Looking at the Kentucky Derby Points leaderboard, and it looks like 8 horses have already earned a starting spot:
1.
Forte - 90 points
2.
Practical Move - 60
3.
Confidence Game - 57
4.
Angel of Empire - 54
5.
Raise Cain - 54
6.
Rocket Can - 40
7.
Red Route One - 33
8.
Instant Coffee - 32
Maybe RRO, and IC aren't 'locked' in but 30+ has been safe thus far in past years. Something of particular note is all these 'qualifiers' thus far are stalkers to deep closers. No front-running types have yet to make the starting gate for this year's Kentucky Derby.
Gotham: Well, we got exactly what was expected in a very hot pace offering up the race to closers. The top 3 finishers were the back end of the field at first call. Hard to really to take much out of this race with the shape of the race, the shape of the track, and in particular the 1:38 and change final time. Need to see more of any horse coming out of this field. Maybe
Eyeing Clover being in the mix early and finishing fourth is of note.
FOY:
Forte delivered the goods in his first out in 2023. Challenged, he responded and finished up strong. Final time isn't particularly strong as elders ran 1 mile in 1:35 and change to their 1:43.12. The pace wasn't strong though, so we kind of got what we got. Really no excuses for
Cyclone Mischief as he sat on the lead in these comfortable fractions.
Forte and
Rocket Can move on to the Derby.
Mage was a little disappointing, but likely gets another shot in a final prep.
San Felipe: We got a decent price on
Practical Move, and he delivered. Final time of 1:42.01 is strong, and splits were strong and fluid throughout.
Geaux Rocket Ride showed well in 2nd as well, and
Skinner may have some more in him with more distance. Can feel safe about sticking a fork in
Hejazi. Looked distance challenged coming in, and that holds true.
John Battaglia: I failed to highlight this one, and definitely should have. They certainly delivered with a final time of 1:43.02 which is less than a second of the 10 year old track record of 1:42.26. Splits were hot early, but they also finished strong. Elders ran 1:36 and change earlier in a mile race, so they were right in line. Sonny Leon worked his magic again in a last to first win, and all of the top 4 finishers may well be worth keeping an eye on as some likely move on to the Jack Ruby Steaks for a Kentucky Derby bid on the line. Maybe the
Scoobie Quando is the one I really want out of this one. Only 3 races into his career and hasn't finished out of the EX.
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on top of his picks for the Gotham, 23-1 winner on top of an $81 exacta.
Blazing Sevens poor outing in the FOY. Maybe he just didn't take to the Gulfstream strip, but he truly was never a factor. Maybe connections take another shot at a different venue? Maybe the Bluegrass as he ran well in the BC Juvy there last year. Maybe the Wood as he won the G1 Champagne there last fall? Doubt they throw in the towel after one poor race.
was just a mild shot that didn't pan out. My other picks didn't get the cleanest trips but you could say that about most of the field.
