20 Potential Kentucky Derby Horses
This is my favorite time of year, the country’s top three-year-olds are vying for a chance to run in the 2017 Kentucky Derby. My favorite part of horse racing is trying to pick out a young star with hopes he makes it in the starting gates on the first Saturday in May. Yesterday kicked off the 2017 road to the Kentucky Derby with the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct. El Areeb won in dominating fashion, and I was glad to see so; since the son of Exchange Rate was already on my Derby list.
Here is a list of twenty horses, in no particular order, who I think everyone should add to their lists, virtual stables, etc. They are all talented, and I hope I have a winner in here somewhere, and I hope most of these horses make it to the Kentucky Derby safe and sound!
Classic Empire- At this point in time, I believe Classic Empire is the total package. He’s by Pioneerof The Nile, who is the sire of 2015 Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah. His grandsire on his dam’s side, Cat Thief, won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at age three. It’s clear that distance should be no problem. He’s very developed for a young horse, and seems to really be coming together mentally. He’s a nice mover. I like his running style will be very beneficial for the Derby, he can settle in and rate, and definitely does better stalking the pace and focusing on a target. He showed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile that he can prevail in a dog fight. He showed a lot of class and heart to keep Not This Time at bay to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His connections are the icing on the cake. I am a big fan of the Casse stable, and it’s a winning combination with Leparoux.
McCraken- McCraken is a very cool horse by Ghostzapper, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2004. McCraken won the Street Sense Stakes and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. His running style is very unhurried early, laying off the pace making a strong late run. This type of running style could be very beneficial in the Derby if there is a lot of speed and he can stay out of traffic. In the Jockey Club Stakes, he was ten lengths off the pace, sitting chilly early on. He came on in the stretch with a very strong rally from behind. He showed a lot of heart to pull away and win by a length, he’s a gritty racehorse. He galloped out strong, and I think he will like longer distances. McCraken is trained by Ian Wilkes, as was McCraken’s dam, which is pretty cool too.
Mastery- Mastery, a colt by Candy Ride and trained by Bob Baffert has been getting a lot of hype lately. He’s a late colt, born May 3, which means as talented as he already is, hopefully with maturity he will get even better. He is the winner of the Bob Hope Stakes and the CashCall Futurity. The CashCall Futurity win had some people degrading his win, as the field was not overly strong; but nonetheless he still won easily by five lengths, even while acting a little green. He is a stalker as he showed in the CashCall; he pressed the leader closely on the outside setting honest fractions and pulled away easily to win.
Klimt- Klimt is an interesting colt, the son of Quality Road was just recently transferred to the barn of Art Sherman after Shah and Baffert decided to part ways. I think this will be very interesting and beneficial to Klimt. Baffert is fantastic, but if he has to be anywhere else, Art Sherman is definitely one of my top choices. In a small barn without a lot super stars, he will get the attention he deserves and thrive. Klimt can also settle and rate, and puts in a much better run when he has the chance to look someone in the eye. He’s a fighter. His sire won at classic distances, so he should possess the same quality. His finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was disappointing, but not all two-year-olds have it together yet, so I am still confident in his chances. He was five wide and lacked a response in the stretch. Under the careful eye of Art Sherman, I am sure his next trip out will be a good one. He’s been training well, most recently going four furlongs on December 28, in 47.40, ranking 9/64 at that distance.
Beach Bum- Beach Bum is a very striking colt by the very influential sire Arch, who I was a huge fan of. He only has a maiden win under his belt, but he looks very promising. Beach Bum’s dam Chili Cat is a half-sister to Point of Entry winner of the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap and a full sister to Pine Island, winner of the Alabama Stakes in 2006. He certainly has pedigree on his side. In Beach Bum’s maiden win at Santa Anita, he stalked a fast pace, pulled away at the top of the stretch to win impressively by 6. He has a big stride, and was very professional in his first time out. He galloped out well, and looks like he could do well with more distance. Baffert has a strong hand of contenders this year.
Gunnevera- Gunnevera is a very talented colt, by the hot up and coming sire Dialed In. He won the Saratoga Special Stakes, was fifth in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity behind Classic Empire, and also won the Delta Downs Jackpot. He was very impressive early on at Saratoga, he was ten lengths behind, and on the turn for home he was wide on the outside and got up late to edge past Recruiting Ready. Javier rode him very well and his stride lengthened in the stretch, a very important and nice quality to winning big races at classic distances. He galloped out well, and should do well at longer distances. He then lacked a response in the Breeders' Futurity, but I am willing to write that one off, because he came back strong in the Delta Downs Jackpot to win impressively. He sat at the back of the field, and about three quarters of the way through the race he really turned it on. He took the lead in the stretch and pulled away strongly to win.
Mo Town- Mo Town is by popular sire Uncle Mo, and out of a Bernardini mare. He is well bred and looks like he has the talent to match it. He won the Remsen Stakes November 26 at Aqueduct. Takaful opened up fast on the field to take the lead by a few lengths. Mo Town was fourth stalking the pace, and gradually moved closer to the leaders, set sights on Takaful and hooked up with him in the stretch, but Mo Town easily put Takaful away.
Practical Joke- Practical Joke is an honest and gritty racehorse. He showed his heart and class beating Syndergaard in the Champagne stakes at Belmont this fall. He is also the winner of the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga. He put in another gritty run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after being jostled at the start and not having the best of trips. He is a classy horse who will do well in his three year old year. He is by hot sire Into Mischief, and trained by red hot trainer Chad Brown. He has an ideal running style and puts in a strong run coming off the pace.
Lookin at Lee- Lookin at Lee is another consistent gritty horse. He never runs a bad race and always puts forth a strong effort. He ran second to Classic Empire in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, with a very strong late kick. He ran fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but will only move forward off of his efforts. He has an ideal running style for the Derby, he has an explosive late kick and could pick up all the front runners if they start to tire. He’s training well, and I think he is going to have a strong year.
American Anthem- American Anthem is another nice Baffert Horse, by the young ex Baffert trainee, Bodemeister. He broke his maiden at Del Mar on December 3. He stalked the pace, and opens up to get up late and catch a tiring Little Juanito. He acted a little green drifting in the stretch, but showed he possesses raw talent. He galloped out well and I think he has a lot of promise. He’s been training well, recently going six furlongs in 1:13.40 at Santa Anita, ranking 6/28. He is possible for the Sham Stakes.
Three Rules- Three Rules is a very fast colt by Gone Astray. He was sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after weakening in the stretch. He had won a lot of stakes races prior to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but none of them being graded stakes which lacked strong competition. He’s still a nice, speedy colt, who is training well. I hope he improves in his three year old year.
Theory- Theory was a disappointing tenth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after appearing to tire in the stretch. Theory is by Gemologist, who has a lot of classic influence on his side. Gemologist’s sire Tiznow won the Breeders' Cup Classic twice. Theory was very inexperienced coming into the Juvenile, and I think a hard race was a necessary learning experience for him. He is a late colt, born on May 12, so he has some catching up and maturing to do. He has an ideal running style as well for the Derby, as he likes to stalk the pace.
Hemsworth- Hemsworth is by Bernardini and trained by Thomas Albertrani. He won the Nashau Stakes at Aqueduct on November 4. Breaking his maiden in a stakes race is impressive. He went out to get the early lead, setting honest fractions. He pulled away around the turn for home to win by nine. His team is very confident in his chances and noted he is still green but learning more and more with each experience, and they have high hopes for him. I think he has a good mind and will be able to settle and rate his speed. Distance should suit him well.
Gormley- Gormley is an intriguing horse, trained by John Shireffs, known best for training the great Zenyatta. He would not have run Gormley in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile if he didn’t think he belonged there. Gormley bobbled at the start and flattened out around the quarter pole. He likes to go to the lead, he is very fast and could be dangerous on the lead if others allow him to open up on them. With longer distances, I would like to see him settle and learn how to rate. Gormley is possible for the Sham Stakes.
Irish War Cry- Irish War Cry, a colt by Curlin is getting a lot of hype after winning this weekend at Laurel in the Marylander Stakes. He’s trained by the patient Graham Motion who is based at Fair Hill, which is relaxing and laid back, so that is certainly a plus for a three year old’s career. Irish War Cry was rank at the start of the Marylander Stakes, he set the pace and dueled down the stretch under a strong left handed ride to hold on for a win. He is a resilient horse and will get better with more experience as he learns to relax.
Dangerfield- Dangerfield is a horse who is definitely flying under the radar, but I really like this Into Mischief colt. He broke his maiden in his fourth try in the Oak Tree Juvenile Stakes. He was third in the Delta Downs Jackpot, and third in the CashCall Futurity. He likes to lay off the pace, but he has not quite put it together yet how to be successful. He’s very consistent and I think he needs to find some confidence to improve. I think he would also do a little better by running a little closer to the pace as he did in his maiden race where he was prompting the pace and drew clear to win in the stretch. He’s training well, recently going four furlongs in 47.60, ranking 9/110 at that distance.
Royal Mo- Royal Mo is another impressive colt in John Shireffs barn. He broke his maiden at Del Mar on November 27. He sped to the lead, led the whole race, and kicked away in the stretch and held on to win under urging. I think he is talented and will do better as he matures and learns to relax in races.
No Dozing- No Dozing is a nice colt by Union Rags. He was fourth in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, and second in the Remsen. He was bumped at the start in the Breeders’ Futurity, and flatted in the stretch. In the Remsen Stakes, he was seventh early on, laying off the pace. He made a run on the outside, lengthening his stride, and gaining ground on Mo Town. I think he will like longer distances and do very well.
El Areeb- El Areeb passed the test of trying two turns for the first time with flying colors. He previously won the James F Lewis Stakes at Laurel impressively, leading the race and kicking away in the stretch. In the Jerome Stakes today at Aqueduct, he skipped over a muddy track to win by an outstanding eleven lengths. El Areeb stalked the speedy Takaful, but as Takaful began to give way, El Areeb took the lead and began opening up on the field. He certainly looks like a promising colt.
Win With Pride- Win With Pride is a Distorted Humor colt out of an A.P. Indy mare. He was fourth in the Remsen Stakes and flattened out in the stretch. He was also fourth today in the Jerome Stakes. I don’t think he handled the muddy track very well, especially after being bumped at the start. He impressed me in his maiden win, and I am not counting him out just yet.