1. Sovereignty
Owner/Trainer: Godolphin/Bill Mott
Into Mischief —Crowned, by Bernardini
Breeder: Godolphin (KY)
His return at 3 was delayed by interrupted training, but he seems now to be in a steady pattern. Unraced since winning the Street Sense Stakes (G3) last fall at Churchill Downs, he is pointed toward the March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott told Daily Racing Form. The configuration of the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth might hinder his late-running style—races at that distance have a short stretch due to ending at what is typically the sixteenth pole—but the timing of the Fountain of Youth is favorable to leave him with the chance to have two spaced-out preps before the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Watch: King Discusses Risen Star Stakes, Upcoming Derby Preps
2. Barnes
Owner/Trainer: Zedan Racing Stables/Bob Baffert
Into Mischief—All American Dream, by American Pharoah
Breeder: Jeff Drown and Don Rachel (KY)
Kentucky Derby Future Wager gamblers remain enchanted with this 2-for-2 colt, making him the individual betting choice at 8-1 odds in the fourth such pool that closed over the weekend. Though Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a six-time Derby winner, chose not to enter this colt in the Feb. 23 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, Barnes appears in sharp form. He was outstanding in a six-furlong in-company workout in 1:12 Feb. 17 at Santa Anita Park as he gears up for his first race in the March 1 San Felipe Stakes (G2) there.
3. Citizen Bull
Owner/Trainer: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Bob Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert
Into Mischief—No Joke, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Robert and Lawana Low (KY)
Last year's Eclipse Award-winning juvenile male, a front-running winner of the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in his lone start this year, tops the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 points. That advantage, which puts him safely into the Derby field based on historical trends, means that Baffert does not have to run this already seasoned colt any more than necessary. So, with Barnes likely for the San Felipe, he could sit that one out and await the April 5 Santa Anita Derby (G1) or another prestigious race in late March or early April.
4. Chancer McPatrick
Owner/Trainer: Flanagan Racing/Chad Brown
McKinzie —Bernadreamy, by Bernardini
Breeder: Rigney Racing (KY)
Given that he disappointed in his lone start around two turns last year when sixth in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, his planned starts this year in two-turn routes will help determine if he is a legitimate classic contender or more effective as a late-running one-turn horse. He took the seven-furlong Hopeful Stakes (G1) and one-mile Champagne Stakes (G1) last year with wide rallies but never fired in the Juvenile when the pace and flow of the race favored front-runners. The March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) is on deck.
5. Burnham Square
Owner/Trainer: Whitham Thoroughbreds/Ian Wilkes
Liam's Map —Linda, by Scat Daddy
Breeder: Whitham Thoroughbreds (KY)
The Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner will likely return at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth, potentially setting up an intriguing clash with Sovereignty and other promising 3-year-olds such as River Thames, who is unbeaten in two starts. Burnham Square's most recent drill, an easy half-mile in :50.05 at Palm Meadows Training Center Feb. 15, was pure maintenance. He worked alone and without the blinkers he has been wearing in his two most recent victories.
6. Journalism
Owner/Trainer: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Bob LaPenta/Michael McCarthy
Curlin —Mopotism, by Uncle Mo
Breeder: Don Alberto (KY)
Some of these in the Derby Dozen lineup, such as Barnes and Chancer McPatrick, still must prove their two-turn proficiency. Not Journalism. After losing his debut in a sprint, he has rattled off two route wins, topped by the Dec. 14 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Among those he defeated in the latter race was graded stakes winner Getaway Car, who grittily took the Sunland Park Derby Feb. 16. Note the sharp works from Journalism since he resumed training this winter after getting sick. Ready to square off against Barnes in the San Felipe.
7. Sandman
Owner/Trainer: D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables/Mark Casse
Tapit —Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Lothenbach Stables (KY)
Based on the closing odds of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, in which he was the fourth choice among individual wagering interests at 16-1, he seems likely to start as the favorite in the 14-horse Rebel Stakes, now set for Feb. 23 after being postponed a day. None of those taking more backing than him in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are entered in the race, though the race is still stacked with quality, as one would expect for $1.25 million. Excited to see what Sandman can do if he breaks smartly and puts it all together. Recall that he blew the break and had a wide trip when second in the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes (G3).
8. Coal Battle
Owner/Trainer: Norman Stables/Lonnie Briley
Coal Front—Wolfblade by Midshipman
Breeder: Hume Wornall and Jay Adcock (KY)
Though he won the Jan. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes on the lead, that was the product of there being little pace in the lineup. Look for him to revert to his usual stalking or closing style in a Rebel that drew at least several legitimate speed horses. He is likely best with a target, anyway. His fastest Equibase Speed Figure, a 96, was earned when he rallied to victory in the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 13. Unbeaten in four dirt starts, he gets a class test in the Rebel in his first graded stakes attempt.
9. Speed King
Owner/Trainer: Triton Thoroughbreds, Naber Racing, Bryan Hennigan, Doug Rapier, and Ron Micetic/Ron Moquett
Volatile —Athenian Beauty, by Corinthian
Breeder: Nancy C. Shuford (KY)
The horse Coal Battle caught in the Remington Springboard Mile was Speed King, who gave him a fight before falling a half-length short in his first route. Following up with a Southwest victory, Speed King is more seasoned now than he was and quicker, too. He ran a career-best 103 Equibase Speed Figure in the Southwest, sustaining his front-running pace even after being hounded into quick splits down the backstretch and on the second turn. This time, he faces what appears to be two pace threats in the Rebel in longshots Innovator and Smoken Wicked.
10. Rodriguez
Owner/Trainer: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Bob Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert
Authentic —Cayala, by Cherokee Run
Breeder: Kingswood Farm and David Egan (KY)
He worked Feb. 17 at Santa Anita, covering six furlongs in 1:11 4/5—a quick work without company, though his rider did encourage him. Look forward to what we see from this promising colt in the weeks to come. As well as he ran to be second in the Robert B. Lewis, he was green and lost focus midrace, suggesting he has room for improvement.
11. Built
Owner/Trainer: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners/Wayne Catalano
Hard Spun—Sea Garden, by Curlin
Breeder: Robert and Lowana Low (KY)
No one was catching Magnitude in the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots when the winner sizzled 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.85, but that exciting colt is unfortunately off the Derby trail with an ankle chip. Built encouragingly showed, caught late by a head by Chunk of Gold for second, 9 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Built's body of work this winter in New Orleans further includes a win over Magnitude in the Dec. 21 Gun Runner Stakes and a close second in the Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes (G3).
12. First Resort
Owner/Trainer: Godolphin/Eoin Harty
Uncle Mo—Fair Maiden, by Street Boss
Breeder: Godolphin (KY)
Unraced since winning the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs, he swings back into action in the Feb. 22 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Turfway Park's Tapeta track. It is a synthetic surface on which he has no experience racing, though he has trained smartly over it this winter for trainer Eoin Harty. He showed last year he was a naturally speedy horse of high quality, precocious enough to place in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) over the summer. He outnods prospects such as Tappan Street, John Hancock, Baeza, and Captain Cook for the final spot in the Derby Dozen rankings.
