San Carlos Stakes Video from Santa Anita Park Featuring American Anthem

Check out my San Carlos Stakes video from Santa Anita for Today's Racing Digest. 

Santa Anita Derby 2017 Video Analysis for Today's Racing Digest: Kentucky Derby 2017 Prep Race

The 2017 Santa Anita Derby is a wide open prep race for Kentucky Derby 2017. Iliad is the tepid morning line favorite but there are many other contenders in the 13-horse field.

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 

HRN Handicapping Video of the Week: Rebel Stakes with American Anthem and Petrov

The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 makes another stop at Oaklawn Park and American Anthem is the morning line favorite for trainer Bob Baffert. 

Kentucky Derby 2017 Prep Race Video: San Felipe, Tampa Bay Derby Recap + Rebel Stakes Preview

My longtime top ranked Kentucky Derby 2017 contender Mastery made a successful return to the races in the San Felipe Stakes on March 11 but jockey Mike Smith pulled him up shortly after the finish line and he is off the Derby trail with a condylar fracture.

Tapwrit ran away with the Tampa Bay Derby and flattered the form of the Sam F. Davis Stakes (won by McCraken).

This week's Derby prep is the Rebel Stakes from Oaklawn Park and trainer Bob Baffert's American Anthem is the one to beat.

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Gormley Strikes Back

Gormley took care of business in the slop and picked up 10 Kentucky Derby 2017 points in a narrow head victory over American Anthem in the Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Jan. 7.

Gormley won the G1 FrontRunner on a fast track in his second career start before a less than ideal start and wide trip derailed him in the G1 BC Juvenile. In the Sham, he shadowed American Anthem from the get-go and prevailed in a hard fought battle from start to finish.

American Anthem gave Gormley everything he could handle but two turn graded stakes experience ruled the day. The Baffert trainee has plenty of upside and it was thirteen lengths back to show finisher Big Hit.  

Just like the Jerome a week prior, the Sham was contested on a wet track. The top performers in both races are obviously talented but wet tracks frequently produce lopsided victories with strung-out fields. Let’s see what El Areeb, Gormley, and American Anthem can do in upcoming fast track graded routes vs. tougher competition. With that in mind, American Anthem moves up to #13 on my “Next Nine” but will not enter the “Exceptional Eleven” just yet.  

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 1-15-17)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - McCraken

#6 - El Areeb

#7 - Beach Bum

#8 - Royal Mo 

#9 - Klimt

#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: El Areeb Enters Picture

El Areeb is the latest Kentucky Derby 2017 flavor of the month following a facile victory in the Grade 3 Jerome at Aqueduct on Jan 2.

Blowout wins on wet tracks are typically not duplicated under a different set of circumstances next time out so right now I would say that I am cautiously optimistic regarding El Areeb. He is obviously talented but must prove himself on dry land against bigger and better foes. Time will tell if he is a legit Derby contender.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 1-7-17)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - Beach Bum

#6 - Royal Mo

#7 - McCracken

#8 - Klimt

#9 - El Areeb

#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