Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Mastery Ends 2016 On Top

Mastery finishes the year as my top ranked Kentucky Derby 2017 contender. He has been on top of the heap since Nov 18 and capped off a perfect 3-for-3 juvenile campaign with a 7-1/4 length romp in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course on Dec 10.

Classic Empire sits atop many Derby lists and rightfully so. The BC Juvenile hero will likely be named 2-year-old champ and is spending the winter in Florida.

This is my tenth and final Derby update this year and there are no changes to the Top 11 this week. I did add impressive maiden winner Iliad to the “next nine.” He got a 92 BSF in a 6f special weight win at Los Alamitos Race Course on Dec 18 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 12-31-16)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - Beach Bum

#6 - Royal Mo

#7 - McCracken

#8 - Klimt

#9 - Takaful

#10 - Theory

#11 - Practical Joke


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Mastery Aces Test in G1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity

My top ranked Kentucky Derby 2017 contender Mastery passed his first two turn test and ran his record to 3-for-3 with a 7-1/4 length triumph in the Grade I CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course on Saturday, December 10, 2016.

How good is Mastery and is he a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender? He is obviously talented after a trio of easy wins at three different venues (SA, DMR, LRC) to begin his career. His 91 BSF for his Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity romp was okay but hardly stellar. He will need to improve next year to be considered a viable threat in the Triple Crown series but he has done nothing wrong so far and has all of the attributes of a quality horse (strong connections, nice pedigree, winning spirit, and a fine blend of speed/stamina).  

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 12-17-16)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - Beach Bum

#6 - Royal Mo

#7 - McCracken

#8 - Klimt

#9 - Takaful

#10 - Theory

#11 - Practical Joke


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards

Handicapping video of the week: Winter Challenge featuring California Chrome

California Chrome’s lucrative career on the racetrack is winding down. The all-time North American money leader is expected to make his final career start in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 28, 2017. He tunes up for the Pegasus in the Winter Challenge at his Los Alamitos home base later today, and it looks like a walk in the park.




***My full meet, monthly, and weekend packages for the upcoming Santa Anita Park meet are available now at WinningHorsePicks.com

Handicapping video of the week: Remington Springboard Mile

For this week's handicapping video, we venture to Oklahoma for the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park for 2-year-olds traveling one mile on the main track (Race 11 - Sunday, Dec. 11). 

Morning line favorite Cool Arrow drew post twelve and will try to navigate two turns for the first time, He won the Kip Deville at Remington Sep 25 and looms a pace factor at the very least.

If Cool Arrow fails to stay the trip, look for Young American to arrive on the scene late. The latter looked good breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs on Nov 26. 

Other contenders include Totality, Prados Way, and Equator for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Kentucky Derby 2017 update: G1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity preview

Later today at Los Alamitos Race Course, my top ranked Kentucky Derby 2017 contender Mastery makes his much anticipated first start around two turns in the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity.

Mastery easily captured both of his dirt sprint starts in wire-to-wire fashion including the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar on Nov 19. He only faces four rivals at Los Al and debut maiden sprint winner Bobby Abu Dhabi might be able to give him an early test.

Dangerfield, a distant 3rd last time in the G3 Delta Jackpot is also entered, along with debut route winner Show Me Da Lute (trained by Bob Baffert) and maiden Irap.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 12-11-16)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - Beach Bum

#6 - Royal Mo

#7 - McCracken

#8 - Klimt

#9 - Takaful

#10 - Theory

#11 - Silver Assault


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards

Del Mar Fall Meet 2016 Rewind (Dec 1-4)

The 2016 Del Mar fall meet has come to an end. I will take a few weeks off to recharge the batteries and my full card analysis will resume at Santa Anita Park on Dec 26...Happy Holidays!

Thursday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 1

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Thursday. There was one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6f). The winning turf course running styles were a closer at one mile and a stalker at five furlongs (rail at 24 feet).

Fernando Perez booted home a pair.

Friday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 2

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Friday. Three wire-to-wire winners at one mile on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at five furlongs, a closer at one mile, and a patient runner at eleven furlongs.

Kent Desormeaux guided home three turf winners. Bill Morey saddled three winners and Kent D rode two.

Saturday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 3

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Saturday. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at 8.5 furlongs, a front runner at five furlongs, a patient runner at nine furlongs, and a stalker at one mile.

Javier Castellano and Martin Pedroza both booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled two winners.

Sunday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 4

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Sunday. Two wire-to-wire winners at 6.5 furlongs on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at five furlongs, a front runner at one mile, a dueling front runner at nine furlongs, a stalker at one mile, and a closer at one mile.

Kent Desormeaux and Irad Ortiz Jr. both booted home a pair. Edgar Prado and Graham Motion teamed up for two turf wins including Miss Temple City in the G1 Matriarch.

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Remsen/Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes recap

Three of my exceptional eleven Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders were in action last weekend including Kentucky Jockey Club hero McCraken.

McCraken ran his record to 3-for-3 at Churchill Downs and picked up ten Derby points en route to a 9th-to-1st (1.25 lengths clear) score in the Kentucky Jockey Club. He ran down game early runner Wild Shot and garnered an 86 BSF. Warrior’s Club headed Uncontested for the show.

At the Big A on Saturday, Mo Town got the jump on No Dozing (wide throughout from post 9) to take the G2 Remsen by 2.5 lengths (86 BSF). The winner did nothing wrong but the 2-3 finishers might be worth following. Takaful, 3rd after setting the pace, was making just his second career start and first around two turns for McLaughlin. He went fast early, rated kindly on the lead in the middle, and came up empty in the lane (beaten 6 lengths).  

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 12-4-16)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - Beach Bum

#6 - Royal Mo

#7 - McCracken

#8 - Klimt

#9 - Takaful

#10 - Theory

#11 - Silver Assault


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards

Handicapping video of the week: G1 Matriarch with Miss Temple City

Miss Temple City takes on eleven rivals in Sunday's G1 Matriarch at Del Mar and she will break from the far outside post. Is the Keeneland specialist a lock or can someone jump up and bite her?

Del Mar 2016 Fall Meet Rewind (Nov 24-27)

With one week to go in the Del Mar 2016 fall meet, Peter Miller won't stop saddling winners and jockey Drayden Van Dyke surged with a riding triple on Friday and a stakes double on Saturday. 

Thursday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 24
Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Thursday. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (7f, 8f, 6f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a closer at five furlongs, and a stalker at eleven furlongs (rail at 18 feet).

Norberto Arroyo Jr. booted home three winners. Peter Miller saddled three more winners and Arroyo rode two.

Friday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 25

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Friday. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 8f). The winning turf course running styles were a closer at one mile, a dueling front runner at five furlongs, a stalker at twelve furlongs, and a patient runner at one mile.

Hat trick for Drayden Van Dyke.

You can read the rest of my Del Mar Report at The Runaway Horse...