Kentucky Derby 2023 Scouting Report: East division

The East division of the 2023 Kentucky Derby Scouting Report includes prep races which are run in New York, Florida and Maryland. That means stakes at Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, Tampa Bay Downs and Laurel Park.

Since the road to the Derby began in September, seven official points races were run, and four of them were won by 2-year-olds in the East division. Forte was victorious in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Blazing Sevens was the winner of the Champagne (G1), which was run as part of the Belmont at the Big A meeting, and Dubyuhnell was first in the Remsen (G2).

From the 25 horses listed in this first East division report, trainer Todd Pletcher has six of them, and Into Mischief is the sire of four.

The following lists shows each horse with his odds at Caesars Sportsbook in Nevada, Kentucky Derby Future Wager odds from pool 2 last month, sire, trainer, owner and Derby qualifying points).

The leader

Forte (Caesars 15-1, KDFW 10-1, Violence, Todd Pletcher, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, 40 points). Forte sits on top of the Derby points leaderboard with 40. He ended his 2022 campaign with three Grade 1 victories in a row beginning with the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga. With a record of 5: 4-0-0 and earnings of nearly $1.6 million, he will be the champion of the 2-year-old male division. Forte will resume his training at Palm Beach Downs in Florida with his next start likely to come at Gulfstream Park.

First tier

These contenders are already stakes winners and/or have already earned Derby qualifying points. They are listed alphabetically. Those shown with an asterisk next to their KDFW odds were part of a mutuel field of "all other males" not individually listed.

Arctic Arrogance (Caesars 125-1, KDFW 4-5*, Frosted, Linda Rice, Chester and Mary Broman, 4 points). He won the Sleepy Hollow for New York state-breds at the Belmont at the Big A meeting and then earned four Derby points by finishing second in the Remsen (G2). He is expected to run next month in the Jerome.

Awesome Strong (Caesars 45-1, KDFW 64-1, Awesome Slew, Jorge Delgado, CSLR Racing Partners, 0 points). 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. He won a maiden in May and then three Florida Sire Series stakes accumulating $458,000 in earnings. His last victory was Oct. 1.

Blazing Sevens (Caesars 75-1 KDFW 37-1, Good Magic, Chad Brown, Rodeo Creek Racing, 16 points). Blazing Sevens sits in third position on the Kentucky Derby points list with 16 that he gathered when he was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after winning the Champagne (G1).

Champions Dream (Caesars 135-1, KDFW 99-1, Justify, Danny Gargan, Rosedown Racing Stables, 1 point). He 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.

Dubyuhnell (Caesars 110-1, KDFW 4-5*, Good Magic, Danny Gargan, West Paces Racing and Stonestreet Stables, 10 points). Dubyuhnell, which translates to W and L for the university Washington and Lee, pressed the pace to win the Remsen at Aqueduct and earn his Derby points.

Post Time (Caesars 100-1, KDFW 4-5*, Frosted, Brittany Russell, Hillwood Stable, 0 points). 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. There he rallied from last in a field of seven to win going seven furlongs.

Recruiter (Caesars not listed, KDFW 99-1, Army Mule, Cathal Lynch, Lynch Racing and Nick Sanna Stables, 0 points). Recruiter is unbeaten after three front-running sprints as the heavy favorite. He debuted at Monmouth Park and then moved to a Laurel allowance on a sloppy track. Last month he took the J.F. Lewis in Maryland by nearly three lengths.

Tuskegee Airmen (Caesars 150-1, KDFW 64-1, Street Sense, John Servis, Cash is King and LC Racing, 3 points) Tuskegee Airmen broke his maiden at Parx by 5 1/2 lengths for 2004 Kentucky Derby winning trainer John Servis and then stretched out to a mile to win the Rocky Run at Delaware Park. In the Remsen he picked up his Derby points when he was third on a sloppy, sealed track at Aqueduct.

Second tier

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

Forbidden Secret (Caesars 100-1, KDFW 80-1, 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.

Full Moon Madness (Caesars 150-1, KDFW 179-1, Into Mischief, Michelle Nevin, Jay Em Ess Stable). This home-bred son of Into Mischief needed three tries to break his maiden but then won by nearly six lengths on the front end. In the Nashua (G3) he stretched out to a mile, pressed the pace and finished second, beaten by less than a length.

General Jim (Caesars not listed, KDFW 82-1, Into Mischief, Shug McGaughey, Courtlandt Farms). General Jim began his career on the dirt at Saratoga with a third-place finish but then was switched to the turf, where he broke his maiden going two turns. He added an allowance, grass victory at Keeneland, where he showed an impressive turn of foot down the stretch.

Prince of Jericho (Caesars 150-1, KDFW 4-5*, Munnings, Brittany Russell, Michael Dubb and Morris Bailey). Prince of Jericho has maiden and allowances win at Laurel Park, each going six furlongs, and rallied to win by open lengths each time. He was third in his debut behind Post Time, who is in the first tier of this report.

Ones to watch

This is a list of current 2-year-olds with impressive maiden victories who may be prepared to make starts in Kentucky Derby prep races.

Cascais (Caesars not listed, KDFW 107-1, Into Mischief, Chad Brown, Three Chimneys).

Capture the Flag (Caesars 75-1; KDFW 65-1; Quality Road; Shug McGaughey; Allen Stable, Magnier and Mrs. John Tabor).

Classic Catch (Caesars 150-1, KDFW 4-5*, Classic Empire, Todd Pletcher, Whisper Hill Stables).

Classic Legacy (Caesars 135-1, KDFW 4-5*, Into Mischief, Bill Mott, Bruce Lunsford).

Litigate (Caesars 135-1, KDFW 57-1, Blame, Todd Pletcher, Centennial Farms).

Lord Miles (Caesars 125-1, KDFW 4-5*, Curlin, Saffie Joseph Jr., Vegso Racing Stable).

Mr. Ripple (Caesars 60-1, KDFW 99-1, Dialed In, Saffie Joseph Jr., Legacy Racing).

Point Proven (Caesars 100-1, KDFW 4-5*, Gun Runner, Todd Pletcher, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable).

Rocket Can (Caesars not listed, KDFW 99-1, Into Mischief, Bill Mott, Frank Fletcher Racing).

Rudder’s Men (Caesars 110-1, KDFW 4-5*, Battalion Runner, Todd Pletcher, St. Elias Stable).

Signator (Caesars 70-1, KDFW 27-1, Tapit, Shug McGaughey, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing).

Swirvin (Caesars 150-1, KDFW 4-5*, Girvin, Saffie Joseph Jr., Bassett Stables).

Remaining East division preps

These are the dates for the rest of the East division races on the road to the Kentucky Derby shown with points that will be awarded to top-five finishers, provided they are eligible to compete in the May 6 Derby.

Jerome, Aqueduct, Jan. 7, 10-4-3-2-1.

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.

The rest of the country will be covered in the West Scouting Report, which will be posted Tuesday.