first. Epicenter
Owner / Trainer: Winchell Thoroughbreds / Steve Asmussen
Genealogy: Not this time –Silent candy via Candy Ride
Breeder: Westwind Farms (KY)
The day after the other 3-year-olds shone in races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, he knocked out five sweaters at 1:01 on April 10 at Churchill Downs. His first work since winning Twinspires.com March 26 Louisiana Derby (G2) is a parallel maintenance move with a level one allowance horse. City . Stronger winds will come in the coming weeks. Epicenter stayed at the top of the ‘Dozen’ chart thanks to professionalism, experience and advancement at the age of 3.
The epicenter was outside Guntown 5F 1:01. Split: 13.40, 25.40, 37/1: 14.60, 1:29.40. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/SXDOAyALNZ
– Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) April 10, 2022
2. Zandon
Jeff Down / Chad Brown
Start up –Memories Prevailvia Creative cause
Brereton C. Jones (KY)
At 2-1 odds in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, he seems to have a better 20-1 chance in the middle of the second inning. With traffic shuffling back to last out of 11, his chances of crossing the pitch look bleak. But when he finds the light of day, he explodes under the guidance of Flavien Prat, finishing in second place in the middle of the universe and escaping. Happy smile with one last long-haired Trakus counted in time: 12.26. He’s still second in the ‘Dozen’, not overtaking Epicenter, due to his propensity to shoot with his flat foot, which, if repeated, could affect his starting place in the Kentucky Derby due to Woodford Reserve ( G1) presentation.
3. Taiba
Zedan Racing Stables / Tim Yakteen
Gunman –Needmore Flattery via Flatter
Bruce C. Ryan (KY)
For a horse that made only his second appearance in the Runhappy Santa Anita (G1) Derby, and merely a debut win in six races, his inexperience has never shown. This $1.7 million 2-year-old purchase smartly and comfortably broke in third place, allowing Messier to do the dirty work of following the man who laid the foundation Forbidden Kingdom , and then reeled with his steady friend to complete the 1 1/8 mile in 1:48.46. Only five horses have run in the Derby with one or two starts before the Derby. No one won the board. The last horse to run in the Derby with only two starts was China Visit, who finished sixth in 2000.
Taiba wins the Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park
4. Happy smile
Lucky Seven Stable / Kenny McPeek
Runhappy –Pleasant smilevia Pleasant Tap
Moreau Bloodstock International and White Bloodstock (KY)
While no match for Zandon’s stretch kick in Blue Grass, he also had a performance that showed he could be threatening on the first Saturday of May. Rushing away from the gate, he sat closer at a pace than he had in the first three starts, sitting in third at half a mile. He lost first place among the race’s top five finishers — running at least four paths from the inside on the first turn and three trails wide on the second. He has growth potential in Churchill Downswhere he won the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall.
5. White Abarrio
C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable / Saffie Joseph Jr.
Race day –Catch the diamondvia Into Mischief
Spend Farm (KY)
His lone defeat in five starts came for Churchill when he finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall, but equestrians shouldn’t harbor concerns about him not likes the surface. Slowing down that day after taking the first turn in a competitive position, he ended up in a traffic jam and then finished evenly to run behind Smile Happy and Classic Road . He has evolved since then, winning from speed presses or by stalking outside, as he effectively did in the April 2 Curlin Florida Derby do Hill ‘n ‘ Dale Farms presented at Xalapa (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
6. Messier
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm / Tim Yakteen
Empire Maker –Past marked via Smart Strike
Sam Son Farm (ON)
Awkwardly absent from Santa After Derby, he is sent by John Velazquez to chase after the Forbidden Kingdom, a sensible tactic against his favorite race. When that person folds back for a second turn, the 1/8 mile race seems to be his. He kept Taiba behind before yielding to him in the final match. This is the second of three routes he has completed. Derby longshot Slow down Andy knock him out in the Los Alamitos Futurity ramp (G2).
7. Mo Donegal
Donegal Racing / Todd Pletcher
Uncle Mo –Callmissbrownvia Pulp
Ashview Farm and Colts Old Barn (KY)
Just as when he performed to attend the April 9 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino (G2), he took advantage of a cheap and sweet ride. Despite rallying from last place, Trakus’ stats recorded him racing only four feet wider than Vote early who ran uncontrollably to the top after being favored Morelo blow broken. Mo Donegal is a classy horse — he rammed Zandon with a clubhead in Remsen Stakes (G2) after hitting him late, even though the managers took no action to disqualify him.
Mo Donegal Catches Early Voting at Wood Memorial Stock at Aqueduct Track
8. Simplify 
Tami Bobo / Antonio Sano
Not this time–Simply Confection via Candy Ride
France Weiner and Irwin J. Weiner (FL)
Those looking for a long shot to enjoy their excitement in the Derby may want to consider this pony. He was knocked out at 32-1 in the Kentucky Derby Futures Betting pool, perhaps a sign that he may not be in favor of a similar Derby Day betting. His third in the Florida Derby was better than it came out — coming after he competed for speed between the horses. That robbed Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) winner some of his late powers.
9. Charge it
Whisper Hill Farm / Todd Pletcher
Tapit –I will take responsibility via Charlie India
Whisper Hill Farm (KY)
Although he had more experience than Taiba, it wasn’t much. He has only had three starts under his age, twice in the maiden race and once in the equity race. If he can get into a slicker run in the Derby than he came in second in the Florida Derby, when he broke through poorly and failed to keep a straight line in the lane, watch out. Previous winners of the Derby with three race starts include Evenly (2018), Big brown (2008), and Regrets (1915).
ten. Cyberknife
Golden Square / Brad Cox
Gunman–Amazing flowers via Flower Lane
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey (KY)
He made a splash last week with futures bets – 17-1 – following his April 2 win in the Arkansas Derby (G1). That happened even though his time was 1:50.42, which is not particularly fast compared to the previous 1/16 mile (G3) Virtual Bet on that day at Oaklawn Park in 1:43.65. Out of time, he created a sustained run to chase the lead at the bottom line, an early move that may have knocked out less talented runners. Looking over at the Arkansas Derby, he ran fast in the February 19 options match, claiming victory at Fair Grounds & Slots.
11. Crown Pride
Teruya Yoshida / Koichi Shintani
Reaching for the crown –Emmy’s Pride via King Kamehameha
Shadai Farm (JPN)
After traveling from Japan to Dubai and now to Kentucky in late March, having about five weeks of surface training on Churchill will give him plenty of time to recover. Best not to discount the UAE Derby Sponsored by Mubadala (G2) the winner against the dominance of Japanese horses in international races. This pony’s only loss in four starts, his sixth at the Hyacinth February 20 in Tokyo, came after he was thwarted at break and ultra-wide.
twelfth. Zozos
Barry and Joni Butzow / Brad Cox
Munnings –Father’s Forest via forestry
Barry Butzow & Joni Butzow (KY)
Like Charge it, he falls into the starting three camp. He needs to keep improving to score the nasty goal for Derby, but he has grown with each start. After a maiden victory as a worker at the Fair Grounds, he received an optional claim race by 10 1/4 lengths at Oaklawn Park before debuting his promising stake in the Louisiana Derby. There was nothing wrong with his second time there with Epicenter, who ran a record 1:54.38 for 1 3/16 miles.
