With yesterday's Arkansas Derby and Bluegrass Stakes, all the major KY Derby prep races are done.
Here's how they stand in the points race: http://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses
In past years, you qualified for the Derby by your graded stakes winnings. They changed it this year. Each prep race was assigned a value in points. As the season progressed more points were awarded for the race.
Let's look at the horses:
Top Contenders:
Verrazano - undefeated, will be favored. Has been very good, but I'm not sold yet. Will be there at the end.
Orb - Legendary trainer Shug McGaughey may have the best horse in the Derby. He's done nothing wrong and keeps getting better.
Overanalyze -won the AR Derby yesterday in a big fashion. Looks like he's on the upswing.
Revolutionary - won the LA Derby- a cool pick. He won but not as impressively
Goldenscents - Trained by last year's winning trainer, Doug O'Neil. Looked horrible in losing two races ago. Looked good in winning Santa Anita Derby. May not get the distance.
Next Group:
Normandy Invasion - another "hot pick" -came in second to Overanalyze and Verrazano in his last two race. Looked like he was going to catch Verranzano in the Wood after being blocked in, but Verranzano knew he had the race won and may have geared down.
Java's War - will take a lot of money after his last to first win in the Bluegrass. But he was no challenge to Verranzano-don't get suckered
Live horse who will be over 10-1
Governor Charlie- this one looks like a Bob Baffert special. He only raced in the Sunland Derby, but it may have been the most impressive race of the spring. It wasn't a strong field but he destroyed them. He looked a lot like Bodiemeister to me.
Will take Charge- closed with a rush in the Rebel to give Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lucas- will be a heart bet for many.
Black Onyx - blew by a decent field to win the Spiral Stakes. Jockey Jersey Joe Bravo was beside himself after the race. He said he had tons left. May be too lightly raced.
My Top 6
This will likely change due to post position and other factors
Orb
Verranzano
Governor Charlie
Revolutionary
Normandy Invasion
Black Onyx
Here's how they stand in the points race: http://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses
In past years, you qualified for the Derby by your graded stakes winnings. They changed it this year. Each prep race was assigned a value in points. As the season progressed more points were awarded for the race.
Let's look at the horses:
Top Contenders:
Verrazano - undefeated, will be favored. Has been very good, but I'm not sold yet. Will be there at the end.
Orb - Legendary trainer Shug McGaughey may have the best horse in the Derby. He's done nothing wrong and keeps getting better.
Overanalyze -won the AR Derby yesterday in a big fashion. Looks like he's on the upswing.
Revolutionary - won the LA Derby- a cool pick. He won but not as impressively
Goldenscents - Trained by last year's winning trainer, Doug O'Neil. Looked horrible in losing two races ago. Looked good in winning Santa Anita Derby. May not get the distance.
Next Group:
Normandy Invasion - another "hot pick" -came in second to Overanalyze and Verrazano in his last two race. Looked like he was going to catch Verranzano in the Wood after being blocked in, but Verranzano knew he had the race won and may have geared down.
Java's War - will take a lot of money after his last to first win in the Bluegrass. But he was no challenge to Verranzano-don't get suckered
Live horse who will be over 10-1
Governor Charlie- this one looks like a Bob Baffert special. He only raced in the Sunland Derby, but it may have been the most impressive race of the spring. It wasn't a strong field but he destroyed them. He looked a lot like Bodiemeister to me.
Will take Charge- closed with a rush in the Rebel to give Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lucas- will be a heart bet for many.
Black Onyx - blew by a decent field to win the Spiral Stakes. Jockey Jersey Joe Bravo was beside himself after the race. He said he had tons left. May be too lightly raced.
My Top 6
This will likely change due to post position and other factors
Orb
Verranzano
Governor Charlie
Revolutionary
Normandy Invasion
Black Onyx
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