With the last round of the preparatory races for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, which now awarded the winner 100 points in the books, the time has been in line with the occupation of the 3-year racing horses in line to take part in the first jewel of the Triple Crown on May 3 in Churchill Downs.
For the early overview, we group the likely runners in levels. Remember that my view of the field for the 151st run of the Kentucky Derby distinguishes with other analysts.
1) The massive weapons
journalismPresent SandmanPresent sovereignty
I discussed my own level about journalism, but he attributed a little to victory in the Santa Anita Derby of April 5, even if he is the fastest 3-year-old on the field and the best finisher. journalismFrom Top Stamina Sire Curlin, his last round of 16 completed in a very quick one: 12.32 while taking a step back. He is the most likely winner.
The Kentucky Derby naturally offers up to 20 starters and around 150,000 fans present and other factors such as weather and speed, so that everything can happen. If journalism does not take its best, swift, swift winner from Arkansa's derby Sandman and Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'N' Dale Farms on Xalapa second -placed sovereigntyAnother deeper closer seems to be best equipped in order to win the race with a combination of perseverance and quality speed figures.
2) The next stage
Burnham SquarePresent RodriguezPresent Tappan StreetPresent Tizast
I have expressly thought about involving Tappan StreetWho defeated sovereignty in the Florida derby in the top level and I would not argue with someone who believes that he belongs to this group. He is bred to cope with the distance of 1 ¼ miles, it has a little more tactical speed than the sovereignty and ended his last three-night mile in: 37.06 and last quarter mile in: 24.91 in the Florida Derby. The Tappan Street is legitimate.
Burnham Square proved that his mette was closed from the last to the first time and won the 1.25 million US dollar Toyota Blue Grass Stakes; Rodriguez made a sturdy improvement in winning the 750,000 dollar -wood memorial stakes from Resorts World Casino in the aqueduct; And Tizast Designed career-best speed figures when she expanded to fair grounds to $ 1 million to $ 1 million on fair grounds. It would not be a shock if one of them won the Kentucky Derby if they could improve the victories in huge preparatory races.
3) All-weather game cards
EndgambitPresent Fly Mohawk
The two top two from the 777,000 US dollars Jeff Ruby Steaks ended very well in this race on March 22nd in Turfway Park. However, neither has never started a race on a dirt treble, as they will navigate in Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby. Animal Kingdom (2011) and Prosperous Strike (2022) prepared for Turfway and won the Kentucky Derby, the latter with 80.80-1 profit chances, and two Phil's won Jeff Ruby and took second place in 2023 Kentucky Derby. But don't make a mistake, support you Endgambit or Fly Mohawk Comes with a considerable risk. The key is that the reward (a huge price) is worthwhile. (Note: Flying Mohawk currently needs a defect to get into the 20-horsepower field, but Blue Grass Stakes Sixth Finisher Owen Allmighte is not expected that he will go into the Kentucky Derby despite sufficient qualification points.)
4) The beaten champion
Citizen Bull
Speaking of wild cards, Citizen Bull Was a buzzsaw for three starts in a row and won a race of the 1st of the 1st in Santa Anita Park last October with two lengths. The 2-year-old champion last year ran his rivals off his legs and led from start to finish in all three races for the Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert. So it was a shock that Citizen Bull lost his last preparation for the Kentucky Derby on April 5, but that he faded so badly in Santa Anita Derby when he was beaten by journalism with 9 ¾ lengths. How do we rate Citizen Bull from this race? Draw a line and trust Baffert to finish it? Do you throw him out of the worst race of his career? My advice is to observe how he has trained for the race in the next three weeks and guessed a swift and talented stallion foal.
5) The international quota
Admire Daytona, heart of honor, Luxor Café
In Japan, Forever Teenage, a great race ran in 2024 to miss a three-horse photo finish in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and this year the country has a few more likely starters in Luxor Café And Admire daytona. The former was a dominant winner of the Fukuryu Stakes on March 29 in Nakayama and has a impeccable family tree. The Luxor Café is the Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (the same father until 2015 [father] and the same dam [mother]) To the Japanese champion and the father Café Pharoah and a half-brother (same dam, other father) until 2022 US champion lawyer Ms. Regal Glory. Admire daytona and Heart of honorThe latter, of which the coach Jamie Osborne in Dubai, based in Europe, wintered in Dubai, were the two best finisher in the $ 1 million sponsored by the Jumeirah Group on April 5 in Meydan, separated from one nose in an exhilarating finish. Now the duo has to take the 7,374-mile trip to Louisville to rest in the derby in four weeks. It is much to be asked to ask a 3-year-old.
6) In … with a shot (some better than others)
American promisePresent Piece of goldPresent Coal fightPresent East AvenuePresent Flood zonePresent editorPresent River Thames
Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas's American promise won the Virginia Derby on March 15 in Colonial Downs with 7 ¾ Lengths in a success balance sheet of 1: 46.41 and earned a 101 -equibase -speed number and 95 Beyer -speed. That was a 1 1 1/8 miles on a very swift route, which made it challenging for me to quantify. Most of the others in this group are also a challenge for the evaluation: Louisiana Derby Second Piece of gold improves, but still has to win a operational race; Coal fight Was so good at the beginning of this year, but seemed to take a step back than the third in the Arkansas derby; East Avenue Make a step in the right direction in the blue grass, but could not hold on to set the pace to 1 1/8 miles. Flood zone'S seventh place in the The United Arab Emirates Derby was a debacle, but he looked great in the Gotham Stakes. Publisher has never won a race, but has reached a career best second in the Arkansas derby. And River Thame did not raise his game as I hoped for when I had the third in the blue grass after he was second in the blue Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes March 1st in the Gulfstream Park. From this group it looks that the Chunk of Gold and the coal battle live in Churchill on May 3.
7) on the bladder
Owen AlmightyPresent GrandePresent Built -upPresent Madaket roadPresent Baeza
Owen AlmightyPresent mentioned above, sixth place in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 in Keeland. He has sufficient qualification points to get into the 20-horsepower field for the Kentucky Derby, but coach Brian Lynch said after the race: “I don't think that the derby is the way we will go.” That would raise flying Mohawk in the field and these next four in the bladder in the hope of one or more defects (in the order on points): Wood Memorial hope second -placed Grande; Louisiana Derby fifth finisher Built -up; and Florida Derby fourth place Madaket road. The Wood Memorial was Grande's second race in a row in 1 1/8 miles and ended well with a last three-night miles in: 37.24 and one last quarter mile in: 24.90. He also showed a certain versatility to gather after half a mile after half a mile after the pace in his first two races, and is bred to enjoy each piece of the 1 ¼ miles. Grande could be hazardous, it is that he makes it into the field. Baeza, the half siblings of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, would have to need several defects to qualify. He ran an enormous race when he had second journalism in the Santa Anita Derby at the debut in Santa Anita Derby and earned KARRIES-BEST-EQUIBASE (107) and Beyer (101) speed figures. He is a solemn 3-year-old view, wherever he ends up, what coach John Shirffs said that it could be the prevention.
