, is dealing with a quarter crack that calls his status into question for that race.

• Big on speed figures? TimeformUS’ Craig Milkowski lists the fastest 3-year-olds to date in a new Horse Race Insider column.

• Mike Curry, for America’s Best Racing, gives Southwest Stakes (G3) winner Super Steed higher marks than most, calling him “a serious threat” when the Derby trail picks back up at Oaklawn Park.