first. Forte
Owner/Trainer: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/Todd Pletcher
genealogy: Violence —Queen Caroline via Blame
Breeder: South Gate Farm (KY)
Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher has slowly picked up the pace with last year’s 2-year-old male champion, limited by distance: 50.61 half-mile on Feb. ponies in the Palm Beach Downs. Look for Pletcher to get even more serious with the Breeders’ Cup Minor (G1) leading up to an expected return in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) awards on March 4 at Gulfstream Park. Pletcher’s former champion minors missed the Kentucky Derby (G1) (Uncle Mo And Shanghai Bobby ). The eight-time Eclipse Award-honored trainer is a two-time winner of the Run for the Commission, winning it with Super savings in 2010 and with Always dreaming in 2017.
2. Arab Knights 
Zedan/Bob Baffert Stables*
Uncle Mo —northern night via astrology
Purebred Corser (KY)
Coach Bob Baffert was in court in Louisville, Ky., February 2-3, with his legal team asking for a preliminary order that could allow the Hall of Famer to participate in the Derby. this year. Baffert is seeking legal assistance from Churchill Downs Inc. repeatedly banned him from racing at their tracks until early July this year and his cadets earning points qualifies for the May 6 Derby. If not legally successful for coach—wait for the judge to rule this month—this talented prospect will need to join another warehouse to qualify and start in the Derby. The Arab Knight lacks spice but has no talent. Over the summer, Baffert felt the pony “is going to be ridiculous,” which he said after winning the Southwest Stakes (G3) on January 28 at Oaklawn Park.
3. Instant coffee
Golden Square/Brad Cox
Bolt d’Oro —Don’t Follow Anyone via Uncle Mo
Sagamore Farm (KY)
Lecomte Staking (G3) winner on January 21 at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots has been inactive since that race, suggesting he will likely sit out the February 18 Risen Star Stakes (G2) contest at the New Orleans oval. That’s not surprising at all, considering Brad Cox often outruns his runners’ starts and the 3-year-old had 32 points to qualify for the Derby. His late running style makes him suitable for long periods at the Fair Grounds, suggesting the March 25 Louisiana Derby (G2) there could prove his next goal.
4. Faustin
Michael Lund Petersen/Bob Baffert*
make for curly — hard not to like via Spin hard
DATTT Farm (KY)
Runner-up for his crack sprint stable friend Havnamemeldown in the seven-part San Vicente Stakes (G2) on January 29 at Santa Anita . Park, he will likely race for the next two turns. By 2007-08 Horse of the Year make for curly among many 1st class winning horses hard not to like , he was bred for extra distance. Baffert said of Faustin after San Vicente, “After he goes two turns, you see a big difference in him.”
5. Verification in progress
Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael B. Tabor/Brad Cox
justification —Diva Delite via Repent
Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm (KY)
Midnight Bisou His half-brother turned with an optional quick first grant to win at Oaklawn on January 14, in which he beat Gun Pilot by 5 1/4 lengths . The second returned last week to an impressive win in the same race at the Arkansas track, elevating this foal’s record. Also, Verification was quick during that January 14 race, signing up for Basic Speed Figure 102. The timing of the upcoming Risen Star Stakes suggests he’s likely to show up next time at the Fair. Grounds.
Verify trains last fall in Keeneland
6. National treasures
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert*
Quality Sugar —Treasure via Medaglia d’Oro
Peter E. Blum Purebred (KY)
Although he knocked out his mutuel supporters with third odds of 3-5 in Sham Stakes (G3) Jan 8 at Santa Anita Park, Sham was a fast race and looked pretty decent. France. runner-up new gate returned to win Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) on February 4 there. This man’s ride was less than perfect, ranking inside behind the horses before plunging out and running evenly across the lane. Most ponies will fare better with scenic rides, avoiding kickbacks. Rebel Stocks (G2) on February 25 at Oaklawn Park or San Felipe Stocks (G2) on March 4 in Santa Anita could be next in the pipeline.
7. Blazing Sevens
Rodeo Creek/Chad Brown Racing
good magic —girl trophy via Warrior Reward
Tracy Farmer (KY)
He and Forte have resumed training at the same time this year and have mostly stayed on the same weekly training schedule for the past few weeks. This player was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Forte when he finished fourth in the Juvenile, although the slow break allowed this player to catch up from the start. He seems to have lost at least a couple of distances with an awkward start. Then, after a dispute at the top of the lane, his rally went on as usual. A top tier winner at age 2 in the Verification in the Careless Champagne Bet (G1), even though that race was only a mile and around a turn.
Watch: Tapit Trice joins the Derby Dozen after running and jumping in the allotted time
8. Tapit Trice
Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable/Todd Pletcher
faucet —dazatrice via Dunkirk
Purebred Gainesway (KY)
Rocket Can won Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on February 4 at Gulfstream Park, but this pony left the biggest impression on Saturday’s show. Race against an optional opponent that requires a level one allowance, he picks up speed and overwhelms his steady friend Shesterkin to win the eight lengths. Although the race lasted only one mile at a time, the reach shown in this man’s stride gave the impression that he not only handled two turns, but advanced in such a situation and for long distances. than for Pletcher.
Tapit Trice trails ahead in an optional rights race at Gulfstream Park
9. winning lineup
Spendthrift Ranch and Racing by Frank Fletcher/Brad Cox
Tapwrit —Smart N soft via smart attack
Purebred Gainesway (KY)
He and Verify seem like Cox’s most likely prospects for the Resurrection Star Stake, although the coach’s bench is too deep for him to shuffle his roster without need trouble. If the Victory Squad runs in the Resurrection Star, the race will represent both a test of class and distance for the speedy pony. When he improved to 3 to 3 in Smarty Jones Stakes January 1, he ran down the short track used in the mile races at Oaklawn. The Easter Star is 1 1/8 miles away and will be by far his toughest challenge yet.
ten. Curly Jack
Michael McLoughlin/Tom Amoss
good magic—Connie and Michael via Roman ruler
Betz/J. Betz/Burns/Camaquiki/C.Kidder/et al (KY)
Trainer Tom Amoss gave him a five-mile fast drill on: 59 4/5, 2 February at Fair Grounds to prepare the foal for a return in the Star of Resurrection. While not as fast as others based on speed metrics, he has held up well in races like Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), from which several ponies achieved excellent results. He also had significant traffic problems at the Kentucky Horse Racing Club on November 28 when he was congested for most of the race.
11. Hejazi
Zedan/Bob Baffert stables*
Bernardini —WOOD Notes via Medaglia d’Oro
Chester & Mary R. Broman (NY)
He achieved 6 1/2 feathers in 1:14.58 when he graduated first on January 8 at Santa Anita, achieving a Base Speed Rating of 105. Runner-up, Worcester . So this stock is down a bit. Buying $3.55 million at the age of 2, Hejazi still has to prove he’ll go longer, after finishing in distant third in the 1 1/16 mile American Pharoah Stakes (G1) last fall. on his lonely path.
twelfth. regeneration
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert*
good magic—allanah by Scat Daddy
Woods Edge Farm (KY)
Ended a sharp five-minute training session on: 59 2/5 at Santa Anita on February 5 and with form flattered by the successful Robert B. Lewis Stakes from Newgate, whom he hit defeated in Sham, he switched to ‘Dozen’— defeated Newgate, stone cave (not active yet), Realistic move , Dubyuhnell , Missiles can (slow time to win Holy Bull-G3) and others. Reincarnation isn’t as fast-paced as the others on this lineup but managed to pull off two wins in a row, demonstrating speed, staying power, and grit against Newgate with necks in Sham.
Bob Baffert Brad Cox Byron King's Derby Dozen Dozens match Kentucky Purebred racing Southeast Region Three crowns West
