Top 10 Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders

Classic Empire- As of right now, I think Classic Empire is the ultimate contender for the 2017 Kentucky Derby. He's demonstrated nothing but class and raw talent; even if he was nicknamed racing’s bad boy after dumping Irad Ortiz at the start of the Hopeful Stakes in Saratoga. He has been professional ever since the addition of blinkers and the patience and talent of the Casse Team. He has a very beneficial running style for the Kentucky Derby, because he can settle in anywhere and rate. He can be on or off the pace. His win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was very impressive against a deep field. He has been working very well, most recently at Palm Meadows, breezing from the gate, covering five furlongs in 1:00.75. His team is very confident in him, and I am so eager to see him debut in the Holy Bull Stakes. He is bred the part as well, he’s by Pioneerofthenile, most well-known for siring Triple Crown winner American Pharoah; and his broodmare sire is Cat Thief, winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic at age three.

McCraken- McCraken is a very exciting colt by Ghostzapper, winner of the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic. McCraken has a very ideal running style for the Kentucky Derby. He likes to be well off the pace early on and make a strong late run. He has an extraordinary turn of foot. I think he will excel at classic distances. He’s training very well, and just fired a bullet today at Palm Meadows, going five furlongs in 1:00.45. Ian Wilkes is very high on this horse, and I am looking forward to his debut in the Sam F Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February 11.

Gunnevera- Gunnevera is by the hot up and coming sire Dialed In, who is proving his offspring are a force on the track. Gunnevera has a strong pedigree with winners on both sides of the family including Unbridled, A.P. Indy, Storm Cat and many other influential horses. His pedigree and running style suggest he should do very well at longer distances. He also has a great turn of foot and is impressive to watch coming down the stretch as his stride lengthens. This is a very reassuring quality to have with hopes of going to the Kentucky Derby. He went from last to first in the Delta Downs Jackpot, which reassured me his race in the Breeders' Futurity can be overlooked. He has been training well at Gulfstream Park West, most recently working five furlongs in 1:00.85. It’s possible he could meet Classic Empire in the Holy Bull; that would be a horse race.

American Anthem- I chose to put this son of Bodemeister above the horse who defeated him. I have a lot of respect for this gritty colt who came off a maiden win to duke it out with an already graded stakes winner in Gormley. He ran his heart out on a muddy track, but could not shrug off his rival. Take nothing away from either of them, but I am not sold yet that Gormley will be able to handle longer distances. American Anthem is still green and figuring things out, but I think he will keep improving. He recently turned in an impressive work at Santa Anita, going four furlongs in 48.60. He has the dream team in Bob Baffert and Mike Smith; the sky is the limit.

Gormley- Gormley is a classy, hard knocking son of Malibu Moon trained by the well-respected John Shirreffs. If anyone will take their time with a young horse, it’s him. Most well known for training the great Zenyatta, he brings forth a strong candidate for this year’s Kentucky Derby. Gormley impressed me by being able to stalk the pace in the Sham Stakes, which will be crucial for him at longer distances. John would not put him in these big races if he did not see it fit; so that in itself gives me a lot of confidence. He recently put a move in at Santa Anita breezing four furlongs in 51.20. We might see him next in the San Felipe.

Mastery- Bob Baffert seems like he will have a strong hand of Derby contenders again this year, and Mastery heads the group. This speedy colt has been turning a lot of heads. He is an undefeated three for three, but certainly needs to step up his game to stay with the best of the best. He has shown a lot of speed and talent; but the competition he beat in the Cash Call Futurity is questionable. He has not faced a deep field, but he does possess the class and the talent to step it up. As a son of Candy Ride, I am not one hundred percent sure he will love the classic distances, but at this time, there’s not much to knock about him. Time will tell. He’s been training very well, recently working at Santa Anita, four furlongs in a speedy :47.60.

Mo Town- Mo Town is by the very dominant Uncle Mo, and out of a Bernardini mare; he has a strong pedigree and looks like he will have the talent to match it. He won the Remsen Stakes impressively and put away the favorite Takaful very easy. He has proven he can rate, and has an ideal running style to win at classic distances. His pedigree and dominance in the Remsen showed that he should have no problem stretching out. He’s been training well and I think he is one of the biggest threats on the Derby Trail so far.

Lookin At Lee- Lookin At Lee is a consistent, gritty racehorse. He never runs a bad race. He ran second to Classic Empire in the Breeder’s Futurity and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. I think he will continue to move forward off these efforts. I would like to see him in a race where he is able to build some confidence and sharpen up. He has a very explosive late kick, and could prove to be a threat come Derby time. I think he will have no problem stretching out. He’s been training very well at the Fair Grounds, recently going five furlongs in 1:02, ranking 9/34 at that distance.

Practical Joke- Practical Joke is a very gritty, game racehorse. This hard knocking colt trained by Chad Brown certainly does not lack any effort or class. He battled Syndergaard to win in the Champagne, and they both showed a ton of heart. He came from off the pace and dueled to the wire with Syndergaard. He had a bit of a troubled trip in the Juvenile to finish third, but I am not writing him off just yet. Distance is also a question with him, but if effort and heart prove to be anything, he will definitely be in the starting gates on the first Saturday in May. He’s been working well at Palm Meadows, recently going four furlongs in :48.25, the second fastest work of the day at that distance. Practical Joke’s sophomore debut is likely to be in the Holy Bull.

No Dozing- No Dozing is a horse that is flying under the radar, but could quickly shoot up at any time. The son of Union Rags boasts a very strong pedigree and a lot of heart. In the Breeders' Futurity he was bumped at the start and flattened out late, and in the Remsen, he had a troubled trip as well, but gained a lot of ground late. Had the race been longer, I think he would have given Mo Town a run for his money. I think with the right trip, he will prove he belongs on everyone’s list of Derby horses.