In preference order, with horse/trainer/breedingClick on horse's name to access Contender page11 -- Monarchos/John Ward/Maria's Mon-Regal Band, by Dixieland BandStill has to be tested for class, but if you're looking for an exciting newcomer to the scene who has the potential to be something special, it's this colt, who annihilated a very good allowance field on Saturday, and did a lot of learning along the way. Also showed the kind of rapid-fire acceleration you like to see in a Derby horse.12--Mongoose/Bill Mott/Broad Brush-Salty Gal, by Cox's RidgeTraining steadily at Payson Park. Breezed 5 furlongs in 1:04 3/5 Sunday after a :51 half last week. Mott quietly confident in this big, good-looking colt. He's taken a few pretenders on the Derby trail, but this could be his first real legitimate shot at the roses with a true mile and a quarter horse. 13 -- Holiday Thunder/John Ward/Thunder Gulch-Magical Holiday, by Slew o' GoldThird member of John Ward's potent Derby trio. Breezed 6 furlongs in 1:14 4/5, out in 1:28, with Mike Smith aboard. Last three-eighths in :36 1/5. Good race in Fountain of Youth will send him to Florida Derby. Love his consistency. Lots of class and stamina on female side, and like dam's inbreeding to Buckpasser.14 -- City Zip/Linda Rice/Carson City-Baby Zip, by RelaunchQuestion now is, do you sprint him again in the Swale or stretch him out. Similar situation to More Than Ready last year. Looks like the time to stretch him out and see just what you've got. Still believe he's a two-turn horse if he just lays back and makes the one run rather than show speed and drop back on the turn. Tough and consistent, will always make you work for everything. 15 -- Burning Roma/Anthony Dutrow/Rubiano-While Rome Burns, by OverskateReally like this colt, but with owner taking over the reins as trainer, supposedly until after Tampa Bay Derby, it's turned into a bizarre situation that history says likely will spell disaster. Trainer Tony Dutrow has not even been contacted since shipping colt to owner at Tampa. It is written in the Triple Crown scriptures that this is the not the way to win the Derby, or even get a horse to the race. Biggest shame is that this a very talented colt who is in desperate need of his trainer. 16 -- Windsor Castle/Frank Alexander/Lord Carson-Frigidette, by It's FreezingStill just walking and grazing after coming down with high fever. Plenty of time to recover, especially with Remsen win under his belt. Best thing is that this happened early enough. This colt has a solid enough foundation and won't need much before the Derby.17 --Global Gait/Bob Baffert/Concern-Celestial Jazz, by Dancing CountBaffert said he looked awesome in his 7-furlong work in 1:25, closing last three-eighths in :34 2/5. Gave talented stablemate a 4-length lead and blew right by him. After Captain Steve's victory in the Donn, Baffert definitely will run him in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. Worked a sharp 5 furlongs in 1:00. 18 -- Talk Is Money/John Scanlan/Deputy Minister-Isle Go West, by Gone WestJust have a feeling this $1.8 million yearling and $785,000 weanling is the real deal. Still has a lot to prove, but he showed a lot stretching out for the first time in Miracle Wood and out-battling a talented and much more experienced colt in Marciano. Will have to wait for him to leave Maryland and tackle bigger game before we really know what's there.19 -- Saint Verre/Shug McGaughey/Saint Ballado -- Margot Verre, by Tom RolfeMcGaughey says he moving along forwardly at Palm Beach Downs and should be ready to run by the end of the Gulfstream meeting. Don't like having ankle chips removed so late in 2-year-old year, but this colt's two wins have been spectacular. 20 -- Ommadon/Tom Walsh/Grindstone-Missymooiloveyou, by TurkomanWorking steady half-miles over the Belmont training track. Showed his class in Nashua victory, then couldn't handle Windsor Castle in the Remsen after setting the pace. Likely better from off the pace, especially with a dynamite pedigree. Speed in tail-female family, but tons of stamina everywhere else.KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: EARLY FLYER has McAnally on Derby trail after gutsy San Vicente score. Big question is distance capabilities. Dallas Stewart has another nice colt in CLUTCH PLAYER, easy winner of Fair Grounds allowance in slop. He'll skip Risen Star and go straight for Louisiana Derby. INVISIBLE INK won third straight for Todd Pletcher. May come right back in Fountain of Youth. Well-bred Lukas pair, SCORPION (:48 3/5) and DUALITY (:49 2/5) had their first works of the year at Gulf. High Cascade shipping in for Fountain of Youth. Might take them along for quite a while. Juan Serey has exciting, well-bred colt in TASTY CABERNEIGH, 7-length allowance winner at Aqueduct. Not nominated to Triple Crown. Another big winner not nominated is CRAFTY SHAW, who scored by more than 9 lengths at Oaklawn in mile allowance. SONGANDAPRAYER worked a sharp 7 furlongs in 1:24 3/5. Should take his speed farther next time.
