My New York Derby Trail list has now
grown to 11 horses. These New York-based runners include seven trained by Todd
Pletcher, two each sired by Dixie Union and Tapit, and three ridden by Javier
Castellano. The horses are listed in order according to the Road to the Derby
points. The individual profiles include a video link for each horse’s most
recent race, if one is available, along with the probable next race.
Last race – 1st Breeders’
Cup Juvenile (G1) – 1 mile 1/16th – BSF 82 VIDEO BC Juvenile
Record – 5: 5-0-0 - $1,687,000
Road to the Derby points– 20 –
Rank 1
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Rider – Rosie Napravnik
Probable next race – $400,000 Holy Bull
(G3), Jan. 26, Gulfstream
Shanghai Bobby will enter 2013 as the
winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the leader in Road to the Derby points
and money earned. On January 19, he will receive the Eclipse Award for top two
year-old. Bobby is spending the winter in Todd Pletcher’s Palm Meadows barn
with the goal of running in two Derby prep races.
Record – 3: 3-0-0 - $543,000
Road to the Derby points – 10 – Rank 3
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Rider – JJ Castellano
Probable next race – $400,000 Fountain
of Youth (G2) – Feb. 23 - Gulfstream
The most recent victory of Violence
gives this unbeaten colt big wins on both coasts and a big plus in the
experience department. His run in the Cashcall against an impressive field was
one of the best of the year for juveniles.
Last race – 1st Remsen (G2)
– 1 mile 1/8th – BSF 99
Record – 5: 3-0-1 - $343,906
Road to the Derby points – 10 – Rank 4
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Rider – Ramon Dominguez
Probable next race – $400,000 Gotham
(G3), March 2, Aqueduct
The Remsen earned a very high Beyer
Speed Figure of 99. Overanalyze has already shown that he can handle the
distance of most Derby prep races, but can this son of Dixie Union handle the
extra distance of the Triple Crown?
Last race – 2nd Delta
Jackpot (G2) – 1 mile 1/16th
Record – 6: 3-2-1 - $616,000
Road to the Derby points – 4 – Rank 10
Trainer – Kelly Breen
Rider – Paco Lopez
Probable next race – $400,000 Holy Bull
(G3), Jan. 26, Gulfstream
Last race – 3rd Breeders’
Cup Juvenile (G1) – 1 mile 1/16th
Record – 4: 1-0-2 - $288,000
Road to the Derby points – 4 – Rank 12
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Rider – Joel Rosario
Probable next race – $150,000 Hutcheson
(G2), Feb. 2, Gulfstream
Capo Bastone ran a strong race in the
BC Juvenile even though he was reported to have bled badly. With Pletcher as
the trainer he will no doubt run on Lasix the rest of his career. How much improvement
will that mean for this colt?
Last race – 2nd Remsen (G2)
– 1 mile 1/8th – BSF 99
Record – 3: 1-0-1 - $92,240
Road to the Derby points – 4 – Rank 16
Trainer – Chad Brown
Rider – Jose Lezcano
Be sure to watch the replay of the
closing finish by Normandy Invasion in the highly rated Remsen and you will be
reminded that this Tapit colt is one to be reckoned with in 2013.
Last race – 4th Breeders’
Cup Juvenile (G1) – 1 mile 1/16th
Record – 4: 1-1-1 - $268,000
Road to the Derby points – 3 – Rank 18
Trainer – Kiaran McLaughlin
Rider – Ramon Dominguez
Probable next race – $200,000 Withers
(G3), Feb, 2, Aqueduct
Fortify reminds me of Alpha, last
year’s Derby runner for Kiaran McLaughlin. Will this Distorted Humor runner get
Godolphin back in the Derby in 2013?
Last race – 3rd Remsen (G2)
– 1 mile 1/8th – BSF 96
Record – 3: 1-1-1 - $84,800
Road to the Derby points – 2 – Rank 23
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Rider – JJ Castellano
Record – 2: 1-0-0 - $68,000
Road to the Derby points – 1 – Rank 30
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Rider – John Velazquez
The summer’s super-hyped two year-old
may have the best breeding for the Triple Crown distances. In 2013 we will find out if he has the
talent to match his pedigree and his public acclaim.
Last race – 1st MSW –
Saratoga – 6 1/2F.
Record – 2: 1-1-0 - $62,000
Road to the Derby points – 0
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Rider – JJ Castellano
Probable next race – allowance race,
February, Gulfstream
Palace Malice came out of his August
Saratoga maiden victory with sore shins. Pletcher has given him plenty of time
and is eyeing an allowance race for a February return. That means he will have
to do well in one of the big Derby point prep races to make the field.
Last race – 1st MSW –
Aqueduct – 7F. – BSF 90
Record – 3: 1-0-1 - $47,900
Road to the Derby points – 0
Trainer – Doug O’Neill/Nick Canini
Rider – Jose Lezcano
Probable next race – $200,000 Jerome
(G2), Jan. 5, Aqueduct
Team Doug O’Neill purchased Mudflats
off of his speedy maiden win on a sloppy track at Aqueduct. For now they are leaving this Tapit
colt in the New York barn of Nick Canini to prep for the Derby.