The Road to the Kentucky Derby scoring races are now in the books, the standings are complete and the field for the 149th Kentucky Derby (G1) is crystallizing. About two weeks after the race, when the horses attempted to continue on to the first Saturday in May, Brisnet.com shared an overview of the top 26 horses pursuing a position in the field which is limited to 20 starters.
Eligible scores are listed in parentheses. Click on the highlighted horse name for more BloodHorse words on each name.
Forte (190 points)
Trying to join street feeling And Nyquist as Juvenile Breeders’ Cup (G1) winners to wear the rose, 2-year-old men’s champion Forte dominated his return to the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) , but had to scramble late to win the Florida Derby (G1)—displaying a champion’s heart.
Owner: Repole Barn & St. Elias; Coach: Todd Pletcher; racer: Irad Ortiz Jr.
genealogy: Violence —Queen Caroline, by Blame
Realistic move (160 points)
The smash winners Los Alamitos Futurity (G3) and San Felipe Stakes (G2) closed the gap a lot by only extending in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Owner: Pierre Jean and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley; Coach: Tim Yakteen; racer: Ramon Vazquez
genealogy: Realistic jokes —Naughty Ack, by Alex’s Fleet
More from Brisnet: Meet the Kentucky Derby Candidate’s Guide
angel of the empire (154 points)
Scorer Risen Star (G2) enhanced his reputation with an authoritative victory in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Owner: Albaugh family barn; Coach: Brad Cox; racer: Flavien Prat
genealogy: Classic Empire —Armony’s Angel, by To honor and serve
Tapit Trice (150 points)
The $1.3 million thirst started slowly but ended well to win the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
Owner: Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Stable; Coach: Todd Pletcher; racer: Luis Saez
genealogy: faucet —Danzatrice, by Dunkirk
Two Phil (123 points)
Bettors in Lecomte (G3) and Risen Star stakes have taken a leap on Race Park Tapeta emerges and runs away with Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).
Two Phil’s will be back on the pitch for the Kentucky Derby
Owner: Hope by Patricia & Phillip Sagan; Coach: Larry Rivelli; racer: Jareth Loveberry
genealogy: Spin hard —Mia Torri, by Common neighborhood
Lord Miles (105 points)
Underperforming students in Florida prepare better than in aqueduct to prevail in a three-way Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) match.
Owner: Vegso Racecourse; Coach: Saffie Joseph Jr.; racer: Paco López
genealogy: make for curly —Lady Esme, by mighty warrior
sotogake skin (100 score)
The Japanese carrier used a new style of pace setting to bounce in the UAE Derby (G2) in quick time.
Owner: Hiroyuki Asanuma; Coach: Hidetaka Otonashi; racer: Christophe Lemaire
genealogy: your cookie heart —Amour Poesie, by Neo Universe
Kingsbarns (100 score)
The light racehorse took advantage of the light pace in the Louisiana Derby (G2) to improve to a 3 to 3 .
Owner: Farm spending; Coach: Todd Pletcher; racer: TBD
genealogy: Uncle Mo —Lady Tapit, of Tapit
raise Cain (64 points)
The big winner in Gotham Stakes (G3) by the one-mile distance finished late in fifth at Blue Grass.
Owner: Andrew & Rania Warren; Coach: Ben Colebrook; racer: Javier Castellano
genealogy: Violence—Lemon Belle, by Lemon Drop Kid
Missiles can (60 points)
Since then, the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner has finished second in the Fountain of Youth and fourth in the Arkansas Derby.
Owner: Frank Fletcher’s Racing Activity; Coach: Mott Invoice; racer: Teenager Alvarado
genealogy: into naughty —Tension, by Tapit
impressions (60 points)
The impressive hero Withers Stakes (G3) only has an advantage when bouncing between enemies in the Forest.
Owner: Gary & Mary West; Coach: Brad Cox; racer: Manny Franco
genealogy: candy ride —Actress, by Tapit
confidence game (57 points)
The Rebel Stakes (G2) reverser has been refreshed since that bet breakout.
Owner: Don’t Tell My Wife The Barn; Coach: Keith Desormeaux; racer: James Graham
genealogy: Candy Ride-Eblouissate, by Bernardini
Verification in progress (54 points)
The justification half-brother with half-brother Midnight Bisou is on the rise after a near miss in Blue Grass.
Owner: Westerberg, Magnier, Poulin, Smith & Tabor; Coach: Brad Cox; racer: Tyler Gaffalione
genealogy: Confession—Diva Delite, by Repent
Thunder (54 points)
Risen Star’s runner-up then finished fifth unharmed in the Louisiana Derby and fourth in Blue Grass.
Owner: R. T Racing Stable & Cypress Creek Equine; Coach: Ken McPeek; Jchirp: Brian Hernandez Jr.
genealogy: Into Mischief—Greenfield d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro
Wild On Ice (50 points)
The Sunland Park Derby (G3) Player of the Year was nominated late for the Triple Crown.
Owner: Frank Sumpter; Coach: Joel Marr; racer: Ken Tohill
genealogy: Tapizar—Slamitagain, by Grand Slam
magician (50 points)
The inexperienced foal nearly toppled Forte during the Florida Derby.
Owner: Invest in OGMA, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing & CMNWLTH; Coach: Gustavo Delgado; racer: TBD
genealogy: good magic —Puca, by big brown
Blazing Sevens (46 points)
The Champagne Stakes (G1) winner is yet to return to that level this period, but his third Blue Grass is a step in the right direction.
Owner: Rodeo Creek Racing; Coach: Chad Brown; racer: TBD
Genealogy: The girl who won the good magic trophy, with the warrior’s reward
disarm (46 points)
The Louisiana Derby runner-up was a surprise addition to Lexington Stakes (G3), where his third-place effort scored just enough to send him into the Derby field.
Finishing third at the Lexington Stakes earned Disarm a place in the Derby
Owner: Purebred Winchell; Coach: Steve Asmussen; racer: Joel Rosario
genealogy: gunman —Easy Tap, by Tapit
regeneration (45 points)
Sham Stakes (G3) winner finished third in his next matches at Oaklawn Parkhampered by a bad ride in Rebel but not much excuse in Arkansas Derby.
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et al; Coach: Tim Yakteen; racer: John Velazquez
genealogy: good magic —Allanah, by Scat Daddy
continue (Invited by Japan)
Winner Cattleya S. also finished in distant third in the UAE Derby.
Owner: Lion Race Horse Co.; Coach: Yoshito Yahagi; racer: Sakai Ryusei
genealogy: Drefong—Pan de Ring, by King Kamehameha
ON THE BULLET
Jace’s Road – Horse Profile – BloodHorse.com”>ON THE BULLET
Jace’s Road (45 points)
The Gun Runner Stakes jumpsuit failed to slouch in the Southwest Stakes (G3) slouch but came back up to third in the Louisiana Derby.
Owner: West Point Thoroughbred & Family Barn Albaugh; Coach: Brad Cox; racer: Florent Geroux
genealogy: The Road to Quality—Out Post, by Silver Vice
peeler (45 points)
Third in both the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby, the last of which he came closer within half the time.
Owner: Stable CRK; Coach: John Shirreff; racer: Victor Espinoza
genealogy: Curlin—Winding Way, by Malibu Moon
naughty whirlwind (45 points)
Fountain of Youth repeated that result for the third time, but reduced his defeat, in the Florida Derby.
Owner: Albaugh & Castleton Lyons Family Barn; Coach: Dale Romans; racer: TBD
genealogy: Into Mischief—You Are Coming, by Bernardini
Major (40 points)
Many of the field-classified winners switched to Tapeta to Jeff Ruby Steaks and finished second.
Owner: Farm spending; Coach: Todd Pletcher; racer: TBD
genealogy: Bolt d’Oro —Mary Rita, by twisted humor
Mandarin hero (40 points)
Denizen of Japan’s NAR circuit almost stunned the Santa Anita Derby.
Owner: Hiroaki Arai; Coach: Terunobu Fujita; racer: TBD
genealogy: Bobby Shanghai—Namura Nadeshiko, by Fuji Kiseki
King Russel (40 points)
The Triple Crown late nominee came in second with 58-1 in the Arkansas Derby.
Owner: Brereton C. Jones & Naber Race; Coach: Ron Moquett
genealogy: creative cause —Believe You Will, by Proud Citizen
