BloodHorse information editor Byron King presents his newest Derby Dozen for 2022, with a have a look at his main contenders for the Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve on Could 7.
Final weekend, 4 qualifying factors preps have been held across the nation, inflicting a serious shuffling of high contenders for the 148th Derby. This upcoming weekend, one qualifying factors race is on the schedule: the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on March 12.
Try America’s Greatest Racing’s Triple Crown web page to maintain updated with tales and statistics on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby.
1. Zandon
After a 3rd within the Feb. 19 Risen Star Stakes introduced by Lamarque Ford at Truthful Grounds, he resumed breezing March 5, overlaying a half-mile in :49.60 at Payson Park in South Florida. Doubtless up subsequent is the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 9, which regained Grade 1 standing this 12 months after it was run as a Grade 2 from 2017-21. Anticipating improvement after an encouraging comeback race by which he performed catchup after a sluggish begin.
He additionally appears prone to profit from his first begin at 3 when second within the Risen Star. He was considered one of final fall’s high 2-year-olds, profitable first out in a route at Keeneland and following that race up with a graded stakes victory within the Kentucky Jockey Membership at Churchill Downs. He breezed a half-mile in a upkeep :49.03 at Gulfstream Park over the weekend.
Being a frontrunning sprinter out of a graded stakes-winning dam who by no means gained past six furlongs, Forbidden Kingdom had been a route query mark previous to Saturday’s San Felipe Stakes, however not any longer. He romped within the 1 1/16-mile race at Santa Anita Park, making fractions of :22.66, :45.90, and 1:10.46 look comparatively straightforward to set. His tempo slowed late however he gained together with his ears pricked, clocked in a quick 1:43.98 for a 102 Equibase Pace Ranking.
4. Epicenter
The Risen Star winner was sharp in an in-company drill in a bullet :59.60 at Truthful Grounds March 7, and appears to be headed into the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby March 26 because the possible favourite. There a rematch is so as with Name Me Midnight, who ran him down in a fast-paced Lecomte Stakes earlier within the Truthful Grounds meet. Some main contenders that chased this speedy colt within the Risen Star, nevertheless, are prone to skip the Louisiana Derby.
The Holy Bull Stakes winner had his kind flattered by runner-up Simplification returning to take the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes this previous Saturday. Simplification was compromised by a poor begin within the Holy Bull and elevated his sport with a greater journey within the Fountain of Youth. White Abarrio missed coaching and overcame it to win the Holy Bull, and he’s coaching swiftly main as much as an supposed recent begin within the Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream April 2.
After being compromised by a tardy starting within the Holy Bull, his Fountain of Youth was eagerly anticipated and he nonetheless managed to exceed expectations. Patiently dealt with into the primary flip, he tugged at Jose Ortiz down the backstretch behind a wall of horses earlier than site visitors cleared in entrance of him and he circled widest with a profitable rally. As within the Fountain of Youth, he did not swap leads however it did not cease him from working up a 3 ½-length margin of victory in a race tarnished by a two-horse spill.
7. Mo Donegal
After scratching from the Fountain of Youth after drawing submit 12 and growing what coach Todd Pletcher stated was a low-grade fever, his subsequent begin is to return within the Wooden Memorial Introduced by Resorts World On line casino at Aqueduct April 9. That race is smart for this late-running colt, who nipped Zandon by a nostril in Remsen Stakes there final fall over the identical 1 1/8-mile journey.
After rolling within the Feb. 12 Sam F. Davis Stakes to kick off his 3-year-old season, he returns to Tampa Bay Downs for the March 12 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, the place he’s prone to go favored towards a subject that also needs to the comebacking Main Common, who gained a maiden race and the Iroquois Stakes final 12 months. Traditional Causeway seemingly holds the sting with a begin over the monitor and being battle-tested towards a number of the better of the division.
9. Emmanuel
His first stakes try within the Fountain of Youth was deceptively good. Off poorly, he was shuttled again getting into the primary flip and sat eighth after 1 / 4 mile. Hung huge, he fought his approach again into competition down the backstretch and on the second flip, sitting in third with an eighth remaining earlier than ending fourth. His race was considerably paying homage to the journey Simplification skilled within the Holy Bull – and we all know how that one carried out with a greater journey within the Fountain of Youth.
10. Morello
Dealing with a subject that included a number of out-of-state invaders, this colt handed his first graded stakes check in profitable the one-mile Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct by 4 ½ lengths to enhance to 3-for-3. After chasing pacesetting Florida invader Dean’s Checklist, he reeled that one in and pulled away within the one-turn check. Coach Steve Asmussen has regularly stretched him out, and now a key two-turn attempt awaits within the 1/8-mile Wooden.
11. Rattle N Roll
Operating within the Fountain of Youth with a restricted worktab, the race appeared a method to an finish to get him prepared for the Kentucky Derby in a few months. He ran as if he have been quick on health, advancing up the rail down the backstretch earlier than weakening to sixth. Search for him to enhance in his second prep of the 12 months – he must transfer ahead to earn Derby qualifying factors. He has proven he’s a high-class, two-turn horse, taking the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity final fall at Keeneland.
12. In Due Time
He crossed the wire second within the Fountain of Youth, his first-two flip race, and stayed up following an inquiry after stewards made no change to the order of end after two horses went down within the race (fortunately with out damage). Looking for room beneath Paco Lopez, this colt bumped a foe, who in flip appeared to bump Excessive Oak, one of many two horses that fell as a decent pack jostled leaving the second flip. In Due Time had largely a ground-saving journey, overlaying 23 fewer toes than the winner and 61 toes lower than Emmanuel, per Trakus knowledge.
