Steve Haskin's Derby Watch--Week 10 (March 25)

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1--Empire Maker/Bobby Frankel; Unbridled-Toussaud, by El Gran Senor
No one seems to be making much of a push to knock him off the top spot. All Frankel has to do in the Wood is make sure he doesn't turn in another mind-blowing performance with big speed numbers. He's had his "Shock and Awe" race. Now he just needs to progress steadily toward the first Saturday in May.

2--Atswhatimtalknbout/Ron Ellis; A.P. Indy-Lucinda K., by Red Ransom
Other than the fact he hasn't won a stakes, he fits the Derby profile. He has the looks, the pedigree, the big kick, and he's improved with every start. However, with no starts at 2, he'll have to buck 120 years of history. It'll be done one of these days.

3--Kafwain/Bob Baffert; Cherokee Run-Swazi's Moment, by Moment of Hope

People either love him or hate him as a Derby horse. Some feel he has no shot at 1 1/4 miles, while others feel his class can get him the distance. Baffert has no clue, and will reserve judgment until after the Santa Anita Derby. He did crank him up for a sharp 1:10 4/5 work on Tuesday.

4--Badge of Silver/Ronny Werner; Silver Deputy-Silveroo, by Silver Hawk
With no one other than Empire Maker asserting himself, it's looking more promising for this brilliant colt, who only needs to get back in the right direction in the Blue Grass to re-establish his once-glowing reputation. Werner was thrilled with the way he came home and galloped out in his 5-furlong breeze in 1:02.

5--Peace Rules/Bobby Frankel; Jules-Hold to Fashion, by Hold Your Peace
Another one going against the book with only two starts before the Derby. He'll likely tackle Badge of Silver again at Keeneland, but should face a more formidable opponent than he did in the Louisiana Derby. He has a lot of toughness in his pedigree, but it remains to be seen whether it can get him 1 1/4 miles off two starts.

6--Brancusi/Patrick Biancone; Deputy Commander-Treize, by Alysheba
In a perplexing year like this, we should all take one stab, just for fun, and this is ours. But he may not be such a stab at that. Biancone knows how to win big races, and this colt has been making huge strides at the right time. His pedigree says he'll run all day and we see no reason why he shouldn't improve off his San Felipe. Check those future book odds.

7--Offlee Wild/T.V. Smith; Wild Again-Alvear, by Seattle Slew
Another Blue Grass hopeful. In some ways, he also can be considered a stab after missing so much time, but if this racy-looking, well-bred colt should bounce back and run big at Keeneland, watch out on Derby Day. This is a very talented horse, and his female family is to die for. Now is the time to bet him in the future book.

8--Domestic Dispute/Bob Baffert; Unbridled's Song-Majestical Moment, by Magesterial
This horse is an enigma, and Baffert has to do some serious work with him. His dull effort in the stretch of the San Felipe was contradicted by a subsequent :58 4/5 work. As it turned out he beat a field of stretching out sprinters in the Santa Catalina, but you have to give him one more chance.

9--New York Hero/Jennifer Pederson; Partner's Hero-Nin Two, by John Alden
He still has a lot of catching up to do from a speed standpoint, but now is when you look for improving horses, and he stepped up in the Lane's End. Didn't beat a strong field by any means, but he's a powerful, gritty colt who covers a lot of ground. Will have to take a big step forward in the Wood Memorial.

10--Buddy Gil/Jeff Mullins; Eastern Echo-Really Rising, by For Really
Still some questions regarding his ability at 1 1/4 miles. He showed a lot of tenacity winning the San Felipe after being in tight quarters and bumped several times. But he did come into the race extremely sharp and has to show he can do it again in the Santa Anita Derby.

11--Ocean Terrace /Bob Hess; Saint Ballado-Crystal River, by Black Tie Affair
Speaking of bucking history, he'll have to do something that hasn't been done in 85 years. Don't like the lack of experience, with only three starts, but he is undefeated and doesn't like being passed in the stretch, a quality he's shown in all his races. If he can keep his unbeaten streak alive in the Santa Anita Derby, his four starts going into the Kentucky Derby might not seem like that much of a handicap.

12--Lone Star Sky/Tom Amoss; Conquistador Cielo-Ministrada, by Deputy Minister
Things are starting to come together for this colt, who is a huge Derby longshot and kind of enticing in the future books. He ran a bang-up race in the Louisiana Derby against a severe speed-biased track and came back with a blistering :58 2/5 breeze on Tuesday. Amoss said he was concerned about the time right after the work, but the track was exceptionally fast and he felt good when he saw how the horse was playing back at the barn and didn't drink any more water than he normally does. He has some good, solid 2-year-old form as was very impressive winning a stakes in his only start at Churchill Downs.

Continued...

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