Ranking the Derby contenders (updated)
Below is my top-20 ranking of horses aiming for the May 5 Kentucky Derby after three significant preps on Saturday -- Great Hunter won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, Scat Daddy the Fountain of Youth and King of the Roxy the Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park. 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 (new comments in italics):
1. Street Sense
2-year-old champ regains No. 1 by default after Nobiz’s loss in Fountain of Youth
2. Ravel
Best of trainer Todd Pletcher's bunch could go in March 17 San Felipe at Santa Anita
3. Scat Daddy
Another Pletcher, he moves way after bouncing back and winning the Fountain
4. Any Given Saturday
Another Pletcher, he's starting the season against soft Tampa Bay competition
5. Stormello
Missed by inches after leading the Fountain, vindicating trainer’s choice to ship
6. Great Hunter
Best of the Doug O’Neill-trained, J. Paul Reddam-owned trio won Saturday’s Lewis
7. Nobiz Like Shobiz
Erratic third in the Fountain of Youth takes the sheen off the recent favorite
8. Circular Quay
More Pletcher: BC runnerup's recent loss in La. (with big excuse) was third in a row
9. Liquidity
O'Neill-trained (like No. 8); led but finished second to Stormello, Ravel in last two
10. Notional
More O'Neill: Risen Star win was seen nationally as Circular Quay's hard-luck loss
My second 10:
10. Summer Doldrums; 11. Hard Spun; 12. Adore the Gold; 13. King of the Roxy; 14. E Z Warrior; 15. Sam P.; 16. Adore the Gold; 17. Horse Greeley; 18. Belgravia; 19. Teuflesberg; 20. Drums of Thunder.