Kentucky Derby 2017: New York’s Contenders III (The Withers)

With his victory in the Withers, El Areeb stamped himself as a legitimate 2017 Kentucky Derby Contender. In each of his four consecutive wins, the Cathal Lynch trainee has gotten better. His last three stakes triumphs have had BSFs in the 90s. The son of Exchange Rate has not shown any stamina issues going a distance of ground. His early starts were from the front end, but his two Derby Trail victories have come from a stalking position where he has shown the ability to relax behind the early pace and then release an impressive turn of foot. This gray three-year-old can run well on wet and dry tracks and with six career starts has more experience than many other Derby contenders.

In the post-race interview with Lynch he was leaning towards skipping the Gotham to make the Wood Memorial on April 9 his final prep race for the Run for the Roses.

The New York Top 10

1) El Areeb

2) Classic Empire

3) Gunnevera

4) Practical Joke

5) Mo Town

6) Battalion Runner

7) No Dozing

8) Good Samaritan

9) Tapwrit

10) Faja, Action Everyday, Malagacy

A Look at the Pletcher Barn

Just before the Withers was run on Saturday, a friend in the Todd Pletcher barn said that they expect to have their usual two to four horses in this year’s Kentucky Derby field. Thus, it is a good time to take at look at the long list of Pletcher Derby contenders. Several of them have only one or two starts under their belts and will have to prove themselves quickly in the Derby qualifying races with some running away from the friendly confines of Gulfstream Park. The Pletcher training style, which tends to promote speed, is very well suited to early success at Gulfstream.

•Bonus Points has five Kentucky Derby points from finishes in the Jerome and the Withers.

•Syndergaard just left the farm to return to serious training after a workout at Stonestreet Farm and that means he is on a very tight schedule to add to his four points.

•Win With Pride has two Derby points after two fourth place finishes. He has been breezing on a weekly basis at Belmont Park.

•Sonic Mule has seven career starts and most recently ran third in the Swale at Gulfstream. This one is probably more of a sprinter.

•Theory has been training regularly at Pletcher’s Florida base at Palm Beach Downs for his 2017 debut. Showed talent last year, but disappointed in the BC Juvenile.

•Fact Finding heads into the Sam F. Davis with a perfect record with three wins at three different tracks. Seeking his first Derby points in a pretty tough field.

•Battalion Runner has two very impressive victories at Gulfstream both of which earned BSFs in the 90s. He will need to gather points in his next start or two.

•Always Dreaming returned to break his maiden by 11 lengths at Tampa Bay Downs while going two turns.

•Action Everyday has won both career starts this year at Tampa including an allowance race going two turns.

•Tapwrit is a regally bred (Tapit-Appealing Zophie) $1,200,000 purchase and a stakes winner as a juvenile. He has been training steadily at Palm Beach Downs. Faces a challenge and his stablemate in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa on Saturday.

•Malagacy broke his maiden at Gulfstream last month by 15 lengths earning at BSF of 89.

•Faja broke his maiden going a mile at Gulfstream. That win was impressive enough to get him listed in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2 where closed at odds of 56-1 (16^th choice).

•Third Day just recently won a restricted stakes at Gulfstream going a mile while earning a BSF of 88. His only other race was his maiden victory at Monmouth Park.

Current Contenders List

The Contenders list below is divided into three groups. The first has horses arranged in order based on the total Derby qualifying points earned and all of the Derby point winners are included. The second group is stakes winners that have no Derby points and the final section lists horses with at least one victory, but non-stakes winners.

Derby Point Winners

Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile) KY

KEESEP15 $475,000

6: 4-0-1 $1,520,220 

Owner: John Oxley

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Julien Leparoux

3^rd Holy Bull (G2) – BSF 83

1^st Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – BSF 102

1^st Breeders’ Futurity (G1) – BSF 88

DNF Hopeful (G1) - DNF

1^st Bashford Manor (G3) – BSF 87

1^st MSW Churchill Downs – BSF 55

32 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#1)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 6-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 5-1

NEXT: Fountain of Youth (G2) - March 4

El Areeb (Exchange Rate) KY

OBSAPR16 $340,000

6: 4-1-0 $334,200 

Owner: M G M Stables

Trainer: Cathal Lynch

Jockey: Trevor McCarthy

1^st Withers (G3) – BSF 92

1^st Jerome (G3) – BSF 91

1^st JF Lewis – BSF 94

1^st MSW – Laurel – BSF 82

2^nd MSW – Laurel – BSF 49

4^th MSW – Parx – BSF 43

20 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#2)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 32-1

NEXT: Wood Memorial (G2) - April 8

Gunnevera (Uncle Mo) KY

KEESEP15 $16,000

7: 3-2-0 $839,600 

Owner: Peacock Racing Stables

Trainer: Antonio Sano

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2^nd Holy Bull (G2) – BSF 91

1^st Delta Jackpot (G3) – BSF 87

5^th Breeders’ Futurity (G1) – BSF 76

1^st Saratoga Special (G2) – BSF 84

1^st MSW Gulfstream – BSF 56

4^th Birdonthewire – BSF 59

2^nd MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF 65                                                    

14 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#4)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 22-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 24-1

Practical Joke (Into Mischief) KY

KEESEP15 $240,000

4: 3-1-0 $739,800 

Owner: Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Joel Rosario

3^rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 90

1^st Champagne (G1) – BSF 88

1^st Hopeful (G1) – BSF 85

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 83

14 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#5)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 26-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 20-1

Mo Town (Uncle Mo) KY

KEESEP15 $200,000

3: 2-1-0 $243,600 

Owner: Team D and Magnier, Tabor, Smith

Trainer: Anthony Dutrow

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st Remsen (G2) – BSF 86

1^st MSW Belmont Park - BSF 84                                                           

2^nd MSW Saratoga – BSF 76

10 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#10)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 12-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 15-1

NEXT: Gotham (G3) – March 4, 2017

True Timber (Mineshaft) KY

KEENOV14 $170,000

4: 1-1-1 $102,800

Owner: Calumet Farm

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche

2^nd Withers (G3) – BSF 85

3^rd Jerome (G3) – BSF 72

1^st MSW Aqueduct – BSF 70                              

5^th MSW Aqueduct – BSF 61

6 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#16)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

No Dozing (Union Rags) KY

4: 2-1-0 $129,340 

Owner: Lael Stables

Trainer: Arnaud Delacour

Jockey: Daniel Centeno

2^nd Remsen (G2) – BSF 82

4^th Breeders’ Futurity (G1) – BSF 81

1^st AlwOC50 Laurel – BSF 69

1^st MSW Delaware Park – BSF 72

5 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#17)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 40-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 38-1

NEXT: Sam F. Davis (G3) – Feb. 11

Bonus Points (Majestic Warrior) MD

EASOCT15 $35,000

7: 1-2-2 $129,150 

Owner: Three Diamonds

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Manny Franco

4^th Withers (G3) – BSF 80

2^nd Jerome (G3) – BSF 73

2^nd Maryland Juvenile Futurity (MD) – BSF 71

3^rd Awad Belmont – BSF 62

1^st MSW Belmont – BSF 73

4^th MSW Saratoga TURF – BSF 58

5 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#18)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Syndergaard (Majesticperfection) KY

OBSAPR16 $450,000

4: 2-1-0 $323,800 

Owner: Eric Fein and others

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

5^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 81

2^nd Champagne (G1) – BSF 88

1^st Funny Cide (NY) – BSF 90

1^st MSW (NY) Saratoga – BSF 86

4 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#22)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 43-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

J Boys Echo (Mineshaft) KY

KEESEP15 $485,000

4: 1-1-1 $119,600

Trainer: Dale Romans

Jockey: Robby Albarado

3^rd Withers (G3) – BSF 84

4^th Delta Jackpot (G3) – BSF 70

1^st MSW – Keeneland – BSF 75

2^nd MSW – Churchill Downs – BSF 61

3 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#26)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Favorable Outcome (Flatter) KY

OBSAPR16 $300,000

4: 2-0-1 $222,560 

Owner: Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Irad Ortiz

1^st Swale (G2) – BSF 94

13^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile TURF – BSF 74

3^rd Champagne (G1) – BSF 78

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 88

2 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

NOT ON DERBY TRAIL

Takaful (Bernardini) KY

3: 1-0-1 $76,500 

Owner: Shadwell Stable

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

7^th Jerome (G3) – BSF 29

3^rd Remsen (G2) – BSF 77

1^st MSW Aqueduct – BSF 92

2 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#30)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 37-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Win With Pride (Distorted Humor)

KEESEP15 $450,000

4: 1-0-1 $60,000

Owner: Repole and St. Elias

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Irad Ortiz

4^th Jerome (G3) – BSF 70

4^th Remsen (G2) – BSF 77

1^st MSW Parx – BSF 61

3^rd MSW Belmont – BSF 54

2 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#31)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Stakes Winners with No Derby Points

Good Samaritan (Harlan’s Holiday) KY

3: 2-0-1 $230,616 

Owner: WinStar, SF Bloodstock, and China Horse Club

Trainer: Bill Mott

Jockey: Joel Rosario

3^rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile TURF – BSF 91

1^st Summer Stakes (G2) TURF – BSF 94

1^st MSW Saratoga TURF – BSF 79

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Sonic Mule (Distorted Humor) KY

KEESEP15 $175,000

7: 4-1-2 $186,455 

Owner: Calumet Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

3^rd Swale (G2) – BSF 86

1^st Mucho Macho Man, Gulfstream – BSF 83

1^st Buffalo Man, Gulfstream – BSF 75

1^st Allowance, GPW – BSF 70

2^nd Armed Forces (TURF) – BSF 62

3^rd Sapling, Monmouth Park – BSF 62

3^rd Saratoga Special – BSF 45

1^st MSW, MTH – BSF 73

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 80-1

Theory (Gemologist) KY

KEESEP15 $120,000

OBSAPR16 $335,000

3: 2-0-0 $170,145 

Owner: WinStar and China Horse Club

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

10^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – BSF 69

1^st Futurity (G3) – BSF 85

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 85

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Hemsworth (Bernardini) KY

4: 1-0-0 $129,900 

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Tom Albertrani

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

DNF Mucho Macho Man Gulfstream – BSF 0

1^st Nashua (G2) – BSF 83

4^th MSW Belmont Park – BSF 67

4^th MSW Saratoga – BSF 62

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 80-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Fact Finding (The Factor) KY

KEESEP15 $100,000

3: 3-0-0 $132,570 

Owner: Tabor, Magnier, Smith, Stonestreet

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st Smooth Air Gulfstream – BSF 80

1^st Allowance N2L Keeneland – BSF 76

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 75

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 74-1

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 39-1

NEXT: Sam F. Davis (G3) – Feb. 11

Tapwrit (Tapit)

FTSAUG15 $1,200,000

3: 2-0-0 $63,902 

Owner: Bridlewood, Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Robert LaPenta

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Eddie Castro

1^st Pulpit Gulfstream Park – BSF 80

1^st MSW Gulfstream Park West – BSF 70

10^th MSW Saratoga – BSF 36

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

NEXT: Sam F. Davis (G3) – Feb. 11

Third Day (Bernardini) KY

KEESEP15 $150,000

OBSMAR16 $575,000

2: 2-0-0 $62,850

Owner: Spendthrift, Town and Country

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st Just One More – 1 mile - Gulfstream – BSF 88

1^st MSW Monmouth Park – BSF 71

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Non-Stakes Winners

Battalion Runner (Unbridled’s Song) KY

KEESEP15 $700,000

3: 2-1-0 $60,600

Owner: St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st Allowance Gulfstream – BSF 91

1^st MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF 96

2^nd MSW Belmont Park – BSF 76

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 22-1

Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) KY

KEESEP15 $350,000

3: 1-1-1 $35,900

Owner: St. Elias Stable, Viola Racing, MeB Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st MSW Tampa Bay (1 mi. 40) by 11 lengths – BSF 85

2^nd MSW Saratoga – BSF 88

3^rd MSW Belmont Park – BSF 59

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Action Everyday (The Factor) KY

EASMAY16 $400,000

2: 2-0-0 $23,400

Owner: St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Jesus Castanon

1^st Allowance – Tampa Bay (1 mile 40) – BSF 82

1^st MSW Tampa Bay (7F) – BSF 82

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Malagacy (Shackleford) KY

KEENOV14 $45,000

OBSAUG15 $130,000

EASMay16 $190,000

1: 1-0-0 $22,800

Owner: Sumaya US Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

1^st MSW Gulfstream (by 15 lengths) – BSF 89

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: Mutuel Field 5-2

Faja (Bodemeister) KY

1: 1-0-0 $21,600

Owner: Harrell Ventures LLC

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

1^st MSW Gulfstream (1 mile) – BSF 80

0 Road to Kentucky Derby Points

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 6/5

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 56-1