Kentucky Derby 2012 Contenders Ranked
Louisville – Kentucky Derby 138 is just around the corner and graded stakes earnings now come into play for the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. Only twenty horses can make the starting gate but with the Also Eligible or “AE” rules this year I have expanded my rankings to 25 horses for the 1 ¼ mile (2km) race presented by Yum! Brands and broadcast on NBC.
If you have been watching the recent Kentucky Derby Prep races on NBC, I think it is safe to say that no horse is going to run away from the field in the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports”. Barring a flood of injuries or illness (which hasn’t been the case this year) this is shaping up to be the strongest group of Kentucky Derby Contenders in recent memory.
Before you bet on the Kentucky Derby, let’s take a look back at some of the recent prep races. In the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes it was Went the Day Well defeating Holiday Promise by 3 ½ lengths. Take Charge Indy upset Union Rags in the Florida Derby, beating Reveron at the wire and Union Rags by 1 ¼ lengths. Gemologist defeated Alpha by a neck in the Wood Memorial Stakes and I’ll Have Another beat Creative Cause by a nose in the Santa Anita Derby. As you can see all these wins are by very narrow margins.
For Kentucky Derby betting on the prep race side of things, this weekend we have the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. This will be your last chance to watch live racing on CNBC until the 2012 Kentucky Derby and also the last races of any real significance before the run for the roses.
Top Kentucky Derby Contenders factoring in Graded Stakes Earnings:
|
2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders Rankings |
|||
|
Rank |
Horse |
Trainer |
Earnings |
|
1 |
Gemologist |
Todd Pletcher |
$703,855 |
|
2 |
Union Rags |
Michael Matz |
$1,170,000 |
|
3 |
Alpha |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
$380,000 |
|
4 |
I’ll Have Another |
Doug O’Neill |
$601,000 |
|
5 |
Hansen |
Michael Maker |
$1,400,000 |
|
7 |
Daddy Long Legs |
Aidan O’Brien |
$1,294,030 |
|
6 |
Take Charge Indy |
Patrick Byrne |
$698,400 |
|
8 |
Creative Cause |
Mike Harrington |
$836,000 |
|
9 |
Wrote (IRE) |
Aidan O’Brien |
$756,630 |
|
10 |
Secret Circle |
Bob Baffert |
$470,000 |
|
11 |
Drill |
Bob Baffert |
$300,000 |
|
12 |
Sabercat |
Steve Asmussen |
$601,429 |
|
13 |
Hero of Order * |
Gennadi Dorochenko |
$615,500 |
|
14 |
Daddy Nose Best |
Steve Asmussen |
$545,558 |
|
15 |
Went the Day Well |
Graham Motion |
$282,000 |
|
16 |
Dullahan |
Dale Romans |
$405,000 |
|
17 |
Liaison |
Bob Baffert |
$393,000 |
|
18 |
Prospective |
Mark Casse |
$365,452 |
|
19 |
Rousing Sermon |
Jerry Hollendorfer |
$270,000 |
|
20 |
El Padrino |
Todd Pletcher |
$250,000 |
|
21 |
Reveron |
Agustin Bezara |
$220,000 |
|
22 |
Mark Valeski |
Larry Jones |
$260,000 |
|
23 |
Trinniberg |
Bisnath Parboo |
$324,500 |
|
24 |
Done Talking |
Hamilton Smith |
$311,000 |
|
25 |
Isn’t He Clever |
Henry Dominguez |
$188,000 |
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About
Every year Jack McKinney follows the new 2 year olds on the scene through the Breeder’s Cup as maturing 3 year olds.
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