Kentucky Derby Contenders Top 20

Daily Racing News
by Jack McKinney

Posted on February 15, 2012

Kentucky Derby Contenders top 20 is back for the 2012 campaign. It’s Kentucky Derby Prep season in the quest for the “road to the roses” at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Presented by Yum! Brands, the 2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders have been fortunate thus far to stay injury free for the most part. Bringing us the best field or the healthiest field of Kentucky Derby Contenders we have seen into mid-February in a long time.

So far, Alpha looks like the horse to beat although I hate the fact he is projected to run in the Wood Memorial next as that hasn’t bode well for a Kentucky Derby contender in a long time.

I like the fact that Algorithms is running in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream which will be his race to lose.

Union Rags is an extremely talented horse, the only real problem I have with him is that everyone likes him and that doesn’t usually pan out. But if that’s his only knock then poor Union Rags!

We get a look at Creative Cause in the San Vicente this weekend; hopefully he doesn’t end up at the bottom of my rankings for next week!

Fed Biz, I really like this horse and you should still be able to get great prices on him!

Both Gemologist and Discreet Dancer are one’s to watch in their next race.

I have a feeling that as many as 6-8 horses haven’t made their 2012 debut yet and deserve to be on this list and will be 2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders. This means don’t get carried away placing your Kentucky Derby future wager bets yet and stay tuned every week for more updates.

Kentucky Derby Top 20 Contenders

#	Horse/Sire	Best Beyer	Owner, Trainer, and Jockey	Last Race, Result, and Beyer	Next Likely Race, Track, and Date
1	Alpha	90	Godolphin Racing	Withers, 2/4	Wood Memorial, 1 1/8 m
1	by Bernardini	90	K. McLaughlin/R. Dominguez	1st by 3 1/4, 90	Aqueduct, 4/7

2	Algorithms	105	Starlight Racing	Holy Bull, 1/29	Fountain of Youth, 1 1/16 m
2	by Bernardini	105	T. Pletcher/J. Castellano	1st by 5, 105	Gulfstream, 2/26

3	Union Rags	95s	Chadds Ford Stable	BC Juvenile, 11/5	Fountain of Youth, 1 1/16m
3	by Dixie Union	95s	M. Matz/J. Leparoux	2nd by a head, 94	Gulfstream, 2/26

4	Creative Cause	98s	Heinz Steinmann	BC Juvenile, 11/5	San Vicente, 7 f
4	by Giant’s Causeway	98s	M. Harrington/J. Rosario	3rd by 1, 92	Santa Anita, 2/19

5	Fed Biz	97	Kaleem Shah Inc.	SA Allowance, 2/9	San Felipe, 3/10,or Rebel, 3/17
5	by Giant’s Causeway	97	B. Baffert/R. Bejarano	1st by 5 3/4, 97	San Felipe, 3/10,or Rebel, 3/17

6	El Padrino	100	Let’s Go Stable	GP Allowance, 1/29	Risen Star, 1 1/16 m
6	by Pulpit	100	T. Pletcher/J. Castellano	1st by 2, 100	Fair Grounds, 2/25

7	Gemologist	85	WinStar Farm	Ky Jockey Club, 11/26	Rebel, 1 1/16 m
7	by Tiznow	85	T. Pletcher/J. Castellano	1st by 1 3/4, 85	Oaklawn, 3/17

8	Discreet Dancer	98s	E. Paul Robsham Stables	GP Allowance, 1/7	Fountain of Youth, 1 1/16 m
8	by Discreet Cat	98s	T. Pletcher/J. Velazquez	1st by 5 1/2, 96	Gulfstream, 2/26

9	Hansen	96	K. Hansen & Skychai Racing	Holy Bull, 1/29	Gotham, 1 1/16 m
9	by Tapit	96	M. Maker/R. Dominguez	2nd by 5, 96	Aqueduct, 3/3

10	Out of Bounds	99	Darley Stable	Sham, 1/7	San Felipe, 1 1/16 m
10	by Discreet Cat	99	E. Harty/G. Gomez	1st by 1/2, 99	Santa Anita, 3/10

11	I’ll Have Another	96	J. Paul Reddam	Robert B. Lewis, 2/4	Santa Anita Derby, 1 1/8 m
11	by Flower Alley	96	D. O’Neill/M. Gutierrez	1st by 2 3/4, 96	Santa Anita, 4/7

12	Empire Way	91	Heinz Steinmann	Robert B. Lewis, 2/4	San Felipe, 1 1/16 m
12	by Empire Maker	91	M. Harrington/J. Rosario	2nd by 2 3/4, 91	Santa Anita, 3/10

13	Sabercat	84	Winchell Thoroughbreds	Delta Jackpot, 11/19	San Felipe, 1 1/16 m
13	by Bluegrass Cat	84	S. Asmussen/undecided	1st by 4, 84	Santa Anita, 3/10

14	Dullahan	85	Donegal Racing	BC Juvenile, 11/5	Palm Beach, 1 1/8 m, turf
14	by Even the Score	85	D. Romans/K. Desormeaux	4th by 6, 83	Gulfstream, 3/11

15	Liaison	91	Arnold Zetcher	Robert B. Lewis, 2/4	San Felipe, 3/10,or Rebel, 3/17
15	by Indian Charlie	91	B. Baffert/R. Bejarano	dnf, –	San Felipe, 3/10,or Rebel, 3/17

16	Take Charge Indy	96	Chuck & Maribeth Sandford	GP Allowance, 1/29	Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16 m
16	by A.P. Indy	96	P. Byrne/C. Borel	2nd by 2, 96	Tampa Bay Downs, 3/10

17	Battle Hardened	81	M. Tabor & Mrs. J. Magnier	Sam F. Davis, 2/4	Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16 m
17	by Giant’s Causeway	81	E. Kenneally/J. Leparoux	1st by 1 1/4, 81	Tampa Bay Downs, 3/10

18	Junebugred	93	Alex & JoAnn Lieblong	Smarty Jones, 1/16	Southwest, 1 m
18	by Corinthian	93	S. Hobby/J. Bravo	1st by a neck, 93	Oaklawn, 2/20

19	Midnight Transfer	96s	Warren Williamson	San Pedro, 1/22	San Felipe, 1 1/16 m
19	by Hard Spun	96s	C. Gaines/J. Rosario	1st by a head, 93	Santa Anita, 3/10

20	Rousing Sermon	91	Mr. & Mrs. Larry Williams	Robert B. Lewis, 2/4	San Felipe, 1 1/16 m
20	by Lucky Pulpit	91	J. Hollendorfer/J. Talamo	4th by 6 3/4, 84	Santa Anita, 3/10

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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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