This is my second in a series of blogs devoted to 2012 Kentucky Derby hopefuls. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile pre-entries were announced on Wednesday so this seems like a good time to preview that event and update my list.
2012 Kentucky Derby
I am off to a good start as my top five from my first Derby blog (Sept 10) all came back to run well. Union Rags and Alpha ran 1-2 in the Champagne and Creative Cause and Drill ran 1-2 in the Norfolk. Secret Circle made it 2-for-2 with another sprint romp. The bottom of the list blew up, however, mostly due to injuries.
Unfortunately, B Shanny, Fire On Ice, and Currency Swap have gone to the sidelines with injuries. Hurry Home Clover also drops off the list following a disappointing effort in the Charlie Palmer Futurity at Fresno.
The aforementioned Champagne and Norfolk players will meet again in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and I am looking forward to seeing my top ranked colt Alpha over a route of ground. I think the east coast horses are better at this stage but Creative Cause was visually impressive at Santa Anita last time.
Click on the names of each horse below to view their Horse Racing Nation profile page, which includes pedigree information, results, and video.
Jarrod Horak’s Top Ten 2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders
1. Alpha (Bernardini) – Rallied for the place in G1 Champagne. Makes 3rd lifetime start in BC Juvenile and is bred to run all day.
2. Secret Circle (Eddington) – Bob Baffert’s fleet colt rated nicely in Jack Goodman Stakes romp (97 BSF). The BC Juvenile Sprint is next and he will probably stretch out in the near future.
3. Union Rags (Dixie Union) – Overcame trouble to smartly beat Alpha in the G1 Champagne (92 BSF). He goes next in the BC Juvenile.
Creative Cause goes next in the BC Juvenile - photo by Eclipse Sportswire
4. Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway) – Turned the tables on Drill in the G1 Norfolk (84 BSF). He should continue to progress and is one of the favorites for the BC Juvenile.
5. Drill (Lawyer Ron) – G1 Del Mar Futurity hero was clearly 2nd best in Norfolk. He also makes his next start in the BC Juvenile.
6. Dullahan (Even The Score) – Mine That Bird’s baby brother earned his diploma in G1 Breeders’ Futurity (85 BSF). Connections torn between BC Juvenile and BC Juvenile Turf.
7. Optimizer (English Channel) – Finished well for the show in the Breeders’ Futurity. D Wayne Lukas will try him on dirt in BC Juvenile.
8. Seeker (Hard Spun) – Asmussen trainee finished a respectable 3rd in G2 Nashua. The BC Juvenile Sprint is next.
9. Take Charge Indy (A. P. Indy) – Ended up a disappointing 4th in Breeders’ Futurity. The BC Juvenile is next. I love his pedigree and think he will be much better in 2012.
10. El Padrino (Pulpit) – Todd Pletcher’s $210k purchase was a fast closing 2nd behind former (injured) top ten member B Shanny. He runs in the 2nd race at Belmont Park on 10-29 (MSW, 8f). Long winded pedigree.
Injured Reserve
B Shanny (Street Cry) – Bone chip has sidelined him for the year.
Currency Swap (High Cotton) – Left front ankle injury (P-1 flake) will require surgery and two months of farm rest. He is expected to point to the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby if all goes well.
Fire On Ice (Unbridled’s Song) – Suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture in his left hind leg. He is expected to return sometime next year.