Kentucky Derby 2023 scouting report: East division

This second edition of the Kentucky Derby 2023 Scouting Report features updates on the training of Derby contenders from the East, including which horses are back on their weekly workout schedules and what prep races they might start in next.

Since the first edition was published last month, the Jerome was the only points raced that has been run at eastern tracks. Lugan Knight shipped up from Michael McCarthy’s Kentucky division to win the Jerome, which was run as a one-turn mile at Aqueduct.

The following lists show each horse with his odds at Caesars Sportsbook and Circa Sports in Nevada, sire, trainer, owner and Derby qualifying points.

The leader

Forte (Caesars 10-1, Circa 9-1, Violence, Todd Pletcher, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; 40 Derby points) Forte stays as the leader of the East division of the Kentucky Derby Scouting report because he's on top of the Derby leaderboard with 40 points. With three Grade 1 victories, the Todd Pletcher star will become the champion of the 2-year-old division when the Eclipse Awards are announced on Jan. 26. Forte will resume his training at Palm Beach Downs in Florida, with his next start likely to be in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on March 4.

First tier

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

Arctic Arrogance (Caesars 100-1, Circa 175-1, Frosted, Linda Rice; Chester and Mary Broman, 8 Derby points) This New York-bred now has a pair of second-place finishes in points races after he battled down the stretch in the Jerome.

Awesome Strong (Caesars 45-1, Circa 100-1, Awesome Slew, Jorge Delgado, CSLR Racing Partners) This Florida-bred is unbeaten in four starts at Gulfstream Park. With each race he stretched out from 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles as he won a maiden in May and then three Florida Sire Series stakes, accumulating $458,000 in earnings. His last victory was on Oct. 1, and he has not resumed serious training since.

Blazing Sevens (Caesars 45-1, Circa 60-1, Good Magic, Chad Brown, Rodeo Creek Racing, 16 Derby points) Blazing Sevens is in third position on the Kentucky Derby points list with 16 that he gathered when he was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) after winning the Champagne (G1). He has not had an official workout since the Breeders’ Cup.

Champions Dream (Caesars 135-1, Circa 200-1, Justify, Mark Casse, Rosedown Racing Stables, 1 Derby point) Champions Dream was a debut winner at the end of the Saratoga meeting. In the Champagne, he was fifth but then came back to win the Nashua (G3) at Aqueduct going a one-turn mile. After the Nashua, Mark Casse became the trainer of Champions Dream, and he has had five workouts at the Casse Training Center in Florida.

Dubyuhnell (Caesars 90-1, Circa 100-1, Good Magic, Danny Gargan; West Paces Racing and Stonestreet Stables, 10 Derby points) Dubyuhnell, which translates to W and L or the college Washington and Lee, pressed the pace to win the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct and earn his Derby points. He started training at Palm Meadows in Florida with two breezes recorded this month.

Lugan Knight (Caesars 100-1, Circa 150-1, Goldencents, Michael McCarthy, BG Stables, 10 Derby points) Lugan Knight shipped up from Florida to win the one-turn mile of the Jerome. With distance concerns, trainer Michael McCarthy indicated that he would skip the Withers (G3) to run in the Gotham (G3) which is also a one-turn mile.

Post Time (Caesars 100-1, Circa 80-1, Frosted, Brittany Russell, Hillwood Stable) Post Time is unbeaten in three starts at Laurel Park, moving up the ladder from a maiden to an allowance and then the Maryland Juvenile. In the Juvenile, he rallied from last in a field of seven to win going seven furlongs. He had his first workout as a 3-year-old recently at Laurel.

Recruiter (Caesars NA, Circa 250-1, Army Mule, Cathal Lynch; Lynch Racing and Nick Sanna Stables) Recruiter improved his record to 4-for-4 when he won the rescheduled Parx Juvenile Stakes on Jan. 3. He stretched out to seven furlongs and came from off the pace to win by almost three lengths.

Tuskegee Airmen (Caesars 150-1, Circa 200-1, Street Sense, John Servis; Cash is King and LC Racing, 3 Derby points) Tuskegee Airmen was third in his debut on the Derby trail in the Remsen to pick up his Derby points. Kentucky Derby winning trainer John Servis has not put Tuskegee Airmen back in full training yet.

Second tier

These horses had a noteworthy performance beyond their maiden victory but have not won a Derby prep. They are listed alphabetically.

Cyclone Mischief (Caesars 100-1, Circa 100-1, Into Mischief, Dale Romans, Albaugh Family Stables) Cyclone Mischief won an allowance race at Gulfstream, beating a field loaded with promising 3-year-olds in what was essentially a prep race for the Holy Bull on Feb. 4.

Forbidden Secret (Caesars 100-1, Circa 125-1, Outwork, Todd Pletcher, Red Oak Stable) From the connections of Mind Control, Forbidden Secret broke his maiden in his third start and came back to win an allowance at Keeneland by seven lengths going two turns in October. He has yet to return to full training.

Litigate (Caesars 75-1, Circa 80-1, Blame, Todd Pletcher, Centennial Farms) Litigate rallied and had the lead in the stretch but finished second behind Cyclone Mischief in the aforementioned allowance at Gulfstream.

Mr. Ripple (Caesars 80-1, Circa 100-1, Dialed In, Saffie Joseph Jr., Legacy Racing) Mr. Ripple got in a speed duel in that Gulfstream allowance and faded to third.

Ones to watch

These 3-year-olds have impressive maiden victories and might be prepared to make starts in Kentucky Derby prep races.

Cascais (Caesars NA, Circa 250-1, Into Mischief, Chad Brown, Three Chimneys)

Capture the Flag (Caesars 75-1, Circa 200-1, Quality Road, Shug McGaughey; Allen Stable, Magnier and Mrs. John Tabor)

Classic Catch (Caesars 150-1, Circa 200-1, Classic Empire, Todd Pletcher, Whisper Hill Stables)

Classic Legacy (Caesars 110-1, Circa 100-1, Into Mischief, Bill Mott, Carem Stables)

Lord Miles (Caesars 125-1, Circa 225-1, Curlin, Saffie Joseph Jr., Vegso Racing Stable)

Please Be Nice (Caesars NA, Circa 80-1, Violence, Bill Mott, Bruce Lunsford)

Point Proven (Caesars 60-1, Circa 30-1, Gun Runner, Todd Pletcher; Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable)

Rocket Can (Caesars NA, Circa 225-1, Into Mischief, Bill Mott, Frank Fletcher Racing)

Signator (Caesars - 40-1, Circa 40-1, Tapit, Shug McGaughey; West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing)

Swirvin (Caesars 175-1, Circa 225-1, Girvin, Saffie Joseph Jr., Bassett Stables)

Tapit Trice (Caesars 80-1, Circa 65-1, Tapit, Todd Pletcher, Whisper Hill and Gainesway Stable)

Remaining East division preps

Holy Bull (G3) – Gulfstream Park – Feb. 4, 20-8-6-4-2

Withers (G3) – Aqueduct – Feb. 4, 20-8-6-4-2

Sam F. Davis (G3) – Tampa Bay Downs – Feb. 11, 20-8-6-4-2

Fountain of Youth (G2) – Gulfstream Park – March 4, 50-20-15-10-5

Gotham (G3) – Aqueduct – March 4, 50-20-15-10-5

Tampa Bay Derby (G2) – Tampa Bay Downs - March 11, 50-20-15-10-5

Florida Derby (G1) – Gulfstream Park – April 1, 100-40-30-20-10

Wood Memorial (G2) – Aqueduct – April 8, 100-40-30-20-10