This is without any doubt the strongest and deepest field of this 2024 calendar year regarding the Triple Crown trail we have seen yet.
A number of runners in here are also proven at 2 turns, and in high-priced races and Graded Stakes races. Would be no surprise to see a number of these end up in the gate come the first Saturday in May. Heck, all we have to do is look back to last year's Risen Star and there were 3 horses that made it into the Kentucky Derby field including the Runner-Up and Third place finishers.
No-chancers, not worth any mention.
Honor Marie: Excellent breeding with Honor Code/AP Indy on top and Smart Strike on the bottom. Distance doesn't look to be any problem for this one, and as they stretch out the better. Already has a win in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Has obviously enjoyed the Churchill strip, so can he ship and win elsewhere? Obvious Contender.
Sierra Leone: Solid back to back races to start his career for the $2.4M purchase and with Chad Brown in the barn. You have to like where this one is going. Gave it up a bit late in the G2 Remsen in this same 9F distance, but you can give him a bit of a pass in his 2nd career race in that one. Another Serious Contender.
Moonlight: Another nicely bred colt from the Pletcher barn that hasn't quite put it all together yet. Has burned some money as chalk in 3 of 4 races and 6/1 in his last while not hitting the board; but those races also had some pretty good fields. Another contender, but needs to move forward here.
Real Men Violin: Well-seasoned colt that hasn't done a whole lot wrong while hitting the board in every race running for big purses. Yet, he only has a single win with 4 runner-up finishes. Numbers are trending upwards and is making up ground late while never running less than a Mile in his career to date. Hard to dismiss.
Hall of Fame: Serious class jump for this $1.4M Asmussen trained colt. Absolutely walked in his last out at this venue, so has every right to keep moving forward in his 3rd career start. Yet another Contender.
Catching Freedom: Another solidly bred colt that has been dead chalk in all 3 career starts with 2 wins. Interesting to see the switch to Saez here and the recent works suggesting they'll look to get this guy more into the race early. And again, another Contender.
Cardinale: Pletcher entry looks up against it here, but hasn't ran a bad race in his two career starts. Should be full go to give some pressure presence on the
. Hard to back, but adds needed pace to the race.
Resilience: Solidly improving Mott trainee finally busted his Maiden last out in his 4th career race with some solid late foot. No reason to believe this one won't enjoy more distance. Johnny V gets the call again, and could be looking to make a big splash on the scene. Price horse?
Track Phantom: Already has the two Triple Crown preps here at FG under his belt with solid gate to wire wins. Very impressive in his last, but this is a much much tougher bunch and this is not a friendly post for this guy. The local favorite will undoubtedly take some money, but tough to back at a short price against these.
Bee Dancer: Dallas Stewart and Corey Lanerie with a longshot. Both are notorious with price winners or even board hitters. 1 for 1 to date, and seems to be up against with much better bred horses he is running against while stretching out from 6F. Tough to see, but again, this is Dallas Stewart.
9/2 could well be the favorite in here as we have many of the countries top barns clashing heads with well intentioned and well-bred colts.
