A field of 10 is entered for the 1 1/16-mile race, which offers Derby qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the first five finishers on a sliding scale.
Captain Cook. NYRA/Coglianese Photo.
The latest usracing.com Derby Top 10 looks almost the same as last week, though, with Captain Cook, the lone new member, moving in at No. 6 after his 2 ¼ length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Withers. The result puts trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., back on the Derby trail. Dutrow won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes (G1) with Big Brown in 2008.
Even though Citizen Bull excelled in his 3-year-old debut, the Bob Baffert trainee remains No. 2 behind unbeaten stablemate Barnes, winner of the San Vicente (G2).
Burnham Square merits serious consideration after his Holy Bull win over a solid field, but the feeling here is that he needs another solid effort to move into the Top 10, which could come in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on March 1.
The pace picks up over the Feb. 15-16 weekend, when the Risen Star Stakes (G2) begins the series of Derby qualifiers offering 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers. A day later (Feb. 16), it’s the Sunland Derby with a points scale of 20-10-6-4-2.
The following week, on Feb. 22, Oaklawn Park hosts the Rebel Stakes (G2), which could include five of this week’s Top 10 – Barnes, Disco Time, Coal Battle, Speed King, and Sandman.
Jockeys are listed from the horse’s most recent race.
Barnes posted another solid workout on Feb. 1 – 5 furlongs in 59.80 seconds, fifth fastest of 72 at the distance … Won 7-furlong San Vicente by 5 ½ lengths on Jan. 4 to improve to 2-0 … Purchased for $3.2 million by Amr Zedan. … Pedigree: Into Mischief-All American Dream, by American Pharoah … Next start: Rebel, Oaklawn, Feb. 22 … Derby points: 0 … Derby future wager odds: 6-1 (pool 3).
3-year-old debut a success with a win in Robert B. Lewis over stablemates Rodriguez and Getaway Car … BC Juvenile winner is now 4-for-5 … Pedigree: Into Mischief-No Joke, by Distorted Humor … Next start: Santa Anita, Feb. 1 … Derby points: 60 (1st) … Derby future wager odds: 17-1.
Worked 4 furlongs in 48.80 at Santa Anita on Jan. 30, sixth fastest of 19 at the distance … Los Alamitos Futurity win over Gaming and Getaway Car keeps him high on the list … Pedigree: Curlin-Mopotism, by Uncle Mo … Next start: San Felipe, Santa Anita, March 1 … Derby points 10 (19th) … Derby future wager odds: 20-1.
Worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 1 … remains top contender as BC Juvenile is a toss after colt stumbled badly at the start … Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro-Dance Music, by Ghostzapper … Next start: Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 15 … Derby points: 10 (16th) … Derby future wager odds: 15-1.
He hasn’t worked since a neck win over Built-in Lecomte on Jan. 18 … He’s 3-0 with his first two wins at Churchill Downs, so what’s not to like? … Pedigree: Not This Time-Disco Chick, by Jump Start … Next start: Risen Star, Fair Grounds, Feb. 15 … Derby points: 20 (5th) … Derby future wager odds: 21-1.
This week’s lone new entry after Withers’s win, a race that hasn’t produced Derby winners since it became a prep, but … Having this trainer on the trail gets him on the list, plus he’s 2-for-3 with a win at 1 1/8 miles … Purchased for $410,000 at Keeneland November horses of racing age sale by St. Elias Stable … Pedigree: Practical Joker-Pow Wow Wow, by Indian Charlie … Next start: Gotham, Aqueduct or Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream, both March 4 … Derby points: 20 (6th) … Derby future wager odds: 4-1 (mutuel field).
He worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.60 at Oaklawn on Feb. 3 … after a four-length win in Smarty Jones, this could be quite a run for a 72-year-old trainer still seeking a first graded stakes win … Colt already has two Derby prep wins and has won four of six starts … Pedigree: Coal Front-Wolfblade, by Midshipman … Next start: Rebel, Oaklawn, Feb. 22 … Derby points 20 (3rd) … Derby future wager odds: 46-1.
We’re patiently waiting… The latest workout was 4 furlongs in 49.20 at Payson Park on Jan. 31 … Won Street Sense by five lengths with a last-to-first run at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs … Pedigree: Into Mischief-Crowned, by Bernardini … Next start: TBD … Derby points 10 (20th) … Derby future wager odds: 21-1.
Winner of Southwest in gate-to-wire run, colt deserves spot here. Still, Rebel in a few weeks should determine where he fits in … Purchased for $100,000 at Ocala Breeders’ 2-year-olds in training sale by Triton Thoroughbreds … Pedigree: Volatile-Athenian Beauty, by Corinthian … Next start: Rebel, Oaklawn, Feb. 22 … Derby points 25 (2nd) … Derby future wager odds: 4-1 (mutuel field).
While others appear more deserving at this juncture, his strong rally for second in the Southwest keeps him here … he’s run fifth, third, and second in Derby preps so that a longer distance could be in his future. Purchased for $1.2 million at the Ocala Breeders’ 2-year-olds in training sale by West Point Thoroughbreds … Pedigree: Tapit-Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor … Next start: Rebel, Oaklawn, Feb. 22 … Derby points 14 (12th) … Derby future wagers odds: 59-1.
