Kentucky Derby 2018 Scouting Report: Eastern Division II

There has been much written about the final time and fractions of the Jerome Stakes and the subsequent speed figures assigned to the winner, Firenze Fire, and close runner-up, Seven Trumpets. When I walked on the track after the race, the surface was wet, very thick and deep. It was the consistency of freshly mixed concrete; thick, dense, and heavy. Thus, it came as no surprise that the top two were tired nearing the end of the nine furlongs and that the time was slow.

I am not going to toss either of those Jerome runners out of consideration as the road to Kentucky Derby 2018 continues. Right now, Firenze Fire has 20 points and does not need many more to lock up a spot in the gate on the first Saturday in May.

• RELATED: Check out our Midwest and West Coast reports!

Below you will see that in the place of an Eastern Division Top 10 that the contenders are divided into categories based on their current position on the Derby trail. Please note that three of the most talented contenders from the Eastern Division in Good Magic, Engage and Montauk have not yet returned to the work tab. They appear in two of the categories.

The Leader

Good Magic**

First Tier (prep winners)

Firenze Fire

Enticed

Free Drop Billy

Catholic Boy

Second Tier (look like future prep winners)

Avery Island

Sporting Chance

Seven Trumpets

Copper Bullet

Mask

Engage

Tiz Mischief

Dak Attack

Ones to Watch (noteworthy maiden/allowance horses)

Noble Indy

Mississippi

Vino Rosso

Vouch

Marconi

Montauk

Navistar

Magnum Moon

Strike Power

Impact Player

On the Shelf (worth mentioning, but not working)

Montauk

Engage

Alkhaatam

Super Sermon

**Good Magic

As usual, the full list of contenders is in order of Derby qualifying points followed by money earned.

Good Magic (Curlin) KY

KEESEP16 $1,000,000

3: 1-2-0 $1,216,600

Owner: e Five Thoroughbreds and Stonestreet Farm

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

NEXT: (Fountain of Youth)

1^st Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 100

2^nd Champagne (G1) – BSF 89

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 82

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 11-1

24 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#1)

Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior) FLA

6: 4-0-0 $539,100

Owner: Mr. Amore Stable

Trainer: Jason Servis

Jockey: Irad Ortiz

NEXT: (Gotham)

1^st Jerome – BSF 85

7^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 67

1^st Champagne (G1) – BSF 90

4^th Hopeful (G1) – BSF 77

1^st Sanford (G3) – BSF 79

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 69

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 49-1

20 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#2)

Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro) KY

3: 2-0-1 $213,880

Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Junior Alvarado

NEXT: (Holy Bull)

1^st Kentucky Jockey Club – BSF 81

3^rd Champagne (G1) – BSF 84

1^st MSW Saratoga - BSF 67

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 29-1

12 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#7)

Free Drop Billy (Union Rags) KY

5: 2-2-0 $428,020

Owner: Albaugh Family Stable

Trainer: Dale Romans

Jockey: Robby Albarado

9^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – BSF 53

1^st Breeders’ Futurity (G1) – BSF 79

2^nd Hopeful (G1) – BSF 85

2^nd Sanford (G3) – BSF 76

1^st MSW Churchill Downs – BSF 64

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 33-1

10 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#8)

Catholic Boy (More Than Ready) KY

4: 3-0-0 $314,000

Owner: Robert La Penta

Trainer: Jonathan Thomas

Jockey: Manny Franco

NEXT: (Sam F. Davis)

1^st Remsen (G2) – BSF 91

4^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile TURF – BSF 83

1^st With Anticipation (G3) TURF – BSF 76

1^st MSW Gulfstream TURF – BSF 63

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

10 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#10)

Avery Island (Street Sense) KY

4: 2-1-0 $215,332

Owner: Godolphin Racing LLC

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Joe Bravo

NEXT: (Withers)

2^nd Remsen (G2) – BSF 84

1^st Nashua (G2) – BSF 80

1^st MSW Belmont Park - BSF 79

7^th MSW Saratoga – BSF 51

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 29-1

4 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#14)

Seven Trumpets (Morning Line) KY

KEESEP16 $45,000 OBSAPR17 $205,000

4: 2-1-0 $104,400

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Dale Romans

Jockey: Robbie Albarado

2^nd Jerome – BSF 84

1^st Allowance Churchill Downs – BSF 79

1^st MSW Churchill Downs - BSF 76

5^th MSW Ellis Park – BSF 19

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

4 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#19)

Tiz Mischief (Into Mischief) KY

KEESEP16 $55,000

4: 1-2-0 $88,000

Owner: Frank Jones Jr.

Trainer: Dale Romans

Jockey: Robby Albarado

NEXT: (Holy Bull)

2^nd Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) – BSF 81

1^st Keeneland – BSF 78

2^nd MSW Churchill Downs – BSF 82

4^th MSW Ellis Park – BSF 55

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 40-1

4 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#18)

Coltandmississippi (Pioneerof the Nile) KY

KEENOV15 $400,000

5: 2-0-1 $90,637

Owner: Teresa Viola Racing Stable and St. Elias

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

3^rd Jerome – BSF 81

5^th Smooth Air Gulfstream – BSF 65

1^st Allowance Gulfstream Park West – BSF 73

10^th Sapling Monmouth Park – BSF 40

1^st MSW Saratoga - BSF 60

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

2 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#28)

Vouch (Yes It’s True) KY

KEENOV15 $230,000

2: 1-0-1 $47,800

Owner: Lael Stables and Three Chimneys farm

Trainer: Arnaud Delacour

Jockey: Joel Rosario

3^rd Remsen (G2) – BSF 81

1^st MSW Laurel Park - BSF 72

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

2 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#27)

Kowboy Karma (Kodiak Kowboy) KY

6: 2-2-0 $114,400

Owner: Larry and Cindy Jones

Trainer: Larry Jones

Jockey: A. Cintron

5^th Lecomte (G3) – BSF 79

2^nd James F. Lewis – BSF 77

4^th Champagne (G1) – BSF 84

2^nd Sapling – BSF 71

1^st Strike Your Colors – BSF 74

1^st MSW Delaware Park - BSF 84

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

1 Road to Kentucky Derby Points (#31)

Sporting Chance (Tiznow) KY

KEESEP15 $275,000

KEESEP16 $575,000

3: 2-1-0 $269,140

Owner: Robert Baker and William Mack

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Luis Saez

NEXT: (Southwest)

1^st Hopeful - Saratoga (G1) – BSF 86

1^st MSW Saratoga - BSF 84

2^nd MSW Churchill Downs – BSF 67

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 56-1

Copper Bullet (More Than Ready) KY

4: 2-2-0 $177,800

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Irad Ortiz

NEXT: (Rebel)

1^st Saratoga Special (G2) – BSF 77

2^nd Bashford Manor (G3) – BSF 78

1^st MSW Churchill Downs – BSF 75

2^nd MSW Keeneland - BSF

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 45-1

Engage (Into Mischief) KY

OBSMAR17 $550,000

3: 2-1-0 $156,400

Owner: Woodford Racing

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

1^st Futurity - Belmont Park (G3) – BSF 84

1^st MSW Saratoga - BSF 81

2^nd MSW Saratoga – BSF 78

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 56-1

Bal Harbour (First Samurai) KY

7: 3-2-0 $145,675

Owner: Red Oak Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

2^nd Mucho Macho Man – BSF 81

1^st Smooth Air – BSF 81

1^st Sapling – BSF 73

4^th Saratoga Special (G2) – BSF 64

5^th Sanford (G3) – BSF 62

1^st MSW Gulfstream Park - BSF NA

2^nd MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF NA

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Mask (Tapit) KY

KEESEP16 $685,000

2: 2-0-0 $105,760

Owner: Lanes End Racing

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Javier Castellano

NEXT: (Risen Star)

1^st Mucho Macho Man – BSF 91

1^st MSW Belmont Park – BSF 88

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 47-1

Super Sermon (Super Saver) KY

3: 1-1-1 $93,300

Owner: WinStar Farm LLC

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2^nd Nashua (G2) – BSF 72

1^st MSW Belmont Park - BSF 73

3^rd MSW Saratoga – BSF 30

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Dak Attack (Ghostzapper) KY

KEESEP16 $625,000

2: 2-0-1 $81,530

Owner: Albaugh Family Stable

Trainer: Dale Romans

Jockey: Robby Albarado

3^rd Mucho Macho Man – BSF 76

1^st Ellis Park Juvenile – BSF 77

1^st MSW Churchill Downs – BSF 70

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 37-1

Impact Player (City Zip) KY

OBSAPR17 $350,000

5: 2-1-0 $74,200

Owner: NK Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Jon Velazquez

1^st Allowance Gulfstream Park – BSF

1^st MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF 91

5^th MSW Belmont Park – BSF 70

4^th MSW Belmont Park – BSF 53

2^nd MSW Saratoga – BSF 79

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) KY

2: 2-0-0 $51,600

Owner: WinStar Farms LLC and Repole Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

1^st Allowance Gulfstream Park – BSF 88

1^st MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF 77 (by 8 ¾ lengths)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Mississippi (Pioneerof the Nile) KY

FTFMAR17 $700,000

3: 1-1-0 $48,490

Owner: Magnier, Tabor, and Smith and Oxley

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Julien Leparoux

2^nd Allowance Gulfstream – BSF 87

1^st MSW Churchill – BSF 76

4^th MSW Keeneland - BSF 66

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Vino Rosso (Curlin) KY

KEESEP16 $410,000

2: 2-0-0 $48,000

Owner: Repole and St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st Allowance Tampa Bay Downs – BSF 69

1^st MSW Aqueduct - BSF 80

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Marconi (Tapit) KY

KEESEP16 $2,000,000

2: 1-1-0 $48,000

Owner: Tabor, Magnier, Smith, and Bridlewood Farm

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st MSW Aqueduct (B on) – BSF 74

2^nd MSW Aqueduct (1 1/8 mi) – BSF 70

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

(1/2 Mucho Macho Man)

Montauk (Medaglia d’Oro) KY

OBSAPR17 $850,000

1: 1-0-0 $45,000

Owner: LaPenta, Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Twin Creeks Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st MSW Belmont Park - BSF 87 (11 ¼ lengths)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – 17-1

Navistar (Union Rags) KY

OBSMAR17 $900,000

2: 1-1-0 $40,200

Owner: Robert LaPenta

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF 79

2^nd MSW Belmont Park (2^nd to Mask) – BSF 81

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) KY

KEESEP16 $380,000

1: 1-0-0 $25,800

Owner: Robert and Lawanna Low

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Luis Saez

1^st MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF 94

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5

Strike Power (Speightstown) KY

1: 1-0-0 $25,200

Owner: Courtlandt Farm

Trainer: Mark Hennig

Jockey: Luis Saez

NEXT: (Swale)

1st MSW Gulfstream Park – BSF 102 (by 8 lengths)

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1 – mutuel field 6-5