
I agree with some of this list. I don't think there's any question that from top to bottom, Lookin At Lucky is probably the most talented 3yr.old going into the Ky. Derby. Finally putting the conventional dirt question to bed, I still think Baffert would be doing him a bigger favor racing him again at Oaklawn in the Arkansas Derby instead of back out west on synthetics in the Santa Anita Derby, considering how close the finish of the Rebel Stakes came out. One more dirt track start wouldn't hurt "Lucky" at all before shipping to Churchill Downs. Awesome Act, until he went to Aqueduct, probably wouldn't have been this high up on the list, racing primarily on turf in the UK before coming stateside. But I'd agree in saying his "romp" in the Gotham Stakes is the most impressive Derby prep I've seen yet to date. To me, trying to split Eskendereya and Rule right now is about like "splitting hairs." There's no doubt that Eskendereya's got talent, and showed it in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. Rule, is a strong looking, physically impressive colt that always rates on or near the lead. He's going to be tough to beat, because he's won 4 straight on dirt, on both dry and sloppy tracks. Plus, he's never been off of the board in 7 lifetime starts on dirt, making him probably the most accomplished of the dirt prospects to date. One that's not getting much press, that I think might be an excellent ATB bet at Churchill Downs, and maybe at a price, is D'Funnybone. After a horrible last of 13 place finish in the B.C. Juvenile, he's come back pretty impressively to win 3 Stakes races on three different dirt tracks, winning the Hutchenson Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the Saratoga Special at Saratoga, and the Futurity Stakes at Belmont. I wouldn't count him out of finding the wire for a win, place, or show effort in the Ky. Derby. JMO.