Kentucky Derby 2012 Contenders – Liaison states his case

The road to Kentucky Derby 2012 made a pit stop at Hollywood Park last weekend and Liaison got the job done in a professional manner for trainer Bob Baffert.

Liaison wins 3rd straight in CashCall Futurity - photo by Eclipse Sportswire

The son of recently deceased sire Indian Charlie owns fine tactical speed and has a nose for the wire. He once again got the best of Rousing Sermon and the top two validated the strength of the Real Quiet Stakes.

Maidens always seem to make some noise on the Derby Trail. In 2009, Make Music For Me placed behind Lookin At Lucky in a pair of graded events and graduated in a grass stakes event the following year. Santiva landed the place in the 2010 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland before earning his diploma in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. At this point in 2011, the talented maiden award goes to Brother Francis.

The son of Lion Heart, trained by James Cassidy, followed up a rallying place finish in the G3 Hollywood Prevue with a solid show finish in the CashCall Futurity. Will he return to the maiden ranks or continue to compete against stakes foes?

Sky Kingdom was bumped at the start and missed the CashCall show by a ½ length. The Baffert trainee was hardly disgraced in his first start against winners and remains a decent long range prospect.

Empire Way was 5^th in the CashCall and should continue to improve with added ground and experience. Blingo was a nose behind him in 6^th for John Shirreffs, followed by Handsome Mike (pressured throughout), Cozzetti, and a badly tailing off Drill.

Majestic City attended the pace before faltering to finish 10^th. He is clearly best sprinting. Basmati checked in behind him and solidified the weakness of the Delta Jackpot.

Out of Bounds is worth following for Eoin Harty - photo by Eclipse Sportswire

Out of Bounds (Discreet Cat) looked good graduating in an extended sprint at Hollywood Dec 10. The Eoin Harty trainee is out of 2001 BC Distaff winner Unbridled Elaine.

At Gulfstream Park on Dec 16, a pair of promising horses out of hot sire Bernardini mixed it up, with Algorithms (88 BSF) wearing down Consortium in a salty optional claimer at six and one-half furlongs. Todd Pletcher mentioned the G3 Holy Bull at the Gulf on Jan 29 as a viable option for the undefeated winner.

Click on the names of selected horses 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. Union Rags (Dixie Union) – Champagne hero failed to run a straight course in unlucky BC Juvenile place finish. He is wintering in Florida.

2. Secret Circle (Eddington) – Bob Baffert’s fleet colt remained undefeated in game BC Juvenile Sprint (95 BSF) tally. Five works since BC including 6f bullet in 1:11.60 at Santa Anita on Dec 22.

3. Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway) – G1 Norfolk hero finished a respectable 3^rd in BC Juvenile. He will get a breather and could return in Santa Anita’s G2 San Vicente at 7f on Feb 19.

4. Hansen (Tapit) – Undefeated BC Juvenile (94 BSF) hero has never been headed and his true talents are still unknown. He will spend the winter in Florida and should show up in more than one Derby prep at the Gulf.

5. Gemologist (Tiznow) – Sharp G2 Ky Jockey Club (85 BSF) victory for WinStar Farm/Todd Pletcher. Undefeated colt owns fine early-pressing speed and plenty of upside.

6. Alpha (Bernardini) – Champagne runner-up was fractious at gate in BC Juvenile flop. He breezed 4f in :48.79 at Palm Meadows on 12-17 and could make his first 2012 start in the Gulfstream Derby on Jan 1.

7. Dullahan (Even The Score) – G1 Breeders’ Futurity winner blew the break in BC Juvenile but still managed to finish a respectable 4th.

8. El Padrino (Pulpit) – Todd Pletcher’s $210k purchase was last seen finishing a rock solid 3^rd in G2 Remsen. Two works since his last including 5f breeze in 1:01.31 at Palm Meadows on Dec 18.

9. Take Charge Indy (A. P. Indy) – 5th place BC Juvenile finisher owns a strong route pedigree and should be much improved in 2012.

10. Hierro (Hard Spun) – Cruised in 3^rd lifetime start at Churchill Downs on Nov 9. Three works since arriving at Santa Anita including swift 5f move in :59.80 on 12-18.

Exciting Prospects

Algorithms eyes Jan 29 Holy Bull at Gulfstream - photo by Eclipse Sportswire

Consortium (Bernardini) – Kiaran McLaughlin trainee did all of the pace dirty work and finished 2^nd to Todd Pletcher’s promising colt Algorithms (Bernardini) in a 6.5f optional claimer at the Gulf on Dec 16.

Ever So Lucky (Indian Charlie) – Hardly a secret in good looking Churchill sprint bow. Sheppard trainee set the pace and just held the place in G2 Ky Jockey Club Stakes. Future appears bright.

Liaison (Indian Charlie) – G1 CashCall Futurity (91 BSF) winner has now won three straight and is 2-for-2 in synthetic routes. Not sure about the overall strength of the West Coast contingent.

O’Prado Again (El Prado) – G2 Remsen (80 BSF) hero can seemingly run all day and Dale Romans knows how to prepare a horse for the classics.

Out of Bounds (Discreet Cat) – Promising 7f maiden win at Hollywood on Dec 10 for Eoin Harty. Dam Unbridled Elaine is also responsible for multiple graded hero Etched.

Souper Speedy (Indian Charlie) – Set the pace and held the place in G2 Remsen. Debuted a 7f winner in the mud prior to that and is a ½ to Brilliant Speed.

Timely Tally (Mr. Greeley) – Landed the place behind Gemologist in last two Churchill outings. Calvin Borel is high on the late striding Ian Wilkes runner.

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.