1. Dewey Square (Bernardini - Somethinaboutbetty, by Forestry) Trained by Dale Romans
He has been training steadily in Florida, most recently breezing five-eighths in 1:01.42 on Saturday. Next-race plans have not been announced, but at the rate he's going, don't be surprised if he turns up in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) on January 26th.
2. Normandy Invasion (Tapit - Boston Lady, by Boston Harbor) Trained by Chad Brown
Just recently had his first work back since his runner-up effort in the Remsen, breezing a half-mile at Palm Meadows in a bullet :48.01. Like Dewey Square, his next-race plans are still undetermined.
3. Capo Bastone (Stree Boss - Fight to Love, by Fit to Fight) Trained by Todd Pletcher
On January 1st, he breezed for the first time since the Breeders' Cup, going an easy three-eighths in :39.22. The plans are to bring him back in the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream on February 2nd.
4. Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday - Steelin', by Orientate) Trained by Todd Pletcher
Likely champion has been on the work tab since mid-December, most recently going five furlongs in a sharp 1:00.04. First up on the agenda is the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) on January 26th.
5. War Academy (Giant's Causeway - Cabbage Key, by A.P. Indy) Trained by Bob Baffert
He's back in training following a mild illness, having breezed a half-mile twice since the end of last year. Hard to say where this well-bred colt will end up running, but don't be surprised to see him back sometime in February -- perhaps even in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II).
6. Violence (Medaglia d'Oro - Violent Beauty, by Gone West) Trained by Todd Pletcher
He hasn't turned in a workout since the CashCall Futurity, but he should be back to serious training before too long. The Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) on February 23rd is scheduled to be his first race of the season.
7. Titletown Five (Tiznow - D' Wildcat Speed, by Forest Wildcat) Trained by D. Wayne Lukas
He hasn't breezed in a couple of months, which had me worried there for a while, but Lukas told DRF.com that the colt will be ready to run in March, so for the moment, Titletown Five will stay here. His maiden victory on October 28th looks even better since Bradester -- who finished nine lengths behind Titletown Five -- has since one two straight, including a nice allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream on New Year's Day.
8. Mountain Eagle (Birdstone - Gulch Legacy, by Gulch) Trained by Nick Zito
In my opinion, this is the colt that could give Zito his first Derby victory since 1994. A beautifully bred son of Birdstone, Mountain Eagle broke his maiden on December 8th at Gulfstream Park by 4 1/2 impressive lengths, stopping the clock for a mile in 1:35.965 seconds. But perhaps the most impressive part of his victory was the final quarter mile of :24.41 seconds, this coming off the heels of a third quarter in :24.51. In my opinion, that is a sign of exceptional stamina.
9. Overanalyze (Dixie Union - Unacloud, by Unaccounted For) Trained by Todd Pletcher
I'm having trouble determining where to rank this colt, partly because his record is a bit inconsistent. He broke his maiden impressively first time out. Then he finished a poor fourth in the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I). Then he was a spectacular winner of the Futurity Stakes (gr. II). Then he was beaten eight lengths in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III). Most recently, he dug deep to win the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) with one of the highest Beyer speed figures earned by a two-year-old last year. We'll learn more about him in the Gotham Stakes (gr. II) on March 2nd, his anticipated three-year-old debut.
10. Power Broker (Pulpit - Shop Again, by Wild Again) Trained by Bob Baffert
Although on the surface his record doesn't look all that great, this colt -- in my opinion -- has more talent than most people give him credit for. In the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he was very wide on boths turns while trying to close over a speed-favoring track, yet was still able to draw within 1 1/2 lengths of the lead at the eighth pole before understandably flattening out and finishing fifth, beaten five lengths. And of course, his 6 1/2-length triumph in the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) was about as impressive a performance as you could hope for. He's not expected to run again until March, but when he returns, watch out.
11. Uncaptured (Lion Heart - Captivating, by Arch) Trained by Mark Casse
This is another colt that I'm not quite sure what to do with. His two-year-old season was spectacular -- he won six of seven starts, including the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) and Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) -- but at the same time, his performances on the track leave me questioning his ability to traverse ten furlongs on the first Saturday in May. His pedigree doesn't provide a conclusive answer, as it seems to suggest that a mile and a quarter is within Uncaptured's reach without being overly confident in itself. Furthermore, he's being dealing with a foot bruise that will cause him to miss the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III), originally scheduled to mark his three-year-old debut. Like Overanalyze, we'll surely learn more further down the road.
12. Palace Malice (Curlin - Palace Rumor, by Royal Anthem) Trained by Todd Pletcher
Well-regarded son of Curlin broke his maiden impressively at Saratoga before going to the sidelines with sore shins. He returned to the work tab in December and has since breezed five times, most recently going five-eighths in 1:00.04 on January 6th. His return is expected to come in an as-of-yet undetermined allowance race.
13. He's Had Enough (Tapit - Amelia, by Dixieland Band) Trained by Doug O'Neill
Looked excellent finishing second by a head in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), but was subsequently beaten nine lengths when fifth in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I). His overall record is rather confusing -- in the morning, he trains like a superhorse, and he ran terrific in his debut, but often runs poorly without any excuse. However, it is worth noting that the Breeders' Cup marked his only start on dirt, so don't be surprised if he rounds back into form upon returning to that surface.
14. Frac Daddy (Scat Daddy - Skipper's Mate, by Skip Away) Trained by Kenny McPeek
Showed a great deal of talent when breaking his maiden by 9 3/4 lengths and a great deal of grit finishing second by a neck to Uncaptured in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II). From a pedigree perspective, ten furlongs may be a bit of a reach, but it's certainly not out of the question.
15. Flashback (Tapit - Rhumb Line, by Mr. Greely) Trained by Bob Baffert
Highly promising debut winner missed the Sham Stakes (gr. III) after being slightly off just prior to a key workout, but tests revealed no injuries, and he breezed five furlongs in a sharp 1:00.40 on January 7th.
16. Goldencents (Into Mischief - Golden Works, by Banker's Gold) Trained by Doug O'Neill
Showed a new dimension in the Sham Stakes (gr. III), rating comfortably in second before rallying for a 1 1/2-length triumph. From a visual perspective, it was a terrific race -- he beat a couple of nice colts in Den's Legacy and Manando, with the rest fifteen lengths behind. However, the fractions tell a different story -- the final eighth of a mile was run in a very slow :13.66 seconds, despite a fairly moderate early pace. But regardless, this was a major step in the right direction for Goldencents.
17. Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron - Viva La Slew, by Doneraile Court) Trained by Edward Plesa, Jr.
While his victory in the Gulfstream Park Derby may have been aided by a track-bias, Itsmyluckyday was nevertheless highly impressive in winning by 6 3/4 lengths. Mildly concerning was the way that he drifted out coming off the turn, but he seemed to straighten out better once in the stretch and was certainly pouring on speed late. That he closed his final eighth in :12.70, despite running the opening three-quarters in 1:09.11, was very good indeed.
18. Omega Star (Candy Ride - Pride of Pegasus, by Fusaichi Pegasus) Trained by John Shirreffs
After finishing a sharp second in his debut for trainer James Jerken, this well-bred colt was transferred to the barn of John Shirreffs and promptly broke his maiden in dominating fashion at Santa Anita on the final day of 2012. The race was a 6-1/2 furlong maiden special weight for California-breds, and Omega Star was the heavy favorite. With Julien Leparoux aboard, Omega Star settled into seventh early on while racing on the fence, shifted to the outside turning for home, and finished up strongly (6.17-second final sixteenth) to win by three dominating lengths. By Candy Ride out of a Fusaichi Pegasus mare, he should be able to stretch out in distance just fine.
19. Maleeh (Indian Charlie - Gold Mover, by Gold Fever) Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin
Although he didn't race as a two-year-old, this promising son of Indian Charlie made quite the debut on January 6th, rallying for victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct. Although the time of 1:10.84 seconds was impressive, it was the way Maleeh did it that impressed me. After getting off to a beautiful start and briefly attempting to challenge for the early lead, Maleeh was allowed to settle back in fourth place as the field moved down the backstretch. He made a nice, smooth run around the turn to reach contention entering the homestretch, but appeared beaten when the free-running leader Bellamy Storm scorched the fifth furlong in :11.51 seconds to maintain a two-length advantage. Nevertheless, Maleeh closed in strongly under a hand ride, edging Bellamy Storm in the final strides while running his own final eighth in about :11.74 seconds. He may not have the strongest of pedigrees, but there's no denying his talent.
20. Fury Kapcori (Tiznow - Gin Running, by Go for Gin) Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer
There were plenty of horses I could have included in this twentieth and final spot, but this colt gets the call thanks to his game second in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I). I find his pedigree intriguing, being a son of Tiznow out of a Go for Gin mare. Go for Gin, of course, won the 1994 Kentucky Derby in front-running fashion and went on to be second in both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Going further back, he is inbred 4S X 5D to In Reality, through that stallion's son Relaunch and his daughter Real Crafty Lady, who is the dam of Crafty Prospector.
****
Unfortunately, a number of promising colts have fallen off the Derby trail this week due to injury. Perhaps the most prominent was Hightail, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, who suffered a sesamoid injury in training and was retired.
Also dropping off the trail were Gulfport, winner of two straight races in impressive fashion, and Archwarrior, a well-regarded Saratoga maiden winner that was recently turned out for a break after failing to train up to par this winter.
-Keelerman
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