HRN unveils Kentucky Derby 2019 contender rankings
Summer racing is just around the corner, with Saratoga and Del Mar highlighting the juvenile events. This year’s crop of 2-year-olds will take their first steps toward the Breeders’ Cup -- and, ultimately, next year's Triple Crown trail.
The early
precocious types already have a start or two under their girth. So join Horse
Racing Nation as we unveil the 2019
Kentucky Derby contender rankings.
Horse Racing Nation is the only website offering this type of ever-expanding wiki for Thoroughbred racehorses. You, our members, can add horses, update data, read and comment on news, view race data and videos, plus vote for your favorite runners.
Rankings for the 2019 Kentucky Derby contenders are dependent on ratings from the community. You can expand the database by adding impressive runners and voting for 2-year-olds as you spot them.
Learn more on how to use the Wiki here. Horses will move up and down the power rankings as more members vote. Discover more about the Power Rankings and Voting.
This year’s crop of 2-year-olds is promising. To get you started, here are 10 to watch:
(Pioneerof the Nile - Open Water, by Include)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Baffin Bay has the pedigree to handle middle to classic distances over all surfaces but might be headed to the lawn. He’s the second foal out of the multiple graded stakes-winning turf mare OPEN WATER. His half-sister RAUCOUS won a turf stakes as a two-year-old and matured into a G3 stakes winning turf miler. Open Water is a 3/4 sister to champion 3YO Filly SURFSIDE, and Baffin Bay’s second dam is champion 2YO Filly FLANDERS.
(More Than Ready - Abaco, by Giant's Causeway)
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Baker’s Bay is a Phipps family homebred and the first foal out of the multiple graded stakes winning turf mare ABACO. Naturally, this Chestnut colt has a pedigree filled with stars, and is related to champion EASY GOER through his full sister CADILLACING. Baker’s Bay is breezing at Saratoga. He’ll likely handle middle distances over the lawn, but you never know…
(War Front - Liscanna (IRE), by Sadler's Wells)
Trainer: Chad Brown
Border Town has been breezing at Saratoga. The dark bay colt was a $325K RNA Keeneland September Yearling. He has the pedigree of a precocious turf miler. Border Town is a full brother to 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero HIT IT A BOMB, the English Group 1 stakes winning sprinter BRAVE ANNA, and English Group 1 stakes placed miler Threeandfourpence. Their dam won a Group 3 stakes in Ireland as a turf sprinter.
(More Than Ready - Salsa Star, by Giant's Causeway)
Trainer: Horacio DePaz
Chase Greatness won his second start, a 5 1/2-furlong off the turf event, over a sloppy track. The Sagamore Farm homebred has the pedigree to handle longer sprints to middle distances over all surfaces, but especially turf. He’s a half-brother to the listed stakes winning sprinter/miler BLAMED & to listed stakes placed turf miler Chubby Star. Their dam is a stakes placed turf sprinter who competed in England. She's half to multiple graded stakes winning sprinter PACIFIC OCEAN. This is the distaff family of the graded stakes winner and sire MUTAKDDIM and Grade 1 stakes winning router FROST GIANT.
(Cairo Prince - Miss Sharondipity, by Malibu Moon)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
This gray son of first-crop sire Cairo Prince has a classic-oriented pedigree. His last breeze was promising. He wasn’t as fast out of the gate as stable mate Der Lu, but once into stride, he moved up inside of the daughter of Orb and quickly got a neck in front. They stayed that way until Dark Prince shifted gears and galloped out much the best. Dark Prince’s older half-sister is stakes placed sprinter I'mluckysgirl. Their dam is a half-sister to a couple of sprinter/milers, LONGFIELD SPUD, who earned over $200K the hard way in 37 starts, and Darth Tater, a stakes placed turf miler who raced 51 times. Dark Prince is entered in the third race at Los Alamitos on Friday.
(Tapit - To Dream About, by Monarchos)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Dream Maker won his 5 1/2-furlong debut at Churchill Downs by three lengths after circling the field. He’s a pretty gray colt with the pedigree to stretch out to classic distances. The John Oxley homebred is a full brother to Del Mar Oaks (G1) heroine DREAM DANCING. His half-brother Awesome Sky placed in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2), and a half-sister, Sky Dreamer, placed in the Arlington Oaks (G3). Their dam is an unraced half-sister to Dr. Pleasure, a multiple stakes placed runner who was third in the 2006 Travers. Dream Maker’s second is champion Older Mare BEAUTIFUL PLEASURE.
(Exchange Rate - Fools in Love, by Not For Love)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Exchequer has been breezing steadily at Keeneland. He has the pedigree of a sprinter/miler and could be capable over all surfaces. The gray colt is the fourth foal out of stakes winner Fools in Love, who placed in a trio of juvenile sprint races. All three of Exchequer’s half-siblings own blacktype – SEAHENGE won the Group 2 Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old, and half-siblings Urban Bourbon and Frank's Folly are stakes placed.
(Tapit - Miss Besilu, by Medaglia d'Oro)
Trainer: N/A
The pretty gray Gun It made headlines as a $2.6 million purchase by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm. He has the pedigree to handle classic distances and is the first foal out of Miss Besilu, who is multiple G1 stakes placed from 1 1/16 miles over the lawn to 1 1/4 miles over dirt. Miss Besilu is a half-sister to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam. Her half-sister, G2 stakes winning Quiet Giant bore 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner. Another half-sister bore Mother Goose (G1) heroine Buster’s Ready. Gun it began breezing at Keeneland this month.
(First Samurai - Steady Course, by Old Trieste)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
This $525K Keeneland September Yearling is a half-brother to 2016 Cashcall Futurity winner MASTERY, who was a hot horse in the Baffert barn but was retired due to injury. Ranger Up’s half-sister CLEAR SAILING is a listed stakes winning miler. Their dam is a half-sister to Saratoga Special (G2) winner and sire JUMP START. Ranger Up has been logging breezes at Saratoga.
(Tapit - Tiz Miz Sue, by Tiznow)
Trainer: N/A
Tatweej was a $2.5 million purchase by Shadwell Stable at the Keeneland September Yearling sales. The colt is the second foal out of a multiple graded stakes earner of $1,129,709. Her full sister bore juvie stakes winning sprinter MADE ME SHIVER. Tatweej is in training at Greentree Training Center and may head to the barn of Kiran McLaughlin later this summer.
There are plenty of other well-bred babies to watch, and they’ll be announced here during the weekly editions of HRN's Kiddie List. If there are 2-year-olds that you’d like to know more about, please post them in the comments section below.