Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Gunnevera moves to the top of the heap

Mastery, my top ranked Kentucky Derby 2017 since November 2016, looked sensational in his San Felipe return but the unbeaten colt sustained a condylar fracture (left front leg) and is off the Derby trail.

Mastery looked every bit a major Derby contender on Saturday, leaving talented rivals Iliad and Gormley in the dust. With Mastery out and McCraken and Classic Empire working their way back from injury, the road to the Derby is in total disarray.

Tapwrit looked strong visually in the Tampa Bay Derby but there was not much behind him and if anything the Top 4 finishers flattered Sam F. Davis hero McCraken. The latter is my new number one Derby contender by default. 

This week’s Derby points race is the Rebel Stakes from Oaklawn Park. Bob Baffert has owned this race recently and American Anthem is his entrant this year. The lightly raced colt is the morning line favorite under Mile Smith.

Other Rebel contenders include Uncontested (Smarty Jones winner), Petrov (Southwest runner-up), Untrapped (Risen Star runner-up), and Royal Mo (Robert Lewis winner).

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 3-18-17)

#1 - GUNNEVERA

#2 - McCraken

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Practical Joke

#5 - Royal Mo

#6 - Battalion Runner

#7 - Tapwrit

#8 - Irish War Cry

#9 - El Areeb

#10 - Gormley

#11 - Classic Empire


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

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards