Who's looking good for the Kentucky Derby?
Below is my top-20 ranking of the contenders for the May 5 Kentucky Derby going into three significant preps on Saturday -- the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, and the Fountain of Youth and Hutcheson stakes at Gulfstream Park near Miami. I'm one of eight weekly contributors to the Louisville Courier-Journal's Derby rankings. The entire Courier-Journal poll can be found by clicking here.
My top 10:
1. Nobiz Like Shobiz
A winner at 1 1/8 miles; trained by Barclay Tagg (Funny Cide); runs Saturday in Fla.
2. Street Sense
2-year-old champ drops as Carl Nafzger (Unbridled) delays his 3-year-old debut
3. Ravel
Best of trainer Todd Pletcher's bunch could go in March 17 San Felipe at Santa Anita
4. Any Given Saturday
Another Pletcher, he's starting the season against soft Tampa Bay competition
5. Stormello
Bill Currin will run Hol. Futurity champ vs. No. 1 in Saturday's Fountain of Youth
6. Circular Quay
More Pletcher; BC runnerup's recent loss in La. (with big excuse) was third in a row
7. Liquidity
Doug O'Neill-trained (like No. 8); led, finished second to Stormello, Ravel in last two
8. Notional
His win in the Risen Star was viewed nationally as Circular Quay's hard-luck loss
9. Summer Doldrums
If you're that mythical creature who picks solely by speed figures, he's your horse
10. Great Hunter
Rested by O'Neill after busy '06, BC show horse returns Saturday in Robert Lewis
My second 10:
11. Scat Daddy; 12. Hard Spun; 13. Adore the Gold; 14. E Z Warrior; 15. Day Pass; 16. Forefathers; 17. Horse Greeley; 18. Belgravia; 19. Teuflesberg; 20. Drums of Thunder