Derby Top Twelve

by T.D. Thornton Will the true division leader please stand up and assert himself? Over the past week, the No. 1-ranked TDN Kentucky Derby Top 12 contender missed training with an ankle setback and the defending juvenile champion refused to train because of a back ailment. And over the course of the last month, heavily bet favorites have lost the last five North American races on the "Road to the Derby" points schedule. At this point, even hindsight is not truly 20/20 when trying to figure out who's on the...

by T.D. Thornton With only one major prep race last weekend (GII Risen Star S.), the winds of change only slightly resorted the TDN Derby Top 12. But expect that breeze to intensify this coming weekend, as sophomore stakes action in both Florida and New York will involve three horses within the Top 12 and an intriguing cast of under-the-radar horses vying for firmer footing on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby. 1. MCCRAKEN (c, Ghostzapper--Ivory Empress, by Seeking the Gold) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY). T-Ian...

by T.D. Thornton As we approach the ten-week mark for the GI Kentucky Derby, it is becoming clear that we have a diverse and deep cast of characters vying for top spots in the rankings. And nearly half of this week's Top 12 will be in action over the next two weeks, setting up the possibility for considerable reshuffling and realignment within what is already an intriguing pecking order. 1. MCCRAKEN (c, Ghostzapper--Ivory Empress, by Seeking the Gold) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY). T-Ian R. Wilkes. Lifetime Record:...

ONE LINER (c, Into Mischief--Cayala, by Cherokee Run) O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club & SF Racing, LLC. B-Kingswood Farm (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales History: $150,000 Ylg '15 KEEJAN. Mar. 28 TDN Top 12 Rank: 9 Last Start: 1st, GIII Southwest S., OP, Feb. 20 Thoro-Graph Sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 10 Next Start: GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 15 Among his top-level 3-year-olds, trainer Pletcher weeks ago committed Tapwrit to the Blue Grass S. and expressed a desire to keep Always Dreaming and Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song) separated....

by T.D. Thornton 1. MCCRAKEN (c, Ghostzapper--Ivory Empress, by Seeking the Gold) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY). T-Ian R. Wilkes. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-4-0-0, $310,848. Feb. 7 TDN Top 12 Rank: 1 Last Start: 1st, GIII Sam F. Davis S., TAM, Feb. 11 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 26, 1st, Street Sense S., CD, Oct. 30 Next start: GII Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 11 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs, Caulfield on McCraken KY Derby Points: 20 Last week, McCraken inherited the top spot...

by T.D. Thornton The TDN Derby Top 12 had its first major shakeup in the rankings over the weekend, and the graded prep races at Gulfstream Park, Aqueduct and Santa Anita underscored that the balance of power in the division right now is firmly centered in Florida. Looking ahead, the new No. 1 sophomore will be in action this Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in the GIII Sam F. Davis S., and Sunday's GII San Vicente S. at Santa Anita is shaping up with an intriguing cast of characters that...

IRISH WAR CRY (c, Curlin--Irish Sovereign, by Polish Numbers) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Isabelle de Tomaso (NJ). T-H. G. Motion. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 6-4-0-0, $699,460. Last Start: 10th, GI Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands., CD, May 6 Accomplishments: 1st, GII Wood Memorial S. presented by NYRA Bets, AQU, Apr. 8; 1st, GII Lambholm South Holy Bull S., GP, Feb. 4; 1st, Marylander S., LRL, Jan. 23 Equineline PPs, Caulfield on Irish War Cry Beyond what you see on paper, Irish War Cry is a serious win threat in the GI...

by T.D. Thornton The inaugural TDN Derby Top 12 for 2017 dawns with the big guns on the list having earned their berths via promising 2-year-old performances, but they are pursued by an intriguing collection of up-and-comers vying for footholds in the rankings. So far this season--a subplot to limited on-track action--a pelting of wet weather has wreaked havoc with training for California-based sophomores, and repercussions from the ongoing Fair Grounds quarantine could cloud prep-race plans for 3-year-olds aiming for the Louisiana route to Louisville on the first Saturday in...

GUEST SUITE (g, Quality Road--Guest House, by Ghostzapper) O-W. S. Farish & Lora Jean Kilroy. B-W. S. Farish & Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership (KY). T-Neil Howard. Lifetime Record: GSW, 6-3-0-2, $219,840. Mar. 14 TDN Top 12 Rank: N/A Last Start: 4th, GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 25 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GIII Lecomte S., FG, Jan. 21 Next Start: GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Apr. 1 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 15 As mentioned a touch higher up in the rankings, a fast pace in Saturday's Louisiana Derby will benefit Girvin....

by T.D. Thornton The TDN Derby Top 12 shows a nice pyramid-shaped symmetry at this early stage of the season. The division champion sits atop the apex; the tier below him is occupied by a pair of undefeated horses (one a speedster, the other a closer), and the base fans out from there with an interesting cast of up-and-comers and proven juvenile stakes winners. From a bloodstock perspective, there is considerable diversity within the ranks, as the Derby Top 12 sophomores on this week's list are sired by a dozen...

LOOKIN AT LEE (c, Lookin At Lucky--Langara Lass, by Langfuhr) O-L and N Racing. B-Ray Hanson (KY). T-Steven M. Asmussen. Sales History: $70,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: SW & MGISP, 11-2-3-2, $942,795. Last Start: 4th, GI Preakness S., PIM, May 20 Accomplishments Include: 1st, Ellis Park Juvenile S., ELP, Aug. 6 Equineline PPs Lookin At Lee certainly gets points for resiliency. Not only will he be the only horse in the foal crop to run in all three legs of this year's Triple Crown series, but he (and Gormley)...

EL AREEB (c, Exchange Rate--Feathered Diamond, by A.P. Indy) 'TDN Rising Star' O-M M G Stables, LLC. B-Dixiana Farms, LLC (KY). T-Cathal A. Lynch. Sales History: $100,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $340,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 7-4-1-1, $364,200. Mar. 14 TDN Top 12 Rank: N/A Last Start: 3rd, GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 4 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GIII Withers S., AQU, Feb. 4, 1st, GIII Jerome S., AQU, Jan. 2, 1st, James F. Lewis III S., LRL, Nov. 19 Next Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 8 Thoro-Graph...