It’s that time of year again! ThoroughbredZone’s Kentucky Derby 12 is back. Same format as the previous 6 years. Name, sire, dam, dam sire, month of birth, and the original first time purchase price. ThoroughbredZone will keep a close eye on this year’s 3-year-olds as they make their bids to become Kentucky Derby 137 Champion. Sydney’s Candy, Lookin At Lucky, Ice Box, Super Saver finished in 1,2,3,4 last year. Uncle Mo will lead off in the #1 spot this year. Will he stay there the all the way, or will there be a new #1 when it’s said and done?
ThoroughbredZone’s Kentucky Derby 12
(1) Uncle Mo - Indian Charlie - Playa Maya by Arch (Mar) Purchase Price $160,000 – The undefeated Uncle Mo kicks off this year’s Kentucky Derby list in the #1 spot. Uncle Mo has won all three of his career starts by a combined 23 lengths. He capped his championship 2-year-old campaign off with a brilliant win at Churchill Downs in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile GI last November. Uncle Mo sports a win over the Churchill Downs strip already which is a positive. Uncle Mo will try to follow the same foot steps as Street Sense in 2007 who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs, and went on to win The Kentucky Derby. He earned a big speed figure in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. If Uncle Mo moves forward off his 2-year-old campaign, he will remain the horse to beat. Uncle Mo is being pointed to the Timely Writer on March 12 at Gulfstream Park for his 3-yearold debut.
(2) To Honor and Serve - Bernardini - Pilfer by Deputy Minister (Mar) Purchase Price $250,000 – The Remsen GII and Nashua GII winner has yet to run as a 3-year-old. To Honor and Serve has only been defeated once, by Astrology in his first career start last September at Saratoga. Mucho Macho Man is a horse To Honor and Serve has defeated twice, came back to win the Risen Star GII. Live Oak Plantation’s To Honor and Serve is well bred to get the distance. Bill Mott for the 2nd consecutive year has a solid horse pointing towards the spring classics.
(3) Brethren - Distorted Humor - Supercharger by A.P. Indy (Apr) Home Bred – The undefeated half brother to last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver will debut at #3. WinStar will once again come to this year’s Triple Crown Series as a big player. Brethren is coming off an easy win in the Sam Davis GIII at Tampa Bay Downs in his first start of 2011. He stopped the clock in 1:45.07 for the mile and a sixteenth. It was a perfect way to start his 3-year-old campaign. Brethren, like his half brother Super Saver sported a win over the Churchill Downs strip before the Kentucky Derby, and that is as a positive.
(4) Dialed In - Mineshaft - Miss Doolittle by Storm Cat (Feb) Purchase Price $475,000 – The fast closing son of Mineshaft starts off in the #4 spot. Nick Zito is once again on the Kentucky Derby trail with another talented 3-year-old colt. Dialed In came on the scene last year as a 2-year-old, winning his debut at Churchill Downs with a strong, powerful late run after a slow start. In his 3-year-old debut this year, he did it again. He won the Holy Bull GIII last month after a slow start, making a strong rally to go by Sweet Ducky. He stopped the clock in a sharp 1:35.19 for the mile. Dialed In is a lightly raced colt who has plenty room for further development. He should relish a mile and a quarter.
(5) Mucho Macho Man - Macho Uno - Ponche de Leona by Ponche (Jun) – Mucho Macho Man is coming in off a game win in The Risen Star GII over the weekend. He battled with Santiva to the wire for the win. Mucho Macho Man stopped the clock in 1:43.98 for the mile and a sixteenth. Mucho Macho Man has been in solid company in his most recent starts before the Risen Star GII—finishing 2nd twice to the top rated To Honor and Serve, and finishing 4th behind Dialed In in the Holy Bull GIII. Mucho Macho Man is one of the more experienced horses on the Triple Crown Trail with 7 races under his belt already. Mucho Macho Man is the baby of the bunch. He is a mid June foal. Mucho Macho Man is still a young 3-year-old which means further progression in the maturation department is expected.
(6) The Factor - War Front - Greyciousness by Miswaki (Mar) – Another year, another talented Bob Baffert colt is on the Kentucky Derby scene. The Factor followed up his impressive maiden breaking win with an impressive front running win in The San Vicente GII over the weekend. The Factor is a lightly raced horse with only three career starts, but Bob Baffert has a way with 3-year-olds. He will do his best to keep him on target. The biggest question at this point with The Factor is how far he can carry that speed as the distances get longer? Bob Baffert will do all he can to make sure he goes into the Kentucky Derby ready to fire his best shot.
(7) Astrology - A.P. Indy - Quiet Eclipse by Quiet American (Mar) Purchase Price $285,000 Astrology ran 2nd to Santiva last November in the Kentucky Jockey Club GII at Churchill Downs. The Steve Asmussen trainee has yet to run as a 3-year-old. A race should be picked out for him soon enough. He is a horse who should benefit in the longer distance Kentucky Derby preps. Astrology has a nice 2-year-old foundation under him. Astrology has been working out at Santa Anita.
(8) Sway Away – Afleet Alex – Seattle Shimmer by Seattle Slew (Apr) Purchase Price $170,000 – Ran a strong closing 2nd to The Factor in the San Vicente GII to The Factor, and galloped out past him. The sharp looking son of Afleet Alex should enjoy the races as they get longer. His dam sire is the legendary Seattle Slew. This lightly raced colt has yet to fully develop as a race horse, like many others on the Derby Trail.
(9) Archarcharch – Arch – Woodman’s Dancer by Woodman (Mar) Purchase Price $60,000 – Archarcharch was the upset winner of the Southwest Stakes GIII on Presidents’ Day at Oaklawn Park. Archarcharch sat off the pace, and took over the lead in the stretch. He stopped the clock in 1:38.23 for the mile. Archarcharch is bred to long, and should enjoy the races as the distances increase.
(10) J P’s Gusto - Successful Appeal - Call Her Magic by Caller I.D. (Apr) Purchase Price $52,000 J P’s Gusto finished 2nd as the favorite in the Southwest Stakes on Presidents’ Day at Oaklawn Park to upset winner Archarcharch. As of now on this year’s Kentucky Derby list he has been the best bargain, only costing $52,000, and has earning over $500,000. J P’s Gusto had a solid 2-year-old campaign. Overall J P’s Gusto has 9 career races under his belt which makes him one of the most experienced horses on this year’s Kentucky Derby trail. The Southwest Stakes was only his 2nd career start on dirt.
(11) Anthony’s Cross - Indian Charlie - Screening by Unbridled (Feb) Purchase Price $360,000 – The winner of the Robert B. Lewis GII battled it out with Riveting Reason to get the win. The big favorite Tapizar was rank, and faltered to finish off the board. Tapizar has since been injured, and is now off the Derby Trail. Anthony’s Cross has a solid 2-year-old foundation having raced 4 times in 2010. The Pennsylvania bred Anthony’s Cross finished 3rd behind Astrology and To Honor and Serve at Saratoga last year.
(12) Sweet Ducky – Pulpit – Storm’s Darling by Storm Boot (Feb) Purchase Price $135,000 Sweet Ducky is coming off a good effort in the Holy Bull GIII finishing 2nd to Dialed In. Sweet Ducky has 6 career races under his belt. The Florida Derby seems to be the main objective at this point. How far Sweet Ducky can go remains to be seen. Sweet Ducky raced 5 times as a 2-year-old. He has good tactical speed. How far Sweet Ducky can go remains to be seen.
Knocking On The Door
Soldat -Was an impressive 10 length winner in an allowance race in the slop at Gulfstream Park-Fountain Youth GII Next. Arch Traveler - Broke his maiden in a sharp win at Gulfstream Park-In Race 3 Saturday At Gulf. Santiva - Battled with Mucho Macho Man to finish 2nd in Risen Star GII. Bind – Explosive 1st out winner at the Fairgrounds on The Risen Star undercard. Flashpoint – Another impressive 1st out winner at Aqueduct last month-looked very sharp-Hutcheson GII Next. Cal Nation – Romped in his debut for trainer Todd Pletcher at Gulfstream Park, Derby Trail is questionable however. Shackleford – Won an allowance race a mile and an eighth. Toby’s Corner – Won the Whirlaway at Aqueduct. Comma to the Top – Had his 5 race win streak snapped in the El Camino Real GIII. Rocking Out – Long striding son of Include disappointed in last. Escort - Broke maiden in third try at Gulstream park. Stay Thirsty – Ran 2nd in The Hopeful GI last year. Silver Medallion – Winner of the El Camino Real GIII. Awesome Patriot- Beat Riveting Reason in an allowance. Crossbow- Speedy Darley colt is on track to run in The Hutcheson GII. Free Entry – Upset Rocking Out in Allowance. Travelin Man - Won going away in his debut at Gulfstream Park early last month. Nacho Business – 1st out winner on Holy Bull GIII undercard. Riveting Reason – Ran 2nd to Anthony’s Cross in the Robert B. Lewis GII. Wilkinson – Lecomte GIII winner. King Congie - Has been running on grass, a switch back to dirt can’t be ruled out. Vengeful Wildcat - Has not raced in a while, but working steadily at Gulfstream Park. Gourmet Dinner - Ran 3rd behind Dialed In & Sweet Ducky in Holy Bull GIII. Indian Winter - Winner of the non graded San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita.
