Steve Haskin's Derby Top 20--Week 4

Click on horse's name to access Contender Page

1-A P Valentine/ Nick Zito/A.P. Indy-Twenty Eight Carat, by Alydar

Turned in razor-sharp 5-furlong work Saturday in :59, blowing by workmate easily. Makes 3-year-old debut next Saturday in 7-furlong allowance race against Hero's Tribute and gets Pat Day. He's got the speed and class to win this despite the short distance, but all he needs is a solid effort to rebound from BC Juvenile and bucked shins.

2-Point Given/Bob Baffert/Thunder Gulch-Turko's Turn, by Turkoman

Worked solid 5 furlongs in 1:00 1/5 in company. Baffert will have to keep him sharp for another month. On similar schedule as Real Quiet. This is a big, powerful colt who's been kept on edge for quite a while and two races should be sufficient to have him in top shape for the Derby.

3--Dollar Bill/Dallas Stewart/Peaks and Valleys-Saratoga Game, by Saratoga Six

It's showtime Saturday in the Risen Star Stakes, and he gets Chris McCarron. If he runs to his works and his past form he shouldn't have much trouble with the current bunch of Fair Grounds 3-year-olds.

4-- Street Cry/Saeed bin Suroor/Machiavellian-Helen Street, by Troy

All this colt has to prove to us is that he has the necessary acceleration to get him to pass horses in the stretch. Some might say he hung in his three stakes efforts. But 1 1/4 miles should suit his style more.

5-- Millennium Wind/Dave Hofmans/Cryptoclearance-Bali Babe, by Drone

Breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01 2/5. Hofmans says he want to let him mature and get fit and not knock him out too early. Tall, leggy colt with a big frame and an easy-going disposition. Loves to sleep a lot.

6--Hero's Tribute/John Ward/Sea Hero -- Eastern Dawn, by Damascus

Ward will get more than he bargained for with A P Valentine heading for same allowance race Saturday. Five-furlong work in 1:00 3/5 from the gate shows he's sharp and ready. He'll be tough first time out.

7-- Meetyouathebrig/Elliott Walden/Out of Place-Always Be Mine, by Kris S

This colt has been lurking quietly at Payson Park without much fanfare, but he should come out like gangbusters after some solid works over that very deep surface. Talented horse, could win it all.

8 -- Palmeiro/John Sadler/Pleasant Tap-Fortune Pending, by Fortunate Prospect

Ranking judged solely on the talent potential of Millennium Wind. As of now, he's basically only as good as the horse he finished second to. Despite shorter distance, timing is right for San Rafael March 3.

9 -- Startac/Simon Bray/Theatrical--Tenga, by Mr. Prospector

Lot of things add up for this colt being a legitimate Derby contender. Monster dirt debut, back class on grass, great dirt pedigree on female side, and young, talented trainer who learned from the best.

Contenders 10-20. . . .