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
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
My top ranked Kentucky Derby 2017 contender Mastery made short work of his four rivals in last weekend’s Grade III Bob Hope at Del Mar.
Just like his winning debut, Mastery was in complete control throughout and easily swatted away seasoned CA-bred sprinter California Diamond. Pace frequently makes the speed figure and since there was none the final number came back a modest 86. We will learn much more when the Baffert trainee stretches out in the G1 CashCall Futurity at Los Al on Dec 10.
In the $1 million Delta Jackpot, post time favorite Gunnevera got pace help as expected in an easy last-to-first triumph over dueling early runner Hot Sean. The winning BSF came back 87 and since there was a contested pace it would have been nice to see a higher final number.
There are two Derby points races on the docket for Nov 26 beginning with the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct. Much like the G3 Bob Hope, we have a flashy debut winner (Takaful) taking on a seasoned rival with stakes experience (No Dozing). There are other contenders in the 10-horse field but it would take a big effort to knock off the aforementioned dynamic duo.
At Churchill Downs, a dozen juveniles take center stage in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and all eyes are on undefeated McCraken. The well-bred colt should get more than enough pace help and looks tough to deny.
Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 11-26-16)
#1 - MASTERY
#2 - Classic Empire
#3 - Three Rules
#4 - Gormley
#5 - Takaful
#6 - Beach Bum
#7 - Klimt
#8 - Theory
#9 - Royal Mo
#10 - Silver Assault
#11 McCraken
You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.
* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards
