Bloodhorse News -editor Byron King presents his derby dozen with a review of the leading competitors for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 3 in Churchill Downs.
The most recent ranking of King reflects workouts of several competitors and more discussion about the last preparatory races with a little more than two weeks until the first stage of the triple crown is executed.
Take a look at the Triple Crown page of America's best racing to stay up to date on stories and statistics on the way to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Sovereignty
The Hall of Fame trainer of sovereignty, Bill Mott, is a conditioner, which was awarded by Kentucky Derby, who set an official victory in 2019 when it was first increased after the maximum security disqualification. In the years since then, Mott South Bend started a 15th place in 2020, Rocket Can, to reach ninth place in 2023, and the resistance to sixth place in 2024. Sovereignty is a much better derby prospectus than the runners who are in the curlin Florida starts.
2. Journalism
He closed as a 5-1 favorite in the last Kentucky Derby Future Wager from Churchill Downs, which ended in front of his Santa Anita Derby triumph. Most expect him to have around 3: 1 profit chances on the Kentucky Derby Day. The favorites are in the last six runs in the derby 0-for-6 after they had reached six consecutive renovations from 2013 to 18. Since his debut in a sprint, journalism has been perfect in four routes, with three of these victories being in the graded operations.
((Note: Baeza, runner-up for journalism in Santa Anita Derby, would appear in these ranking lists if he had sufficient Kentucky derby qualification points to be among the 20 entries. If overslook in the coming weeks, seek that it appears in the lower half of the derby.)
3. Tappan Street
The most critical spring base for coach Brad Cox is Churchill Downs, but the Payson Park Training Center in Südflorida still plays a key role in the operation of his stable. He has kept the Tappan Street there since the sovereignty of the Colt in the Florida Derby on March 29. Sovereignty also worked there. Derby participants have to arrive in Churchill Downs one week before the race on May 3. As a result, many horses will have their last breeze among the twin umbrellas.
4. Sandman
Perhaps this is the year in which a son of the legendary tapit wins the derby. The tapit winner of the lifetime of life and the winner of No. 1 The winner of the lifetime and the leading father of all time is known for giving the class and perseverance to his descendants. He had four winners of the Belmont Stakes, most recently in 2021. Like necessary quality and so many descendants of tapit, Sandman is a striking gray and/or roan. The winner of the Arkansas Derby worked half a mile on April 15: 49.60 in Churchill Downs.
5. Luxor café
Although Japanese horses have been won in eight starts in the derby since 1995, they ignore them at their risk. As Forever Juvenile showed the third last year, two noses hit, a star from this country can deal in the derby. The Luxor Cafe won four in Japan in a row, his last race his impressive. This noticed that it is not simple to send it halfway worldwide. Top -American horses traveled abroad and sometimes did not fired. It will be advisable to pursue its energy level and condition after his planned arrival in Kentucky on April 23.
6. Burnham Square
Disability signals are mixed. He is positively closed on a route in Keeland to win the Toyota Blue Gras Stakes with one nose, and Churchill Downs is usually warm for runners outside the pace than many tracks. He can also run an additional Furlong in the derby. But his time for 1 1/8 miles in the scorching blue grass was only 1: 51.33, about one and a half seconds and a half slower than the average time (1: 49.75) in its 10 other filthy running in Keeland's post-polytrack era from Keeland.
7. Coal battle
The connections of the Rebel Stakes winner based in Louisiana are derby newcomers. Jockey Juan Vargas, who is currently driving at Evangeline Downs, has never participated in the Kentucky Derby, nor coach Lonnie Briley. Three jockeys won the derby this century with their first derby mountain: Stewart Elliott (2004, Smarty Jones), Mario Gutierrez (2012, I have another) and Sonny Leon (2022, Wealthy Strike). On Tuesday, the coal battle recorded its second breeze since he arrived in Churchill Downs and was in 1: 01.20 for five Furlongs.
8. Grande
He and the Tappan Street are no experience with just three starts. This stallion foal won his first two races in the Maiden and Allowance Company in the Gulfstream Park before he drove to Modern York and took second place in the Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino. His journey continued to ride as usual before the pace and broadly, he was still shot to defeat everyone except Rodriguez. Three horses have won the derby since the turn of the century after only three previous starts: Mage (2023), Justify (2018) and Gigantic Brown (2008).
9. Tiztastic
The Twinires.com Louisiana Derby has become more effective in the past 10 years in Kentucky Derby how the success of Country House and Mandaloun (2021) is reflected. These two were actually not planned in the Louisiana Derby before they fell much better on the runs for the roses. This year's 1 3/16 mile loouisiana derby, which is a bit simple with a silky journey to win. Physical setbacks meant that the disco period of Lecomte Stakes winner and the winners of the FASIG-TIPTON RISIES not competed.
10. Gold block
He also comes via the Louisiana Road to the Kentucky Derby series in Kentucky and was the second place in the Louisiana Derby and in the resurrected star. In combination with a second-placed and a first Maiden victory, both in the Turfway Park, he was in the exact starts in all four starts. A purchase of Chris Melton in the amount of $ 2,500 from the Airdrie study program to the sale of FASIG-TIPTON Kentucky October, he has $ 348,818 for the owner Terry Stephens of $ 348,818.
11. Citizen Bull
For the first time on a route that went on track in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5 from Baeza and journalism last year, he was even recorded in third place of 44: 1 early. The latter was the pacemaker of Baeza, and Citizen Bull drove past him in the second round. So why still Citizen Bull in the dozen before the longer 1 ¼ miles derby? His overall 4-on-6 record and the belief of the six-time derby winner Bob Baffert that his trainee did not have free fitness after two months.
12. American promise
Like Baffert, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas is one of the most successful coaches of the Kentucky Derby. He won the race four times, most recently with Charismatic in 1999. Last year Lukas took the BRAKENS OFSTERS with Seize The Gray, his 15th victory in a triple crown race. American Promise acts like a stallion foal that switches a faster surface than usual on the day of the Kentucky Derby. He sizzled over a lightning-fast colonial down track to win the 1 1/8 miles virginia derby in the track record time of 1: 46.41.
