Kentucky Derby 2022 Scouting Report: East Coast division

The East Coast division of the 2022 Kentucky Derby trail includes Derby prep races which are run in New York and Florida. That means stakes at Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, and Tampa Bay Downs.

Since the East Coast Scouting Report was published last month for the first time, two horses based on the East Coast were winners on the Derby trail. Courvoisier was victorious in the Jerome at Aqueduct for trainer Kelly Breen and the Florida-based runner Make It Big shipped to Remington Park to win the Springboard Mile for Saffie Joseph Jr.

Both horses picked up 10 Derby qualifying points for their victories but still have triple-digit odds in the Las Vegas futures.

A dozen new horses were added to the second East Coast Scouting Report. With the Kentucky Derby only four months away, a training update is provided for each of the contenders with odds shown from Circa Sports and Caesars at William Hill, if available, followed by sires, trainers, owners and Derby qualifying points.

The leader

Mo Donegal (Circa 38-1, C-WH 35-1 – Uncle Mo – Todd Pletcher – Donegal Racing – 10). Mo Donegal is still in the top spot on the East Coast contenders list, based on races that were run through Sunday. The Remsen (G2) winner is training in Florida for Todd Pletcher as he prepares for his next start on the Derby trail in a race that has yet to be announced. Since the Remsen, Mo Donegal has resumed training at Palm Beach Downs with a pair of four-furlong works on Dec. 24 and Saturday.

First tier

These contenders are stakes winners and/or have earned Derby qualifying points. They are listed alphabetically.

Commandperformance (Circa 55-1, C-WH 30-1 – Union Rags – Todd Pletcher – Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable – 6). Still a maiden, Command performance earned six Kentucky Derby points from the Champagne (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Commandperformance has not had a published workout since the Breeders’ Cup. He will need to get back to serious training this month if the Derby is a realistic goal.

Courvoisier (Circa 125-1, C-WH 100-1 – Tapit – Kelly Breen – Hill N Dale Equine and James Spry – 10). He splashed to victory in the Jerome on a sloppy and sealed racetrack by more than a length. The former $650,000 yearling purchase began to live up to his fancy pedigree as a son of Tapit and the 2014 champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi. His Beyer Speed Figures have increased in each of his five races, including the 73 he received in the Jerome. He broke his maiden in his prior race going nine-furlongs at Aqueduct. Trainer Kelly Breen said that with his affinity for the New York City track, he would prepare for the Withers (G3).

Jack Christopher (Circa 29-1, C-WH 20-1 – Munnings – Chad Brown – Peter Brant, Gerald Ibister, Jim Bakke, Coolmore Stud – 10). Jack Christopher's 2-for-2 record includes the Champagne at Belmont Park in October. That raced earned him a 102 Beyer, the highest for any 2-year-old in 2021. The Chad Brown runner was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and had surgery to correct a problem with one oh is front shins. Jack Christopher has not recorded any timed workouts since his autumn surgery.

Major General (Circa 110-1, C-WH 55-1 – Constitution – Todd Pletcher – Win Star Farm and Siena Farm – 10). Major General won both of his starts by a neck – once while racing on the lead in a maiden sprint at Saratoga and then with a late rally to win the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs on the Derby trail. He has not raced since earning 10 Derby points in that Sept. 18 victory. Major General has not had any published works since the Iroquois.

Make It Big (Circa 100-1, C-WH 100-1 – Neolithic – Saffie Joseph Jr. – Red Oak Stable – 10). He kept his career record perfect with 3 wins in 3 starts after shipping to Remington Park to win the Springboard Mile, earning an 84 Beyer. The $120,000 Ocala 2-year-old purchase rallied from a stalking position as the 13-10 favorite to win by a half-length. His first two wins were at Gulfstream Park in a maiden special weight and then a sprint stake.

Zandon (Circa 38-1, C-WH 25-1 – Upstart – Chad Brown – Jeff Drown – 4). Zandon went to the Remsen after a six-furlong maiden victory at Belmont at odds of 5-1. The son of Upstart came with questions about the nine-furlong distance, which he answered as he battled gamely with Mo Donegal while in tight quarters on the inside, finishing second. Zandon was back in serious training just a few weeks after the Remsen and has two recent four-furlong breezes at Payson Park in Florida.

Second tier

Cooke Creek (Circa 225-1, C-WH 175-1 – Uncle Mo – Jeremiah O’Dwyer – Cheyenne Stables – 2). After finishing second behind Bob Baffert’s Rockefeller in the Nashua (G3) in November, Cooke Creek cut back in distance to finish third in the Jerome. He will aim for the Withers and the return to nine furlongs while hoping to get a fast track.

Double Thunder (Circa 175-1, William Hill 100-1 – Super Saver – Todd Pletcher – Phoenix Thoroughbreds – 4). He won his first two starts in June – a maiden at Monmouth Park and then a last-to-first victory in the Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill. He added a third win in the Sapling at Monmouth Park going a mile. In the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, Double Thunder was second between two highly regarded Derby prospects. He was ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Double Thunder has not had a published workout since the Breeders’ Cup.

My Prankster (Circa 120-1, William Hill 100-1 – Into Mischief – Todd Pletcher – Lowana and Robert Low – 1). My Prankster picked up a Derby point when he finished fourth in the Champagne. He next ran second in a listed sprint stake at Keeneland at the end of October and then won an allowance in December. My Prankster returned to the work tab on New Year’s Day with a four-furlong breeze, typical for a Todd Pletcher runner.

Smarten Up (Circa 250-1 – American Freedom – Alfredo Velazquez – Happy Tenth Stable – 2). This Parx-based colt moved from a nine-furlong victory at the Pennsylvania track to the Jerome, where he finished third. But trainer Alfredo Velazquez was pleased and will send Smarten Up back to Aqueduct for the longer distance in the Withers.

White Abarrio (Circa 160-1, William Hill 150-1 – Race Day – Saffie Joseph Jr. – C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable – 2). White Abarrio won his first two starts at Gulfstream Park in the fall, taking a maiden and an allowance. He shipped to Churchill and finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) behind two well-regarded Derby contenders. He returned to the work tab in December and has logged three breezes on track at Gulfstream, increasing in distance from three furlongs to four and then five.

Wit (Circa 40-1, William Hill 50-1 – Practical Joke – Todd Pletcher – Repole, St. Elias, and Gainesway Stables - 2). Wit was an early starter and winner for Todd Pletcher with victories in a maiden and then the Sanford (G2) at Saratoga. Moving up to Grade 1 competition, the son of Practical Joke ran second in the Hopeful (G1) and third in the Champagne. The Champagne was on Oct. 2, and Wit has not found his back to breezing yet.

Ones to watch

This is a list of 3-year-olds with impressive maiden victories who may be preparing to make starts in Kentucky Derby prep races.

American Icon (Circa 75-1, William Hill 100-1 – Gun Runner – Todd Pletcher – WinStar and Siena Farms). He was a debut winner on Dec. 26 at Gulfstream for Pletcher with an open-length score going seven furlongs as the 1.20-1 favorite. The $400,000 yearling purchase earned a 74 Beyer Speed Figure. His dam won two races and was stakes-placed twice for Mark Casse.

Bold Journey (Circa 60-1, William Hill 100-1 – Hard Spun – Bill Mott – Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, Team Penne). This New York-bred was an odds-on winner on in his second start by almost seven lengths going six furlongs with blinkers on. He earned as 83 Beyer for the Dec. 18 maiden breaker and was privately purchased after a second in his debut.

Dean’s List – (Circa 140-1, William Hill 75-1 – Speightstown – Todd Pletcher – WinStar and Siena Farms). was a debut winner at Gulfstream on Dec. 11 by 5 1/2 lengths in an impressive final time of 1:09.42 that was assigned an 83 Beyer. He was the 1.30-1 second choice in the race. Two weeks after the maiden score, Dean’s List was back in training and has had two four furlongs breezes at Palm Beach Downs for Pletcher.

Early Voting (Circa 150-1, William Hill 150-1 – Gun Runner – Chad Brown – Klaravich Stables). won at first asking by 1 1/2 lengths going a one-turn mile on Dec. 18 at Aqueduct as the .95-1 favorite, earning a 75 Beyer. Early Voting is another impressive prospect sire by Gun Runner and is out of a dam that is a half-sister to Speightstown and a full-brother to Irap.

Emmanuel - (Circa 50-1, William Hill 50-1 – More Than Ready – Todd Pletcher – WinStar and Siena Farms). He was yet another first-time winner for Pletcher. He also was a victorious favorite on Dec. 11 at Gulfstream by almost seven lengths going a mile, which got a 78 Beyer. The $350,000 yearling purchase got right back on the work tab less than two weeks after the maiden breaker and has since posted two timed four-furlong breezes.

Forced Ranking (Circa 200-1, William Hill 150-1 – Mastery – Chad Brown – Klaravich Stables). Forced Ranking broke his maiden in his second start in a seven-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park in October as an odds-on favorite for Chad Brown. He pressed the pace and won by almost two lengths. 

Galt (No futures available – Medaglia d’Oro – Bill Mott – OXO Equine) is a full brother to Songbird and a Gulfstream Park maiden winner in his third try on Dec. 26, which came after a pair of sixth-place finishes at Saratoga and then Belmont Park. Galt was 3-1 in the race, which was run at 1 1/16 miles and earned him a modest 67 Beyer.

H P Moon (Circa 70-1, William Hill 65-1 – Malibu Moon – Lacey Gaudet – KEM Stables and Five Hellions Farm). The connections had hoped to have H P Moon debut at Saratoga, but that didn’t work out. Instead he started at Pimilco in August. He overwhelmed that field by almost 10 lengths at odds of .40-1. The son of Malibu Moon sold for $100,000 as a yearling and then RNA’d for $385,000 as a 2-year-old. As the year came to a close, H P Moon got back in training at Laurel Park with a three- and then a four-furlong breeze.

Key Point (Circa 175-1, William Hill 125-1 – Into Mischief – Chad Brown – Jeff Drown). He is a New York home-bred from the same owner as Zandon. He made his only start a victory at Saratoga when he beat state-breds by more than three lengths in a six-furlong sprint on Aug. 12. This Chad Brown runner worked three furlongs Wednesday at Stonestreet Training.

Kitten Mischief (Into Mischief – Jonathan Thomas – Augustin Stable). Kitten Mischief broke his maiden in his initial start at Aqueduct in November going a one-turn mile at odds of 8-1. He pressed the pace, took the lead with three furlongs to go and was game to prevail in a stretch duel with the favorite well ahead of the rest of the field. Kitten Mischief is training at Payson Park where he finished up 2021 with three four-furlong breezes.

Varatti (Circa 125-1, William Hill 75-1 – Into Mischief – Todd Pletcher – WinStar Farm and Siena Farm). Varatti broke his maiden at first asking at the end of September at Belmont going 6 1/2 furlongs. Sent off at odds of 3.55-1, he won by 4 1/2 furlongs in a field that included Mo Donegal, who also was making his debut. Varatti has yet to show up on the work tab at Palm Beach Downs for Pletcher.

Remaining East Coast division preps

• Holy Bull (G3) – Gulfstream Park – Feb. 5 (10-4-2-1)

• Withers (G3) – Aqueduct – Feb. 5 (10-4-2-1)

• Sam F. Davis (G3) – Tampa Bay Downs – Feb. 5 (10-4-2-1)

• Fountain of Youth (G2) – Gulfstream Park – March 5 (50-20-10-5)

• Gotham (G3) – Aqueduct – March 5 (50-20-10-5)

• Tampa Bay Derby (G2) – Tampa Bay Downs -March 12 (50-20-10-5)

• Florida Derby (G1) – Gulfstream Park – April 2 (100-40-20-10)

• Wood Memorial (G2) – Aqueduct – April 2 (100-40-20-10)