Kentucky Derby Prep Ranks
To date there have been (22) Kentucky Derby prep races. The first (50) point stakes race was this past weekend with the Risen Star. In a race with multiple contenders we. As we get ready for the next big race on Saturday with a nice field in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park with another 50 points being awarded to the winner. As expected, several (5) horses from the Southwest Stakes from a month ago are entered in the Rebel.
My current rankings:
#1 MESSIER
For another week I am going to continue to keep the Bob Baffert runner in the rankings. You can find some knocks but the small field he faced in the Robert B. Lewis looked inferior; he did take a nice step-forward. Watch the replay and look at those ears pinned back as he starts to fly down the stretch, I love the body language.
#2 SMILE HAPPY
We saw his return after the lay-off and showed he may have needed a race. As trainer Kenny McPeek tweeted out that he maybe needed to be a tad closer, was valiant to get up for 2nd and had a good gallop out. I would have liked to have seen him urged a little quicker than he was, but the reality is that he wasn’t catching Epicenter who had the perfect trip to go wire to wire. I’m surprised he got up for 2nd as he had to weave through a couple of horses to get there. For now, I’ll leave him in the 2-spot because I believe there is more to give.
#3 EPICENTER
Most points to date with earning those (50) points with the Risen Star win improved his derby stock. He had a pace advantage and the front end on the rail was the place to be. Good horses take advantage or every situation and make no doubt about it he is a good horse and beat some talented horses in that last race.
#4 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY
He looked impressive in the Sam F. Davis, but I would have liked to see what he would have done with more pace pressure. He did put away the field in a race that appeared contentious on paper.
#5 NEWGRANGE
The last effort wasn’t the best in the Southwest but he’s 3/3 and you could find excuses in the trip of why he could have lost. Good horses just find ways to win.
Notes on other contenders:
ZANDON Hopped out of the gate and went right to the back. Made a strong move on the turn and kept coming. Would’ve liked to have seen what he could have done with better placement out of the starting gate.
MO DONEGAL Believe he has more to give, was disadvantaged on pace in the last race when the speed of the race didn’t break from the gate. Needs some pace in front of him but like how he performed
EMMANUEL is 2/2 with some quality speed figures; I need to see more as he’s had little competition.
WHITE ABARIO ran well in the Holy Bull, but he benefited by the trip, also concerned if Saffie can win outside of Gulfstream.
SHIPSATIONAL looked good in the Sam F. Davis from mid-pack on a track that favors early speed. Needs perfect trip but he stays on the radar with his finish.
Official Kentucky Derby Point Standings as of 2/21/22
| # | Horse | Points | Trainer | Sire |
| 1 | Epicenter | 64 | Steve Asmussen | Not This Time |
| 2 | Smile Happy | 30 | Ken McPeek | Runhappy |
| 3 | Classic Causeway | 16 | Brian Lynch | Giant’s Causeway |
| 4 | Pappacap | 14 | Mark Casse | Gun Runner |
| 5 | Zandon | 14 | Chad Brown | Upstart |
| 6 | White Abarrio | 12 | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Race Day |
| 7 | Mo Donegal | 12 | Todd Pletcher | Uncle Mo |
| 8 | Dash Attack | 10 | Ken McPeek | Munnings |
| 9 | Courvoisier | 10 | Kelly Breen | Tapit |
| 10 | Make It Big | 10 | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Neolithic |
| 11 | Call Me Midnight | 10 | Keith Desormeaux | Midnight Lute |
| 12 | Early Voting | 10 | Chad Brown | Gun Runner |
| 13 | Slow Down Andy | 10 | Douh O’Neill | Nyquist |
| 14 | Rattle N Roll | 10 | Ken McPeek | Connect |
| 15 | Jack Christopher | 10 | Chad Brown | Munnings |
| 16 | Major General | 10 | Todd Pletcher | Constitution |
| 17 | Barber Road | 8 | John Ortiz | Race Day |
| 18 | Commandperformance | 6 | Todd Pletcher | Union Rags |
| 19 | Mackinnon | 5 | Doug O’Neill | American Pharoah |
| 20 | Pioneer of Medina | 5 | Todd Pletcher | Pioneerof the Nile |
| 21 | Oviatt Class | 4 | Keith Desormeaux | Bernardini |
| 22 | Shipsational | 4 | Edward Barker | Midshipman |
| 23 | Simplification | 4 | Antonio Sano | Not This Time |
| 24 | Uno Ojo | 4 | Anthony Dutrow | Laoban |
| 25 | Tejano Twist | 4 | Bret Calhoun | Practical Joke |
| 26 | Osbourne | 4 | Ron Moquett | Tapiture |
| 27 | Double Thunder | 4 | Todd Pletcher | Super Saver |
| 28 | Tough to Tame | 4 | Christopher Davis | Speightster |
| 29 | Wit | 4 | Todd Pletcher | Practical Joke |
| 30 | Smarten Up | 4 | Alfredo Velazquez | American Freedom |
| 31 | Cabo Spirit | 4 | George Papaprodromou | Pioneerof the Nile |
| 32 | Volcanic | 4 | Mark Casse | Violence |
| 33 | Del Mo | 4 | Doug O’Neill | Uncle Mo |
| 34 | Ben Diesel | 3 | Dallas Stewart | Will Take Charge |
| 35 | Surfer Dude | 2 | Dallas Stewart | Curlin |
| 36 | Midnight Chrome | 2 | Tyler Servis | Caifornia Chrome |
| 37 | Gilded Age | 2 | Bill Mott | Medaglia d’Oro |
| 38 | Ignitis | 2 | D. Wayne Lukas | Nyquist |
| 39 | Red Knobs | 2 | Dale Romans | Union Rags |
| 40 | Cooke Creek | 2 | Jeremiah O’Dwyer | Uncle Mo |
| 41 | Kavod | 2 | Chris Hartman | Lea |
| 42 | Grantham | 1 | Mike Maker | Declaration of War |
| 43 | American Sanctuary | 1 | Christopher Davis | American Freedom |
| 44 | My Prankster | 1 | Todd Pletcher | Into Mischief |
| 45 | Bourbon Heist | 1 | Ian Wilkes | Practical Joke |
| 46 | Mr Jefferson | 1 | Mike Trombetta | Constitution |
| 47 | Durante | 1 | Doug O’Neill | Distorted Humor |
| 48 | Kevin’s Folly | 1 | Tom Amoss | Distorted Humor |
| 49 | Strike Hard | 1 | Matthew Williams | Flashback |
| 50 | Trafalger | 1 | Al Stall | Lord Nelson |
| 51 | Unbridled Bomber | 1 | James Ryerson | Upstart |
| 52 | Galt | 1 | Bill Mott | Medaglia d’Oro |
| 53 | Sir London | 1 | Simon Callaghan | Malibu Moon |
| 54 | lL Bellator | 1 | Jose Bautista | Shackleford |
