A Look at Horses

As of this post time, I don't have the final word of which horses will be entered in the Kentucky Derby the weekend. I've gathered some thoughts about some of the horses based on my observations this spring. The list is based on graded earnings. I'm no expert. I just have certain impressions. Click on the title immediately below to go to a box with a hyperlinked version of this document. The hyperlinked document has links to horse pedigree and certain race videos.

A Look at Horses

Rank, Horse, Earnings
1. Lookin At Lucky, $1,480,000
With Eskendereya gone, Lucky looks to be the horse to beat. Baffert has trotted this guy out during the spring western season. Unfortunately for Lucky, he had a bum trip the last time out in the Santa Anita Derby. His last race was simply amazing from a forgettable sense. He was positioned in the middle of the pack, ready to burst home when a horse maneuvered in front of him causing Lucky to STOP. After switching lanes, he came on to finish a strong third behind winning Sydney’s Candy.

2. Noble's Promise, $738,000
He’s won lots of money, but his last race was a disaster, The Arkansas Derby. Supposedly, he got all cut up in the first turn and needed antibiotic treatment after the race. However, if you watch the replay, his trip wasn’t really that bad. He just had no running room and seemingly not enough to get to the front.

3. Sidney's Candy, $630,000 What an effort in the Santa Anita Derby. Sidney’s Candy ran away from the strong field. Some will, undoubtedly, make this horse the new favorite. One of my friends, the guy who grew up at Charles Town, say that this is the horse. A couple of years ago, we were sitting on the first turn at Monmouth for the breeder’s Cup. The rain had just stopped in time for the day’s races. My Charles Town friend, used to big bill wagers, plopped down beside me with a handful of “Dime Supers.” After the race, he began combing the tickets and found one winner…$4,000+ So if he says that Sidney’s Candy is the horse, you have to believe him. By the way, he was also the FIRST person I heard who understood the power of Barbaro.

4. Line of David, $600,000
What a race that Arkansas Derby was in retrospect. Line of David went wire-to-wire, but Super Saver really put the screws down coming home along with Dublin. Flash in the pan? I think so.

5. Mission Impazible, $485,934
Todd Pletcher may train every horse in this race, despite the fact that he’s lost Eskendereya and Rule. Mission Impazible is his latest sexy entry. In a recent work with stablemate Rule, Mission Impazible was leading out the other horse when he simply buried him by over 15 lengths. This could be the horse for the time, a late bloomer of sorts.

6. Ice Box, $457,500
A deep late closer. That’s what I’ve read about this horse. Zito likes him I’ve been waiting for him.

7. Stately Victor, $451,112
40-1…those were the odds when Stately Victor pulled the stunning upset in The Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland a couple of weeks ago. While the field was strong, the surface was artificial. That being said, this horse really impressed and blew away the field in that race.

8. Endorsement, $400,000
By virtue of his win in the Sunland Derby, Endorsement is positioned to run in the Kentucky Derby. His times weren’t anything special, but his race savvy was intense. He rode the favorite’s, Conveyance, shoulder and then outdueled him in the stretch.

9. Conveyance, $386,000
A Baffert horse. A fallen favorite in the Sunland.

10. American Lion, $378,000
A horse that ran wire-t0o-wire in the weak Illinois Derby has little chance. I’ve said that before and been burned.

11. Dublin, $373,208
That Arkansas Derby was a fantastic race. All year, people I know have been screaming that Dublin was the horse, the one to break out. That may be true. He came steaming onto the scene against a strong Arkansas field and arguably could have taken the rcce if it had gone longer….like the Kentucky Derby.

12. Super Saver, $363,832
I’ve been on the side of Super Saver all year. His game effort in the Arkansas Derby was incredible. He almost took the speedy rabbit down.

13. Devil May Care, $363,000
She’s good. Is she Rachel good? I don’t think so. It looks like Pletcher will enter this filly in the Derby, foregoing the Kentucky Oaks.

14. Discreetly Mine, $340,000
Another Pletcher horse. Discreetly Mine blasted the strong field in the Risen Star. This is one of my longshot possibilities.

15. Dean's Kitten, $326,475
I have little knowledge.

16. Interactif, $307,950
Will he run or not?

17. Awesome Act, $285,000
Won the Gotham over a weak field with an explosion on the home turn.

18. Paddy O'Prado, $250,950
Intriguing. Lightly raced. Won the Palm Beach Stakes over Dean’s Kitten.

19. Homeboykris, $250,500

20, Jackson Bend, $230,000
Looks like this second fiddle to Eskendereya will get into the Derby. Don’t discount this horse.


21. Backtalk, $225,916

22. Make Music for Me, $218,750

23. Pleasant Prince, $189,278

24. A Little Warm, $180,000

25. Setsuko, $180,000