Kentucky Derby 2017 Top 20 Contenders
- Updated: April 29, 2017
Wizcapper’s review of the top 20 contenders for the 2017 Kentucky Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender: #1 Girvin
Ranked no. 1 on the Road to the Derby leaderboard with 150 points, he’s the winner of three of four races including the Louisiana Derby in his last start on April 1. His only loss was a runner-up effort on the turf at 1 mile in his second lifetime start. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. will opt for early favorite McCraken, leaving Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith with the early call to ride for trainer Joe Sharp.
Walked home in the Louisiana Derby finishing on the wrong lead while lugging in nearing the lane. And beating the one-eyed Pletcher trainee Patch who was making his first start off maiden score going 1 mile at Gulfstream.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Louisiana Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender: #2 Classic Empire
At number 2 on the board with 132 points, Classic Empire will probably enter the starting gate as the favorite. Only loss was two back in the Holy Bull while making his first start of 2017. Returned triumphant in the Arkansas Derby with an off-the-pace performance in a hotly contested race.
Like the fact that he started his career winning first two at Churchill as a two-year-old before embarking on a string of G1 efforts culminating with a neck victory in the BC Juvenile. The Derby will be his third start for the year and should improve off the effort.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Arkansas Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #3 Gormley
At number 3 with 125 points is Gormley who turned in his most impressive victory to date last time out in the G1 Santa Anita Derby. He won his first two starts at two before finishing a distant 7th to Classic Empire after bobbling at the start in the 2016 BC Juvenile. He was taken back for the first time in the SA Derby and was able to show a nice turn of foot in the stretch under two-time Derby winner Victor Espinoza who’ll be back aboard.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Santa Anita Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #4 Irap
At number 4 on the board with 113 points, Irap rocked the Road to the Kentucky Derby as the 30-1 winner of the G2 Blue Grass Stakes as a maiden last time out when he beat then undefeated and early Derby favorite McCraken.
Connections won the 2012 Derby and Preakness with I’ll Have Another and has not shied away from the top of the crop three-year-old contenders for this year’s Derby. Like the fact that this son of Tiznow has built in stamina and the experience of back to back 1 1/8 races in his last two starts.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Blue Grass Stakes
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #5 Irish War Cry
At number 5 with 110 points is the Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry whose only loss in 5 starts was a 7th place finish as the favorite in the Fountain of Youth two back.
Prior to the FOY, the New Jersey bred son of Curlin made a name for himself by beating two year old champ Classic Empire in the Holy Bull.
He was touted by 2011 Derby winning trainer Graham Motion prior to his Wood win, which marked a return to the saddle for Rajiv Maragh who’ll be back aboard for the Roses.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Wood Memorial
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #6 – Thunder Snow
At no. 6 with 100 points is Thunder Snow, winner of the G2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in March when he was a hard-fought winner by a head over the previously undefeated Japanese runner Epicharis. And 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third place finisher Master Plan. It was his second win of the year since switching to the dirt after campaigning all of 2016 on the turf in the UK with limited success.
He’ll only have to add another 1/16 miles to that effort and appears to be the first ever Euro transport with a real shot at the Roses.
Watch the replay of the 2017 UAE Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #7 – Always Dreaming
Always Dreaming is no. 7 on the leaderboard with 100 points. He’s on a three-race winning streak after switching to the barn of Todd Pletcher last year before breaking his maiden in his ’17 debut at Tampa.
In his second start of the year he won an OC75K/NW1x decisively going 1 1/8 miles before returning to win his only graded start in the Florida Derby last time out.
He’s currently listed without a rider but that’s no surprise given Pletcher’s bevy of contenders for the Derby. But it would be a surprise is regular rider Velazquez lands somewhere other than on this guy who will probably enter the starting gate as one of the top two.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Florida Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #8 – Gunnevera
Gunnevera is at no. 8 with 84 points after winning the $1 million Delta Jackpot in a strong performance around a tight-turned oval in Vinton, Louisiana. He returned three months later to open his ’17 season in the G2 Holy Bull finishing second, in a race he should have won, behind Irish War Cry and 5 in front of BC Juvenile winner Classic Empire. He made amends in the G2 FOY a month later before his third place finish behind Always Dreaming last time out in the Florida Derby as the favorite where he was taken back to last before closing into fast fractions.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Florida Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #9 – Practical Joke
No. 9 on the list of contenders is Practical Joke with 74 points. Trained by Chad Brown, Practical Joke won his first three starts at 2 including the G1 Hopeful and Champagne Stakes in New York before a troubled third place finish in the BC Juvenile.
Returned to open ’17 season as the runner-up to Gunnevera in the FOY and then beaten last time out by the maiden winner Irap in the Blue Grass.
The Derby will be his third start of the year but added distance is a concern.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Blue Grass Stakes
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #10 – J Boys Echo
No. 10 on the list is J Boys Echo with 63 points. Having broken his maiden at Keeneland last October, and impressive in winning the G3 Gotham two back, more was expected of him last time out in the Blue Grass.
To his credit, he bobbled at the break and was bumped at the start. But the slow pace set by the winner proved too much for this son of multiple graded stakes winning sire Mineshaft.
Will get a new rider for the Derby as regular rider Albarado is injured and off his quest for a first Derby winning ride.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Blue Grass Stakes
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #11 – State of Honor
Coming in 11th with 62 points is the Florida Derby runner-up State of Honor who took advantage of a ground saving trip from the rail to complete his best outing yet behind probable Derby favorite Always Dreaming.
His only win was a 7F maiden score on the all-weather at Woodbine as a two-year-old and will no doubt be without regular rider Leparoux who has already been named to ride probable second choice Classic Empire.
Distance concerns abound for this Canadian born son of To Honor and Serve who was mediocre at best in graded stakes company.
Watch the replay of the Florida Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #12 – Tapwrit
No. 12 is Tapwrit with 54 points. Started the year second best in the G3 Sam Davis behind McCraken. His best race was an off-the-pace victory in his next start in the G2 Tampa Derby when he didn’t have to face off against McCraken.
He’s one of several who will be sent out by Pletcher. Was 5th in the Blue Grass last time out in a race controlled by the slow pace of Irap.
He deserves a look but distance is a concern.
Watch the replay of the Blue Grass Stakes
2017Kentucky Derby Contender #13 – Hence
Hence hits the board at no. 13 with 50 points for trainer Steve Asmussen who’s looking for his first Derby win.
He exits the G3 Sunland Derby as the winner of a race that has produced two very strong performances by Irap who returned to win his next out in the Blue Grass. And a near upset of the 2 year old champ Classic Empire in the G1 Arkansas Derby by longshot Conquest Mo Money, who was second to Hence in the Sunland Derby.
Has been working good at Churchill and consider him a strong contender for the Derby from off what is expected to be a hot pace.
Watch the replay of the 2017 Sunland Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #14 – Fast and Accurate
At no. 14 on the list of top 20 contenders based on points earned on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is a virtual unknown runner by the name of Fast and Accurate with 50 points. He was the longshot winner of the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park. And if his connections want to run him in the Derby, he’d have to be supplemented to the race because he was not nominated as a Triple Crown contender early own by his owners.
To his credit, he’s on a three-race winning streak since adding Lasix for his maiden score at Turfway Park in a $30k claiming race. Since then he’s won a 7 1/2 furlong overnight stakes on the turf at Gulfstream. And last time out went the distance in the G3 Spiral at 25 to 1.
Given his record on all-weather and turf surfaces, he’d be a very longshot to win the Derby, if he were supplemented in.
Watch the replay of the Spiral Stakes
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #15 – McCraken
McCraken, who began his career by breaking his maiden at Churchill last October, is no. 15 on the leaderboard with only 40 points. He has been a consistent Derby favorite after reeling off 4 straight wins including the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club to end his two-year-old campaign. And the G3 Sam Davis to open the year.
Defeated last time out at short odds in the Blue Grass, he’ll be facing his toughest test to date. But his experience at Churchill makes him a strong contender.
Watch the replay of the Blue Grass Stakes
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #16 – Battle of Midway
At no. 16 is Battle of Midway with 40 points. Second last time out in the Santa Anita Derby in his best performance yet, he was game in defeat after setting all the pace before tiring a half-length out from the wire. He’ll have to go another 1/8 miles in what will be his toughest test. And depending on the post position draw, the strategy may well be to try and take an early hold if he’s to have any chance of going the extra furlong of the Derby.
Trained by HOF Hollendorfer who’s looking for his first ever Derby winner, this son of Smart Strike broke his maiden on a sloppy track. And there’s a 70% chance of rain in the forecast for Derby day.
Watch the replay of the Santa Anita Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #17 – Patch
With just three races on his lifetime chart, Patch has managed to land on the board in 17th place with 40 points by way of a second place finish in the Louisiana Derby in his only graded stakes try.
Fresh off his maiden win at 1 mile in a Gulfstream MSW, he traveled to Fair Grounds where this one-eyed son of the 2012 Belmont Stakes winning sire Union Rags was bumped at the break before closing to grab second behind top points earner, Girvin.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Calumet Farm, if he goes he’ll be making just his 4th start against a bevy of proven classmates on a day when the forecast calls for rain and he’s wearing a “patch” over one eye.
Watch the replay of the Louisiana Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #18 – Untrapped
6th in the Arkansas Derby last time out, and with just one win to his credit, Untrapped comes in at no. 18 for trainer Steve Asmussen with 34 points.
After breaking his maiden at Churchill in a 6 1/2 furlong sprint last November, he made his ’17 debut in the G3 LeComte at Fair Grounds where he was second in his first two-turn race. He returned a month later as the runner-up to Girvin in the G2 Risen Star before moving on to Oaklawn’s Rebel and a third place finish to Malagacy.
In the Arkansas Derby he wore blinkers for the first time under Mike Smith and failed to hit the board finishing 6th behind Classic Empire.
If he makes the final field for the Derby, he’ll be double-digit odds for the first time in his career.
Watch the replay of the Arkansas Derby
2017 Kentucky Derby Contender #19 – Lookin At Lee
