Kentucky Derby Watch List – Volume 3

By Jude T. Feld

Three Triple Crown preps and the first edition of Future Pool wagering made President’s day weekend very entertaining for Thoroughbred racing fans. The Risen Star (G2) should be the most productive of the three races, as the field was strong and the top three finishers all ran well. Although The Factor doesn’t seem like a mile and a quarter type, he sure is fast. The Baffert trainee looked game in the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) too. The Southwest (G3) was a bit disappointing, but Caleb’s Posse should have been much closer at the finish, so he makes the “radar” list this week, as does Premier Pegasus, who ran well versus The Factor in his first race of 2011. He should move forward in his next start.

UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie 2.20 Pletcher)

“The next coming of Seattle Slew” breezed 1:01 2/5 on Sunday, with his regular rider John Velazquez in the saddle. Trainer Todd Pletcher is pointing him for an overnight stakes at Gulfstream on March 12. The son of Indian Charlie, owned by the inventor of “Vitamin Water,” Mike Repole, has the feel of a very special horse. Trainer and rider were both pleased with this work as the Derby hopeful, who is on everybody’s lips, continues to improve in strength and fitness.

TO HONOR AND SERVE (Bernardini 2.38 Mott)

The son of new “supersire” Bernardini is scheduled to return to the racing wars this Saturday in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.. Winner of the Nashua (G2) and the Remsen (G2) by open lengths, the Bill Mott trainee got some good news when trainer Nick Zito opted to pass the FOY with highly regarded Dialed In. The Live Oak Plantation colorbearer worked a bullet 48 1/5 over the deep track at Payson Park in Florida on Sunday, indicating he is ready to roll.

ROGUE ROMANCE (Smarty Jones 3.00 McPeek)

With enough graded earnings to get in the Kentucky Derby (G1), trainer Kenny McPeek had the luxury of entering Rogue Romance anywhere he wanted to start on the road to the Triple Crown. He has chose the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds last Saturday and got a solid performance from his colt, who ran into more problems than Dick Tracy. The feeling here is that he could have won the race easily with a clear trip. He moves up this week to number three. Here is Rogue Romance’s New Orleans adventure under Julien Leparoux:

BRETHREN (Distorted Humor 3.00 Pletcher)

Trainer Todd Pletcher got everything he could have asked from Brethren in his Sam F. Davis (G3) performance – a perfect trip, a visually impressive victory and a move forward toward the Triple Crown. The WinStar Farm colt is undefeated as he heads to his next start and will be a formidable foe wherever he surfaces. A half-brother to last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Super Saver, Brethren has lots to live up to, but he looks like he loves his job in the family business.

JAYCITO (Victory Gallop 3.00 Baffert)

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert called another audible with the son of Victory Gallop. Originally being pointed for the Robert B. Lewis (G2), Baffert planned to start his new charge in the San Vicente (G2), a race he won with The Factor. Now the impressive winner of the Norfolk (G2) is scheduled for the Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita. Hopefully Baffert has straightened Jaycito out since his Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile debacle and he finally gets this talented colt to the races.

SANTIVA (Giant’s Causeway 1.67 Kenneally)

Trainer Eddie Kenneally appeared on Saturday’s Equine Forum show broadcast on the Horse Racing Radio Network and all but said his colt would need the Risen Star (G2). The Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner still managed to finish a game second to Mucho Macho Man in a very solid performance, beating some other pretty nice Derby contenders.

TOBY’S CORNER (Bellamy Road 1.86 Motion) Dianne Cotter’s homebred looked impressive winning the Whirlaway at Aqueduct. In the care of top trainer H. Graham Motion, the son of Bellamy Road should run all day and into the night. He’s won three of four starts and has a condition edge over many of the more fancied contenders.

DIALED IN (Mineshaft 3.62 Zito)

His Holy Bull (G3) was scintillating to watch and very reminiscent of Silky Sullivan, but it was a one-turn mile that favors closers and his dosage index dangles closer to being a sprinter than a router. That being said, any horse Nick Zito is getting ready for the Triple Crown, that wins a major prep, is an automatic contender in my book. The Fred Astaire of the “Avoid the Favorite” dance, Zito will see where Pletcher runs Uncle Mo and zag to the other race on March 12.

ON THE RADAR:

WILKINSON (Lemon Drop Kid 1.18 Howard), SOLDAT (War Front 2.47 McLaughlin), MUCHO MACHO MAN (Macho Uno 2.43 Ritvo), CASPER’S TOUCH (Touch Gold 1.53 Mc Peek), ASTROLOGY (A.P. Indy 3.42 Asmussen), CALEB’S POSSE (Posse 2.00 Von Hemel), INDIAN WINTER (Indian Charlie 3.00 Hollendorfer), PREMIER PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus 3.62 Cho) and CAL NATION (Distorted Humor 3.00 Pletcher)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 at 7:36 am and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.