Several Sophomores Advance on Haskin's List of Kentucky Derby Contenders

• Email
• Print
• Tweet

By Steve Haskin
Two horses trained by Nick Zito--Birdstone and Eurosilver--top the list of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders compiled by Steve Haskin, senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse. Champion Action This Day follows the top pair.

1 -- Birdstone/Nick Zito/Grindstone-Dear Birdie, by Storm Bird
Breezed sharp 5 furlongs in 1:01. Zito skipping Florida Derby; keeps Bailey for Lane's End.

2 -- Eurosilver/Nick Zito/Unbridled's Song  -Russian Tango, by Nijinsky II
Breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01 4/5 for Swale. Zito will wait until Keeneland to start turning the screws.

3 -- Action This Day/Dick Mandella/Kris S.-Najecam, by Trempolino
Almost the complete package – looks, pedigree, acceleration; just needs to improve speed figures a bit.

4 -- Read the Footnotes/Richard Violette/Smoke Glacken  -Baydon Belle, by Al Nasr
Speed figures way ahead of everyone right now and he's already battle-tested. Can take a step backward if he needs to.

5 -- Master David/Bobby Frankel/Grand Slam-Nadra, by Sadler's Wells
He'll go as far as you want him to as long as you don't push him into the race too soon. Grinder, with very efficient stride.

6 -- St Averil/Rafael Becerra/Saint Ballado-Avie's Fancy, by Lord Avie
May have a tactical advantage over Action This Day in San Felipe. Can stalk and close; bred to go long.

7 -- Eddington/Mark Hennig/Unbridled-Fashion Star, by Chief's Crown
Tall, powerful colt, he runs fast, glides over the ground; and has explosive turn of foot. Scary part is, he's still green.

8 -- Gradepoint/Neil Howard/A.P. Indy-Class Kris, by Kris S.
Doesn't dazzle you with big winning margins and fast times, but puts in a big stretch run every time and knows how to win.

9 -- Lion Heart/Patrick Biancone/Tale of the Cat-Satin Sunrise, by Mr. Leader
Playing catch-up, but he does have a ton of talent, and still hasn't been beaten. San Rafael will tell where he is..

10 -- Redskin Warrior/Jennifer Pedersen/Indian Charlie  -Southerncomfortgal, by Hermitage
He has so much potential and is so visually impressive, hard to imagine him not stretching out. Needs everything to go perfectly.

11 -- Tapit/Michael Dickinson/Pulpit  -Tap Your Heels, by Unbridled
Back in gear after seven-furlong race simulated work at Laurel. Florida Derby very ambitious spot.

12 -- Mr. Jester/Steve Wren/Silver Deputy/Future Pretense, by Fappiano
The closer you look at him the more there is to like. Always right there, and has lots of stamina influences in female family.

• Email
• Print
• Tweet