Road to the Kentucky Derby

Let’s take a look at some of the top current 3 year old contenders for the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown.

Uncle Mo has been the favorite since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the son of Indian Charlie is soon to be jogging again since being sent to the Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach Florida the first week of December. It is believed that Todd Pletcher will send Uncle Mo to the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12^th to cover 1 1/16 miles for the $350,000 purse. It will be interesting to see the field that shows up to face him if this is the case; Uncle Mo will be fresh and is likely one of many horses that will only have two prep races this year before the Kentucky Derby. The final prep race for Uncle Mo will probably be the Wood Memorial on April 4^th over 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct for $750,000.

Boys at Tosconova who ran well during the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and finished second to Uncle Mo has been training well had his third workout last Friday covering five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 handily. Rick Dutrow said “We’re looking at the one-turn race at the end of January for him” which would be the Holy Bull Stakes on January 30^th at 1 1/8 miles for $400,000.

Comma To The Top looks to be heading towards the G3 El Camino Real Derby or G2 Bob Lewis on February 12^th and could possibly run against JP’s Gusto who won four of five races before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Comma To The Top has put together three straight victories so it will be interesting to see how he does, I expect a solid performance.

Key Notes This Week:

Black N Beauty recently won a Gulfstream allowance and looked good doing it. I really liked the way this horse stretched out.

Don’t write off Gourmet Dinner just yet. If you watched the race the track was terrible “But the biggest problem we had was how long we walked around the paddock and the lack of time we had to warm up, only about three minutes, before going to the gate.” Standridge said. I will pay to see him next time out as I expect to see him revert back to top form if he can get a decent track to run on with a proper warm up.

Coil is injured and won’t resume training until February from what I have been able to find out

Curlinello is also injured and will be taking a few weeks or more before he resumes training.

Sherriff Cogburn despite his great performances has been pulled off the trail altogether as they just don’t feel he is a derby horse.

JB’s Thunder is off the trail as they feel he is a better turf or polytrack horse.

Top 10 Kentucky Derby:

1.       Uncle Mo

2.       To Honor and Serve

3.       The Factor

4.       Boys at Tosconova

5.       Jaycito

6.       Astrology

7.       Bretheren

8.       Cool Blue Red Hot

9.       Dialed In

10.   Rogue Romance * New

On the bubble – Mucho Macho Man, Comma To The Top, Crossbow, Santiva, Stay Thirsty

*8 Last week was Coil but has been removed due to injury. I really liked Coil but will need to see how he bounces back.