Who are the fastest horses in Kentucky Derby 2017?
Analyzing speed figures from top horse racing past performance providers show that Kentucky Derby 2017 favorites Classic Empire and Always Dreaming are among the fastest contenders, reconfirming their spots as the favorites.
Classic Empire leads the way with a lifetime best 102 Beyer Speed Figure, a 108 lifetime best BRIS speed figure and a 123 lifetime best for TimeformUS speed figures.
Unlike his competitors, Classic Empire’s fastest race came during his two-year-old year versus his three-year-old year. The Pioneerof the Nile colt received his highest ratings when running to 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victory. He did improve to win the Arkansas Derby off a third in the Holy Bull Stakes this year, but will need another improvement to reach his best numbers again.
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Looking at the best speed figures in the last race, those differ more by each figure maker. Irish War Cry has a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest for any of the Derby runners last races. BRIS speed figures give Hence a 103 for his Sunland Park Derby win, the highest figure for any colt in the last prep race, while TimeformUS awarded Always Dreaming a 121 speed figure for his Florida Derby win, their top figure in the last race.
Always Dreaming, a son of Bodemeister, has less experience than Classic Empire, but what he has accomplished this year has been enough to threaten the 2016 Juvenile Champ.
J Boys Echo’s speed figures regressed in the Blue Grass Stakes, his most recent start, but his Gotham ratings place him with the fastest in this twenty horse field.
Irish War Cry has reached his highest speed figure on two different occasions. After a great performance in the Holy Bull, the colt next raced in the Fountain of Youth but failed to menace. After a trip back up north, Irish War Cry regained his top form to run away with the Wood Memorial.
DRF's Beyer speed figures, BRIS speed ratings, and TimeformUS ratings for the Kentucky Derby 2017 field can be seen below.