New York’s 2015 Kentucky Derby Contenders II (The Jerome)

 

With his victory in the Jerome (G3), El Kabeir lived up to his name, which loosely translates to “the boss”. The Zayat Stables runner moved to the top of the 2015 Kentucky Derby points list and he is now clearly the best 3-year-old in New York, that has raced recently. Trainer John Terranova is committed to keeping El Kabeir on the Derby trail at Aqueduct. If this son of Scat Daddy continues to strive, we should see him next in the Withers (G3) on Feb. 7.

There are two changes in my New York Contenders Top 10 list since last month. El Kabeir moved up one spot and Ocean Knight joined the list in the number seven spot. Ocean Knight had a very impressive maiden win at Aqueduct for Stonestreet Stables and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. McLaughlin-trainee Mawthooq dropped out of the Top 10 after a distant third place finish in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

1) Carpe Diem

2) Blofeld

3) Imperia

4) Competitve Edge

5) Frosted

6) El Kabeir

7) Ocean Knight

8) Upstart

9) Big Trouble

10) Classy Class

With the Derby now less than four months away, I am becoming concerned about a few of the Top 10 horses that have not registered a timed breeze recently. Carpe Diem, Blofeld, Daredevil, and Competitive Edge have not shown up on the workout tab at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher. The same can be said about Tony Dutrow’s Big Trouble.

In the horses to watch list below, I have updated the information for those that have had a race and I have added a line about whether the others are in training. All changes are noted in green.

Two maidens have been added to the list. Khozan is a regally bred son of Distorted Humor out of Delta Princess, who is the dam of Royal Delta and Crown Queen. He sold for $1,000,000 as a two-year-old and is now in the Pletcher barn. Royal Son is by Tiznow and he finished second at Saratoga twice for Pletcher.

El Kabeir (Scat Daddy)

OBSAug13 $250,000

6: 3-1-1 $388,892

Owner: Zayat Stables

Trainer: John Terranova

Jockey: C. C. Lopez/Calvin Borel/Irad Ortiz Jr.

1^st Kentucky Jockey Club – BSF 92

2^nd Nashua Stakes (G2) – BSF 84

4^th Champagne Stakes (G1) – BSF 74

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 93

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 74-1

 

 

Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway)

OBSMar14 $1,600,000

3: 2-1-0 $709,800

Owner: WinStar and Stonestreet

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

2^nd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 93

1^st Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) – BSF 91

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 84

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 15-1

International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus)

EASSept13 $85,000

5: 2-2-0 $200,579

Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Trainer: Michael Maker

Jockey: R. Hernandez/John Velazquez

4^th Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) –

9^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – BSF 74

1^st Grey (G3) – BSF 66

2^nd With Anticipation (G2) TURF – BSF 75

1^st MSW Saratoga TURF – BSF 73

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

Daredevil (More Than Ready)

KEESept13 $260,000

3: 2-0-0 $345,000

Owner: Lets Go Stable and WinStar

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Javier Castellano

11^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 57

1^st Champagne Stakes (G1) – BSF 107

1^st MSW Belmont Park – BSF 96

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 48-1

Leave the Light On (Horse Greeley)

OBSApril14 $210,000

3: 2-1-0 $285,375

Owner: Klaravick/Lawrence

Trainer: Chad Brown

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

1^st Remsen (G2) – BSF 90

1^st MSW Belmont Park – BSF 70

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

Mr. Z (Malibu Moon)

FTKOct13 $135,000

8: 1-4-1 $499,726

Owner: Zayat Stables

Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey: Mike Smith/Paco Lopez

3^rd Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) – BSF 91

2^nd Delta Jackpot (G2) – BSF 90

5^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 89

2^nd Breeders’ Futurity (G1) – BSF 80

2^nd Saratoga Special (G2) – BSF 79

2^nd Sanford (G2) – BSF 79

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 47-1

Upstart (Flatter)

SARAug13 $130,000

4: 2-1-1 $463,800

Owner: Ralph Evans

Trainer: Rick Violette

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

3^rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – BSF 92

2^nd Champage (G1) – BSF 102

1^st Funny Cide (NY) – BSF 95

1^st MSW (NY) Saratoga – BSF 85

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 53-1

Bold Conquest (Curlin)

4: 1-2-1 $138,576

Owner: Ackerley Bros.

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Rosie Napravnik

3^rd Breeders’ Futurity (G1)

2^nd Iroquois (G3)

1^st MSW Saratoga

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

Imperia (Medaglia d’Oro)

4: 1-2-0 $183,404

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Robby Albarado/Javier Castellano

2^nd Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) – BSF 92

10^th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – BSF 73

1^st Pilgrim (G3) TURF – BSF 82

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 27-1

Frosted (Tapit)

4: 1-3-0 $150,600

Owner: Godolphin

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

2^nd Remsen (G2)

1^st MSW Aqueduct – BSF 89

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 38-1

 

Classy Class (Discreetly Mine)

OBSMar14 $250,000

2: 1-0-0 $65,800

Owner: Cheyenne Stables

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

4^th Remsen (G2)

1^st MSW Belmont Park – BSF 88

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 99-1

Big Trouble (Tiz Wonderful)

2: 2-0-0 $235,000

Owner: Team D

Trainer: Tony Dutrow

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

1^st Sanford (G3)

1^st MSW Belmont Park

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

Blofeld (Quality Road)

FTFMar14 $225,000

3: 3-0-0 $319,800

Owner: Glencrest Farms

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st Nashua (G2) – BSF 93

1^st Belmont Futurity Stakes (G2) – BSF 94

1^st MSW Saratoga – BSF 88

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 40-1

Competitive Edge (Super Saver)

FTFMar14 $750,000

2: 2-0-0 $509,800

Owner: Favreau, Psoinos, Tabor

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

1^st Hopeful (G1) – BSF 90

1^st MSW Belmont Park – BSF 90

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 47-1

Eh Cumpari (Elusive Quality)

FTSAug13 $225,000

2: 1-1-0 $44,200

Owner: Anstu Stables

Trainer: Michael Dilger

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

9^th Remsen (G2)

1^st MSW Aqueduct – BSF 78

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

I Spent It (Super Saver)

FTFMar14 $600,000

4: 2-1-0 $345,000

Owner: Leiblong and Three Chimneys

Trainer: Tony Dutrow

Jockey: Jose Lezcano

6^th Champagne (G1) – BSF 59

2^nd Hopeful (G1) – BSF 78

1^st Saratoga Special (G2) – BSF 85

1^st MSW Belmont Park – BSF 75

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 99-1

Khozan (Distorted Humor-Delta Princess) NEW to the list

FTFMar14 $1,000,000 FTSAug13 $350,000

0: M-0-0 $0

Owner: Al Shaqab Racing

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

Mawthooq (Distorted Humor)

KEESept13 $850,000

3: 1-1-1 $60,600

Owner: Shadwell

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Cornelio Velasquez

1^st MSW Aqueduct – BSF 83

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

Ocean Knight (Curlin) NEW to the list

OBSMar14 $320,000

1: 1-0-0 $36,000

Owner: Stonestreet Stables

Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

1^st MSW Aqueduct – BSF 92

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5

Royal Son (Tiznow) NEW to the list

2: M-2-0 $36,200

Owner: WinStar

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

2^nd MSW Saratoga - BSF 69

2^nd MSW Saratoga - BSF 72

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: Mutuel Field 3-5