Kentucky Derby 2017 Contender: McCraken and Ian Wilkes (VIDEO)

In the time it took for the unbeaten McCraken to inhale the field on the far turn of the October 30 Street Sense Stakes, the handsome Ghostzapper colt went from virtual unknown to a real contender for Kentucky Derby 2017. “One day at a time,” warns his veteran trainer, Ian Wilkes. Wilkes knows good horses, having trained Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Fort Larned, as well as having been chief assistant for Carl Nafzger. With Nafzger, Wilkes spent plenty of time with top runners, including the 2007 Kentucky Derby winner, Street Sense.

Street Sense, the race, was run at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, and McCraken looked every bit the part of a horse who could make a run at the run for the roses ten years after Wilkes watched Street Sense, the horse, achieve Derby glory. I visited the Australian born trainer and his new star this morning, and while Wilkes is reserved by nature, his excitement for this colt is evident.

Out of the Seeking the Gold mare, Ivory Empress, McCraken is a Janis Whitham homebred. A first-out winner of a 6 ½-furlong maiden race at Churchill, next up will be his third and final start of his juvenile season, the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on November 28, and also at Churchill Downs. Watch now as Ian Wilkes and I talk about the rising star … Although, in this video, McCraken tends to steal the show.