Derby Top Twelve

FAST AND ACCURATE (c, Hansen--It's Heidi's Dance, by Green Dancer) O-Kendall E. Hansen. B-John R. Penn (PA). T-Michael J. Maker. Sales History: $24,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP; $85,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-1-0, $340,362. Last Start: 1st, GIII JACK Cincinnati Casino Spiral S., TP, Mar. 25 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 50 Pennsylvania-bred Fast and Accurate, who has never won a dirt race, owns a past performance block that is dotted with tracks like Presque Isle Downs, Parx, and Turfway Park--venues that one doesn't historically see...

by T.D. Thornton With Wednesday's draw looming for the GI Kentucky Derby, this is how the TDN Top 20 contenders shake out as an aggregate: • The No. 1 and No. 2 colts on this list both possess the shimmering, raw potential that suggests either one could be capable of pulling off a crop-defining Derby win with enough momentum moving forward to be a legitimate Triple Crown threat. • Nos. 3, 4, and 5 in the rankings are all professional and polished enough to demonstrate Derby-winning ability on their best...

by T.D. Thornton All of the prep races for the GI Kentucky Derby have been run, and now the contenders will enter the phase of microscopic analysis that accompanies the Run For the Roses waiting game. Please note the rankings below are independent from the "Road to the Derby" points leaderboard that Churchill Downs will use to determine starting berths; that list can be accessed here. 1. (Last Week: 1) ALWAYS DREAMING (c, Bodemeister--Above Perfection, by In Excess {Ire}) O-Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables et al. B-Santa Rosa...

CONQUEST MO MONEY (c, Uncle Mo--Stirring, by Seeking the Gold) O-Judge Lanier Racing. B-Twin Creeks Farm (NY). T-Miguel L. Hernandez. Sales History: $150,000 Ylg '15 FTNAUG; $8,500 2yo '16 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW & GISP, 5-3-2-0, $508,900. Last Start: 2nd, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 15 Accomplishments Include: 1st, Mine That Bird Derby, SUN, Feb. 26, 1st, Riley Allison S., SUN, Jan. 29 Next Start: Possible for GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 6 Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 60 To be truly appealing, every Derby needs a likeable outsider who...

THUNDER SNOW (IRE) (c, Helmet (Aus)--Eastern Joy {GB}, by Dubai Destination) O-Godolphin Racing LLC. B-Darley (IRE). T-Saeed bin Suroor. Lifetime Record: G1SW, 8-4-2-0, $1,627,692. Last Start: 1st, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar. 25. Accomplishments Include: 1st, G1 Criterium International, STC, Oct. 30, 1st, UAE 2000 Guineas, MEY, Feb. 11. Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 100 Until late last week, Thunder Snow was also under consideration for this Saturday's G1 2000 Guineas in the United Kingdom, yet even though that race is contested in close proximity to trainer Saeed...

PATCH (Union Rags--Windyindy, by A.P. Indy) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Calumet Farm (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher. Lifetime Record: GSP, 4-1-2-0, $230,020. Last Start: 14th, GI Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands., CD, May 6 Equineline PPs Somewhere down the line, the racing gods will owe Patch a more favorable post position assignment. He got buried in the one hole for his stakes debut in the Louisiana Derby, drew the extreme outside 20 gate in the Kentucky Derby, and now gets the outermost post yet again in the Belmont S. (although you...

UNTRAPPED (c, Trappe Shot--Exit Three, by Giant's Causeway) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Michael Langford. B-Indian Creek & Jonathan Sheppard (KY). T-Steven M. Asmussen. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 5-1-3-1, $256,800. Last Start: 6th, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 15 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 34 Untrapped is going to sneak into the Derby based on qualifying points, but he really hasn't lived up to the potential he demonstrated in career start number two last November at Churchill, when he earned 'TDN Rising Star' status by romping by 5 1/2 lengths as...

STATE OF HONOR (c, To Honor and Serve--State Cup, by Elusive Quality) O-Conrad Farms. B-Manfred & Penny Conrad (ON). T-Mark E. Casse. Lifetime Record: GISP, 10-1-4-2, $382,548. Last Start: 2nd, GI Xpressbet Florida Derby, GP, Apr. 1 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 62 State of Honor has had a little bit of everything thrown his way while building up a foundation of ten career tries. Early on he switched between a synthetic surface and turf, and also sprinting versus routing. Pace-wise, they've tried him on the lead and...

IRAP (c, Tiznow--Silken Cat, by Storm Cat) O-Reddam Racing LLC. B-Aaron & Marie Jones (KY). T-Doug F. O'Neill. Sales History: $140,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 8-1-3-1, $772,600. Last Start: 1st, GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 8 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 113 Irap ran the race of his life to break his maiden against the deepest (on paper at least) Derby prep field. Following that 31-1 upset in the Blue Grass S., he'll now be required to top that...

by T.D. Thornton This past weekend's coast-to-coast tripleheader of GI Kentucky Derby preps was like the flurry of fireworks prior to the concussive boom of the show-stopper itself, which is now only a little more than three weeks away. This most recent trio of preps might have ended up providing us with more questions than answers, although at this point in the season, it might be wise just to embrace the chaos. Please note the rankings below are independent from the "Road to the Derby" points leaderboard that Churchill Downs...

IT'S YOUR NICKEL (c, Dialed In--Bold American, by Quiet American) O-Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Scott K. Akman & Nehoc Stables. B-Stephen Wigmore (KY). T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales History: $100,000 Ylg '15 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-3-0-0, $140,220. Last Start: 1st, John Battaglia Memorial S., TP, Mar. 4 Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 8 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 50 Spot No. 20 could have gone to one of the runner-ups in either the Louisiana or Florida Derbies, yet neither horse was truly getting to...

ALWAYS DREAMING (c, Bodemeister--Above Perfection, by In Excess {Ire}) O-Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables et al. B-Santa Rosa Partners (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales History: $350,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-1-1, $648,900. Last Start: 1st, GI Xpressbet Florida Derby, GP, Apr. 1 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 100 Always Dreaming is riding the crest of the crop at a crucial time, although being a lightly raced Derby favorite is not without its perils. He gets high marks not only for what he's accomplished (only...