McKinzie

1) MCKINZIE (c, Street Sense&log=">Street Sense—McKinzie-pedigree.pdf">Runway Model, by Petionville)
'TDN Rising Star' O-Karl Watson, Michael Pegram & Paul Weitman. B-Summer Wind Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $170,000 yrl KEESEP '16. Lifetime Record: GISW,
4-3-1-0, $350,000.
Mar. 13 TDN Top 12 Rank: 1
Last Start: 2nd GII San Felipe S., SA, Mar. 10
Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Los Alamitos Futurity, LRC, Dec. 9; 1st GIII Sham S., SA, Jan. 6
Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 7
McKinzie-PPs.pdf">Equineline PPs. Caulfield on McKinzie.
KY Derby Points: 40

I've never totally bought into the “racing needs star horses” mantra–especially if that's code for “a 1-5 shot cantering around the track chased by inferior foes.” But genuine slugfest, grudge-match rivalries like the one that is percolating between 'TDN Rising Star' McKinzie and his talented nemesis Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) are a real treat to watch and wager upon, and I think the sport can't get enough of them. Here's hoping theGI Santa Anita Derby sequel lives up to the length-of-stretch battle royale we witnessed in the GII San Felipe S. (without the added plot twist of a stewards' disqualification of McKinzie that was imposed upon the official result). McKinzie's progression through four career races has been unusually linear and in an upward arc since his maiden debut Oct. 28, and being involved in tight, hotly contested finishes in several of those starts has given him an early-career edge that not all A-list sophomores have experienced this winter/spring. It's true that you could look back at several of McKinzie's early starts and say this $170,000 KEESEP Street Sense colt hasn't always looked comfortable fighting late in the lane: He swished his tail in the stretch runs of his first three races when called upon for more aggression, and in the San Felipe he was bearing out late while fully extended. But you also have to figure he's learning by doing in his afternoon engagements, which is exactly what Derby-caliber colts are supposed to do at this time of the season. The hunch here is that he hasn't peaked yet.

VIDEO PPS