In order of Kentucky Derby points: by (sire) Trainer, Jockey
Tiz the Law (Constitution) Barclay Tagg, Manny Franco
Pros: By leading sire Constitution, undefeated as a 3yo, significantly highest consistent speed numbers in field, trainer Tagg won 2003 Derby with Funny Cide, should handle distance-(won 10f Travers with highest speed number of career) six wins is most in Derby field, has won by open lengths in all starts as a 3yo
Cons: only off-track experience (at Churchill as 2yo in G2 stake) was only defeat of career, last New York-bred to win KY Derby (2003 Funny Cide) is only NY-bred to win
Derby winner he hopes to be: California Chrome
Authentic (Into Mischief) Bob Baffert, John Velazquez
Pros: By leading sire Into Mischief, five time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Baffert, two time KY Derby winning jockey John Velazquez, could be pace setter in race and controlling speed, only career loss (2nd) came to Honor A.P. in Santa Anita Derby
Cons: Pedigree suggests distance concerns. Set somewhat soft fractions in Haskell and almost got caught on wire, prior to Justify (Scat Daddy) in 2018, no Derby winner came from the Storm Cat sire line, no off-track experience, jockey Mike Smith opted for Honor A.P. for Derby, not known for late kick: sets the pace and hopes to hang on, has not faced a field larger than seven runners
Derby winner he hopes to be: Always Dreaming
Honor A.P. (Honor Code) John Shirreffs, Mike Smith
Pros: $850,000 Saratoga selected yearling, Trainer Shirreffs won 2005 KY Derby with Giacomo, decent 2nd place to Thousand Words in last start at Del Mar, recent Santa Anita Derby winners who have won Ky Derby include Justify, California Chrome, I’ll Have Another, defeated Authentic in SA Derby, jockey Mike Smith and trainer Shirreffs teamed together to win 2005 Derby with Giacomo
Cons: Shared Belief loss was a headscratcher, was it a step back from SA Derby, or a decent effort? Has not raced on an off-track, or outside of California.
Derby winner he hopes to be: Sunday Silence
Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) Saffie Joseph, Jr., Paco Lopez
Pros: Awesome late move in the Haskell, seems to be improving as a 3yo, especially in Graded Stakes company and since transfer to trainer Joseph, 10 of the last 20 Derby winners come from Mr. Prospector sire line
Cons: hard to gauge the Haskell effort, as it was clearly his best race to date: bounce possible? Last (and only) NY-bred to win KY Derby was Funny Cide 2003, pedigree suggests distance may be an issue, will need to be faster earlier if there is a quick pace. Hasn’t beaten any of the top Derby candidates
Derby winner he hopes to be: Funny Cide
Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) Bob Baffert, Florent Geroux
Pros: Baffert, sire Pioneerofthe Nile sired 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, did he re-gain 2yo form (and then some) in the Shared Belief? $1 million auction yearling, 10 of last 20 Derby winners from Mr. Prospector sire line, jockey Geroux having a great 2020 (26% in graded stakes this year)
Cons: In only start outside of California, faded to 11th in Oaklawn Stakes (on off-track, against a 13 horse field), Shared Belief win was easily best of his career, bounce possibility?
Derby winner he hopes to be: Real Quiet
Max Player (Honor Code) Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Pros: Hall of Fame trainer Asmussen, dam sire Not for Love also dam sire of 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, has shown good late kick in last two starts against top competition, has won over an off-track
Cons: passed tiring horses in Travers? In last two races, has left a lot of work for himself in last quarter, 3/8 of a mile, Asmussen 0-20 in Ky Derby
Derby winner he hopes to be: Grindstone
Enforceable (Tapit) Mark Casse, Adam Beschizza
Pros: Outstanding pedigree, by leading sire Tapit, out of mare who has produced 4 SW from 5 starters, including champion 2yo New Year’s Day, decent Blue Grass effort: was wide and gained in the stretch, trainer Casse trained 2019 Preakness and Belmont winners
Cons: hasn’t won since LeComte in January, hasn’t hit the board since Risen Star in February, highest lifetime speed number one of the lowest in the field
Derby winner he hopes to be: Giacomo
Major Fed (Ghostzapper) Greg Foley, James Graham
Pros: By leading sire Ghostzapper, Pedigree suggests he should handle 10f, beat Ny Traffic in Risen Star, Necker Island in Indiana Derby
Cons: one win from six career starts, Indiana Derby 2nd place result not flattered by Shared Sense in Ellis Park Derby
Derby winner he hopes to be: Proud Clarion
Storm the Court (Court Vision) Peter Eurton, Julien Leparoux
Pros: Eclipse Champion 2yo colt, 10 of last 20 Derby winners from Mr. Prospector sire line
Cons: hasn’t won since November (BC Juvenile), not sure he wants the distance, runner-up in G2 La Jolla on turf in last start was decent but not overly promising
Derby winner he hopes to be: Gato del Sol
Attachment Rate (Hard Spun) Dale Romans, Joe Talamo
Pros: Pedigree suggests he should handle 10f, showed nice late kick in Ellis Derby defeating Necker Island
Cons: Only 1 win from eight starts, waits too long to make his run, has faced top rivals but can’t seem to beat them, low speed numbers, hasn’t hit the board in 2 starts at Churchill Downs
Derby winner he hopes to be: Dust Commander
Sole Volante (Karakontie) Patrick Biancone, Luca Panici
Pros: dam has 2SW from 4 starters and should get distance, if you excuse the Belmont he has shown great late kick and is 2 wins and 1 2nd in last 3
Cons: Last start was a flat 6th in Belmont Stakes in June, was in excellent form in January and February and hasn’t continued
Derby winner he hopes to be: Animal Kingdom
Finnick the Fierce (Dialed In) Rey Hernandez, Martin Garcia
Pros: Good 2nd place, with late run in G2 Ky Jockey Club at Churchill as 2yo, June allowance at Churchill was a good effort: 3rd behind Art Collector, Shared Sense. Has solid efforts at Churchill, and on off-track surfaces
Cons: has only crossed the wire first once: promoted to first via DQ in April allowance at Oaklawn. Pedigree, and recent races, suggest 10f is too far
Derby winner he hopes to be: Mine that Bird
Winning Impression (Paynter) Dallas Stewart, Joe Rocco, Jr.
Pros: Has won on off-track, trainer Stewart has been 2nd twice in Ky Derby at big odds (2014, 2013)
Cons: only win was in Maiden race in December at Fair Grounds, (Dq’d in Oaklawn Allowance in April), has not hit the board in Derby preps, ran 6th in only start at Churchill Downs
Derby winner he hopes to be: Charismatic
Necker Island (Hard Spun) Chris Hartman, Miguel Mena
Pros: pedigree suggests should get 10f, 2-4 at Churchill Downs, 1-1 on off track, has shown some improvement since claim and transfer to trainer Hartman
Cons: has not won as 3yo, low speed numbers, has only shown strong late kick once (June allowance at Churchill behind Art Collector, Shared Sense, Finnick the Fierce)
Derby winner he hopes to be: Exterminator
South Bend, (Algorithms) Bill Mott, Tyler Gaffalione
Pros: 2-3 at Churchill Downs, pretty solid 4th in the Travers, his first start under Hall of Fame trainer Mott, good Ohio Derby 2nd place where he made up lots of ground in the stretch, jockey Gaffalione won 2019 Preakness and trainer Mott won 2019 Derby
Cons: pedigree suggests 10f may be too far, hasn’t won since October of 2yo year, has run much of his 3yo year on turf
Derby winner he hopes to be: Country House
Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway) Bret Calhoun, Gabriel Saez
Pros: Incredible pedigree: by leading sire Giant’s Causeway, out of Galileo mare, distance should not be a problem, won Oaklawn Stakes in April defeating Thousand Words, showed some heart in a tough trip in Blue Grass Stakes, seems to like off-track
Cons: low speed figures, the Oaklawn Stakes may have been a one-time shot, has only once shown late turn of foot
Derby winner he hopes to be: Gallahadion
Money Moves (Candy Ride) Todd Pletcher, Javier Castellano
Pros: two-time Derby winning trainer Pletcher, Hall of Fame rider Castellano, by leading sire Candy Ride, should be able to get 10f, $975k 2yo purchase, good speed figures, has experience in large fields
Cons: only three career starts, has yet to run in stakes competition, may have to show more early speed to be involved
Derby winner he hopes to be: War Emblem