Derby Horses To Watch

[WildKat]

Courier-Journal racing writer Jennie Rees' 3-year-olds to watch on the march to the Derby:

Horse Sire-dam Trainer Sts. 1-2-3 Earnings Dosage Comment
American Dance A.P. Indy-Quiet Dance Pletcher 3 1-1-1 $56,800 2.83 Remsen third-place finisher to return in mid-February
A.P. Cardinal A.P. Indy-Smok'n Frolic McLaughlin 4 1-1-0 $33,850 2.60 2nd in 9-f. GP allowance in McLaughlin debut; Pitino co-owns
Atomic Rain Smart Strike-Paradise Pond Breen 4 1-3-0 $77,370 3.40 Remsen 2nd by neck in 9-f. Gulfstream allowance
Au Moon Malibu Moon-She's Mahogany D. Carroll 3 1-0-1 $37,416 3.00 CD 11/8-mile maiden winner 3rd in Lecomte; Risen Star next
Beethoven Sky Mesa-Moonlight Sonata J. Ward 5 3-0-1 $149,913 5.86 Kentucky Jockey Club winner goes next in Holy Bull
Big Drama Montbrook-Riveting Drama Fawkes 6 5-0-1 $860,250 3.00 Delta Jackpot winner takes 5-race win skein into Holy Bull
Break Water Edison Lemon Drop Kid-August Storm Kimmel 5 2-1-0 $140,880 3.56 Nashua winner working great heading into Hutcheson
Captain Cherokee Sir Cherokee-Candytuft Asmussen 2 1-1-0 $33,640 1.67 Half-bro to champ sprinter Midnight Lute impressive in FG maiden
Capt. Candyman Can Candy Ride-Stormy Way Wilkes 4 2-0-1 $121,645 1.67 Iroquois winner narrowly lost Ky. Jock. Club; Hutch'son next
Chocolate Candy Candy Ride-Crownette Hollendorfer 7 3-1-1 $262,500 2.08 CashCall 3rd cruised in Gold'n Gate Derby; El Camino next


Coffee Bar Mineshaft-Java Casse 3 1-0-2 $43,860 1.77 Won Woodbine 1 1/16-mile maiden; SA allowance next
Danger to Society Harlan's Holiday-Elrose McPeek 2 2-0-0 $48,616 1.00 Lansdon Robbins' colt won tough allowance; Holy Bull next
Dunkirk Unbridled's Song-Secret Status Pletcher 1 1-0-0 $21,000 3.00 $3.7 million yearling won debut yesterday by 5¾; dam won Ky. Oaks
Flying Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus-Lilly Capote Nicks 3 2-1-0 $105,965 3.00 Time off after 2nd in Belmont Futurity; Southwest possible
Free Country Big Country-Smyrna McPeek 2 2-0-0 $43,156 3.31 $10,500 weanling owned by Lexington's John Gerbas
Friesan Fire A.P. Indy-Bollinger Jones 5 2-1-1 $123,265 3.00 Looked the part in winning Lecomte; Risen Star next
Giant Oak Giant's Causeway-Crafty Oak Block 4 2-1-0 $81,396 3.00 Tough beat in Ky Jockey Club in dirt debut; Risen Star next
Gresham Seeking the Gold-Alexi Dancer Baker 6 2-1-2 $71,794 2.62 3rd in traffic in Smarty Jones after Churchill allowance win
Hello Broadway Broken Vow-Nightstorm Tagg 3 1-1-0 $71,060 2.00 Nashua runner-up targeting Hutcheson; half-brother to Nobiz Like Shobiz
Idol Maker Empire Maker-Costume Party Pletcher 3 1-0-0 $43,650 2.50 4th in Remsen, tough 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream allowance
Indygo Mountain A.P. Indy-Mountain Girl Calhoun 3 1-1-0 $36,416 3.24 6th in Lecomte after Churchill maiden win; Risen Star next



It Happened Again Proud Citizen-Quiet Lucky Jones 4 2-1-0 $67,200 3.00 Won small Delta stakes with ease; could go in Risen Star
I Want Revenge Stephen Got Even-Meguial Mullins 5 1-1-3 $192,000 3.00 Lost CashCall by nose; targeting Bob Lewis Stakes
Jack Spratt Candy Ride-Mayapple Maker 6 2-1-2 $101,052 1.91 Grass stakes winner; dirt debut in Fountain of Youth
Midshipman Unbridled's Song-Fleet Lady bin Suroor 4 3-1-0 $1,380,200 2.37 BC Juv. winner and likely Dubai champ aiming at UAE Derby
Nicanor Dynaformer-La Ville Rouge Matz 0 0-0-0 $0 2.41 Barbaro's full brother nearing anticipated Gulfstream debut
Notonthesamepage Catienus-Blue Holiday W. Ward 6 2-1-1 $109,078 3.44 Got 115 Beyer in Spectacular Bid; Fountain of Youth next
Nuclear Wayne Mineshaft-Flashy Four Asmussen 3 2-0-0 $51,600 3.73 Won sprinting (97 BRIS; 96 Beyer) when bred to race farther
Obligingly Officer-Arctic Affair Pletcher 3 1-0-1 $14,529 3.00 3rd in Gulfstream allowance; Sam Davis or Gotham next
Old Fashioned Unbridled's Song-Collect Call Jones 3 3-0-0 $173,280 5.22 Remsen winner makes 3yo debut in Southwest
Papa Clem Smart Strike-Miss Houdini G. Stute 3 1-0-0 $30,940 3.36 SA mile-maiden winner scratched from San Rafael


Patena Seeking the Gold-Handpainted Dutrow 5 2-2-0 $136,777 2.80 Canadian stakes winner 2nd in Lecomte; Ftn. of Youth/Fla. Derby next for IEAH purchase
Pioneerof the Nile Empire Maker-Star of Goshen Baffert 5 2-0-1 $544,200 3.89 BC Juvenile fifth won CashCash Futurity in first start for Baffert
Primary Witness Hennessy-Deb's Honor Hennig 1 1-0-0 $21,000 2.33 Looked good winning his debut at Gulfstream Jan. 14
Quality Road Elusive Quality-Kobla J. Jerkens 2 1-1-0 $32,830 2.38 101 Beyer in Aqueduct maiden win; 2nd in GP allow.
Rocketing Returns Gone West-Spring Meadow Zito 3 2-1-0 $58,534 5.18 Won Calder allowance; working sharply in Florida; Hutcheson up
Rockland Smarty Jones-Wiscasset Matz 3 2-0-1 $38,399 1.50 Has won long on dirt, grass; from a superior female family
Saratoga Sinner Harlan's Holiday-Naughty Linda Kenneally 3 1-0-1 $26,495 1.50 1st GP 11/8-mile maiden; Holy Bull or Sam Davis next
Shafted Mineshaft-Twist Afleet Casse 3 2-0-0 $48,332 4.33 Santa Anita allowance winner looking at Bob Lewis
Silver City Unbridled's Song-Proposal Calhoun 4 3-0-1 $92,971 3.31 Oaklawn's Dixieland by 4; two-turn debut in Southwest
Soul Warrior Lion Heart-Urmia Asmussen 2 1-1-0 $33,640 4.00 Won two-turn maiden at Fair Grounds; Risen Star next


Square Eddie Smart Strike-Forty Gran O'Neill 7 2-3-1 $787,366 3.40 2nd in San Rafael after BC Juv 2nd; dirt debut in Southwest
Stardom Bound Tapit-My White Corvette Frankel 5 3-2-0 $1,420,600 3.36 IEAH could target Derby with filly champ; Las Virgenes next
Taqarub Aldebaran-Honor Bestowed McLaughlin 3 3-0-0 $94,827 2.58 Won Aqueduct's Winkfield by 8-1/4; Fountain of Youth next
Terrain Sky Mesa-Minery Stall 6 3-1-0 $408,584 2.20 Closer faded in Delta Jackpot pressing pace; Risen Star up
The Pamplemousse Kafwain-Comfort Zone Canani 4 2-0-1 $89,280 1.67 San Rafael winner targeting Santa Anita Derby; Sham next
Theregoesjojo Brahms-Slewie Blues McPeek 3 2-0-0 $56,228 2.53 1st Gulfstream allowance; Risen Star likely next
Top Seed Grand Slam-Bronze Route Trombetta 3 3-0-0 $62,205 3.67 1st Tampa Bay Inaugural; stretches out in Sam Davis
Vineyard Haven Lido Palace-Princess Alaho bin Suroor 4 3-0-1 $419,000 3.00 Hopeful-Champagne winner sold to Godolphin; UAE 2,000 Guineas target
Well Positioned Awesome Again-Taxible Reynolds 2 1-0-0 $26,754 2.33 Won mile maiden at Aqueduct by 141/4; Gulfstream allowance next
West Side Bernie Bernstein-Time Honored Breen 4 2-1-0 $232,960 1.80 Ky Cup Juv. winner 6th in Breed. Cup, 2nd in Delta Jackpot


50 MORE HORSES TO WATCH

Horse Sire-dam Trainer Sts. 1-2-3 Earnings Dosage Comment
Active Duty Deputy Commander-Punchbowl Casse 5 1-1-2 $149,145 3.00 Broke maiden in Canadian stakes; looking at Santa Anita allowance
Advice Chapel Royal-Word o' Wisdom Pletcher 3 1-0-1 $37,647 3.80 DQed to 3rd in A-W Futurity; 9th in Breeders' Futurity; at Santa Anita
Al Khali Medaglia d'Oro-Maya Pletcher 3 2-1-0 $3,474 1.59 Won two of three starts in Peru; U.S. debut next month
Alma d'Oro Medaglia d'Oro-Brenda DS R. Dutrow 2 1-0-0 $23,110 1.80 Five-length GP mile maiden winner for Derby-winning barn
Ask Joe Najran-Heavenly Halo Klesaris 4 3-0-1 $91,050 3.50 Sugar Bowl winner questionable beyond a mile; Hutcheson next
Awesome Preacher Touch Gold-Just Awesome Asmussen 4 1-1-1 $37,758 2.20 Broke maiden on 4th attempt at Fair Grounds
Axel Foley Officer-Morganza O'Neill 4 1-1-1 $47,640 2.20 British import 2nd in California Derby; Sham next, then a dirt race
Azul Leon Lion Heart-Quick Blue O'Neill 7 3-1-0 $232,400 2.43 Best Pal winner on DQ, 5th in CashCall; Bob Lewis next
Bittel Road Stormy Atlantic-Sultry Sal Pletcher 6 3-1-0 $274,640 3.00 CashCall fourth likely to stay on turf
Brother Keith Johar-Hawa Mahal Frankel 2 1-0-0 $34,772 2.56 4th in San Rafael when rank and drifting out; will try another stakes


Bruce N Autumn Lemon Drop Kid-Loose Park Romans 3 1-0-0 $29,086 2.53 Fifth in tough 9-furlong GP allowance off CD maiden turf win; allowance next
Charitable Man Lemon Drop Kid-Charitabledonation McLaughlin 2 2-0-0 $187,200 2.06 Belmont's Futurity winner on tight timetable after shin surgery
Checklist Gone West-Yearly Report Pletcher 1 1-0-0 $21,100 3.62 Won Jan. 3 Gulfstream maiden with ease; allowance race next
Coffee Bar Mineshaft-Java Casse 3 1-0-2 $43,860 1.77 Won Woodbine 1 1/16-mile maiden; SA allowance next
Copper Cascade Grand Slam-Topicount Hennig 3 1-0-1 $26,590 3.00 Closed nicely to win Gulfstream mile maiden race
Cribnote Read the Footnotes-Totebook Violette 4 1-1-1 $126,200 1.00 Hopeful runner-up got banged up when third in Champagne
Desert Party Street Cry-Sage Cat bin Suroor 4 3-0-0 $138,467 3.80 Sanford winner targeting UAE 2,000 Guineas after win in Dubai
Driving Snow Verglas-Dazzling Dancer Miller 5 1-1-2 $75,873 1.80 Irish import 2nd in Keeneland's Bourbon on grass; Lane's End a target
Dumar Maria's Mon-Mispillion Asmussen 4 2-0-1 $47,370 2.20 1st Fair Grounds two-turn allowance; some stakes up next
Fitzmo Seattle Fitz-Caribbean Hideway Kitchingman 2 1-0-0 $29,400 4.60 Fast Santa Anita maiden winner; allowance race likely
Gone Astray Dixie Union-Illicit McGaughey 4 1-0-1 $76,900 3.67 Champagne fourth just started back working at Gulfstream


Haynesfield Speightstown-Nothing Special Asmussen 4 3-0-1 $125,321 3.00 New York-bred Count Fleet winner goes next in Whirlaway
Heir to the Stone Birdstone-Mi Mariposa Violette 2 1-1-0 $36,400 2.20 Second in New York-bred allowance after impressive maiden win
Hold Me Back Giant's Causeway-Restraint Mott 3 2-0-0 $55,724 3.44 Targeting synthetic tracks
Hornung Speightstown-Deb's Charm C. Dollase 3 2-0-0 $24,480 3.00 3rd in Golden Gate allowance; yes, he's named for the Golden Boy
Jose Adan Crypto Star-Markofclass bin Suroor 3 2-1-0 $80,320 3.00 Illinois-bred gelding, DQ'ed winner of A-W Futurity, now in Dubai
Kelly Leak Runaway Groom-Hasty Appeal Machowsky 5 1-2-0 $60,690 1.11 Stakes runner-up on grass 3rd in Saturday's Sunshine Millions Dash at GP
Majormotionpicture Action This Day-Boa Machowsky 1 1-0-0 $39,000 1.48 Part-owner Bob Feld's goal is first Derby winner with 18-character name
Mayor Marv Distorted Humor-Miss Wineshine Baffert 6 1-3-1 $59,208 1.57 Won Santa Anita 1 1/16-mile maiden; named for Carson City's mayor
Merus Miami Friends Lake-Profit System Jauregui 3 2-0-1 $74,400 4.14 Gold Rush winner third in California Derby
More Than Willing More Than Ready-Greeley's Click McPeek 2 0-1-1- $10,410 1.91 Promising horse needs to break maiden first


Mr. Fantasy E Dubai-Twice Forbidden McLaughlin 1 1-0-0 $24,600 4.20 10-1/2-length NY-bred winner targeting allowance, Gotham
Musket Man Yonaguska-Fortuesque Ryan 3 3-0-0 $87,600 4.00 Few are faster: earned 101 BRIS speed fig in Tampa's Pasco
Nowhere to Hide Vindication-Stirring Zito 5 1-2-1 $44,599 2.33 Broke maiden at Calder in fifth attempt; Holy Bull next
Peace Town Peace Rules-Darnestown Trombetta 5 3-1-0 $88,850 4.33 Maryland Juvenile winner goes next in Whirlaway
Pitched Perfectly Pleasantly Perfect-Musical Minister Contessa 5 2-1-0 $67,895 2.73 Won two-turn Aqueduct allowance race after Count Fleet 4th
Poltergeist Tapit-I'm Relaunchable Van Hemel 5 2-1-1 $46,883 2.69 Won Oaklawn mile allowance by six; Southwest likely spot
Pressure Point Point Given-Mandalay Point Maker 2 1-0-0 $28,266 4.00 4th GP allowance; Louisville owners losing sleep at thoughts of Derby
Russell Road Wheaton-Roberta Grump Casey 6 5-1-0 $202,530 2.00 Pride of West Virginia could be pointed toward Preakness
Ryehill Dreamer Catcher In The Rye-No Way Shirreffs 6 2-2-1 $124,753 1.57 British import third in San Rafael in U.S. debut


Silent Valor Lion Heart-Few Choice Words Pletcher 6 2-1-0 $141,200 3.00 Sapling winner was 4th in Spectacular Bid; Hutcheson or Sam Davis next
Sky Diva Sky Mesa-Swift Girl Klesaris 4 2-0-2 $484,000 3.33 Frizette winner third in BC Juv. Fillies, Demoiselle; Derby bid unlikely
Smart Bid Smart Strike-Recording Motion 4 2-0-2 $78,918 3.67 Philly maiden winner shipped to Santa Anita to win grass allowance
Southern Region Stormy Atlantic-Easter Butter Asmussen 3 0-3-0 $21,400 3.00 Has yet to win, but Asmussen likes his new acquisition
Sumo Fusaichi Pegasus-Dyna Da Wyna Motion 3 1-1-1 $23,274 3.00 Laurel mile maiden winner looking for allowance in Mid-Atlantic
Sunday Sunrise Lemon Drop Kid-Sun is Up Asmussen 6 1-1-0 $26,080 2.20 Second at 35-1 in FG allowance in first start on dirt
Stately Character Pleasant Tap-London Valley Procino 5 1-1-2 $69,050 1.73 3rd in Gulfstream allowance after taking Calder's Foolish Pleasure
Take the Points Even the Score-Ginger Ginger Pletcher 3 1-1-1 $48,990 1.35 Belmont maiden winner at a mile likely for Gulfstream allowance
Tone It Down Medaglia d'Oro-Chattin Komlo 2 1-1-0 $21,840 1.22 Won two-turn maiden at Laurel in last start
Uno Mas Macho Uno-Queen Majesty Asmussen 6 2-2-0 $68,800 3.57 FG allowance winner fourth in Lecomte; Risen Star next


WHAT IS DOSAGE?

The Dosage Index is a numerical system that rates horses based on breeding; since 1929, only four Derby winners (Strike the Gold in 1991, Real Quiet in '98, Charismatic in '99 and Giacomo in 2005) had Dosage Index ratings above 4.00. Because of a change in the classification of his sire, Alydar, Strike the Gold would now qualify. Statistics provided by NTRA, Equibase and Brisnet.