Notable Nine for Kentucky Derby 149

 Happy Derby week!

Today we take our annual look at the notable nine Kentucky Derby 149 contenders. Not necessarily in our selection order, they are the top horses with the ability to at least hit the board and a strong possibility to hit the board.

#15 Forte (I. Ortiz / Pletcher) holds a triple digit Beyer number of 100. He won the Florida Derby making his fifth win in a row. Millionaire tracker/closer. Son of Violence. 85% win record from seven starts.

#10 Practical Move (R. Vazquez / Yakteen) also holds a triple digit Beyer, doubling 100 in his last two races. He won the Santa Anita Derby making his third win in a row. Son of Practical Joke shows improving speed figs with an 100% in the money record from seven starts.

#3 Two Phil's (Loveberry / Rivelli) holds the highest Beyer number of 101, albeit over a synthetic surface. This guy has a win over the Churchill track. He won the Jack Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. A son of Hard Spun, he is 75% in the money from eight career starts.

#5 Tapit Trice (L. Saez / Pletcher) holds a high Beyer figure of 99. Coming into the race with four wins in a row. He is the Bluegrass winner at Keeneland. Son of Tapit, is 100% in the money from five starts.

#17 Derma Sotogake (Lemaire / Hidetaka) holds a TimeForm speed rating of 109. He is the winner of the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse. Shipped directly from Dubai to the US to acclimate well in advance of the Derby. Son of Mind Your Biscuits, is 75% in the money from eight starts.

#14 Angel of Empire (Prat / B. Cox) holds a high Beyer speed number of 94 as well as improving speed figures over his last three races. Winner of the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Millionaire son of Classic Empire, is 83% in the money from six starts.

#11 Disarm (Rosario / Asmussen) holds a high Beyer mark of 90 which he doubled up over his last two races. Has raced at Churchill. He was third last out in the Lexington at Keeneland to earn enough points to join the gate. A son of Gun Runner, he is 100% in the money from five career starts.

#9 Skinner (JJ Hernandez / Shirreffs) holds a high Beyer speed fig of 99 which he earned finishing 3rd in the Santa Anita Derby, last out. Old-school trainer, John Shirreffs has shown great patience in the development of his charge. Son of Curlin, is 66% in the money from six starts.

#4 Confidence Game (Graham / Desormeaux) holds a high Beyer figure of 94 earned winning the Rebel last out at Oaklawn Park. He is the most experienced Churchill Downs runner with a 75% itm from four starts over the track. A son of Candy Ride [ARG], he is 85% in the money from seven career starts.

It should be an excellent running of the 149th Kentucky Derby. We project the favortie to go off at approximately 4-1 which should make for some nice exotic payouts.

KD 149 is expected to go off at 3:57 pm Pacific Time.

Bluegrass of Kentucky

Another key Kentucky Derby prep is our chosen race for this Stakes Saturday. On a day of three fantastic Derby preps just four weeks out from the greatest two minutes in all of sports, this should be the most competitive of them all.

Kenneland Race 10 {Toyota Bluegrass-G2~1 1/8 mile~3 year-old~Graded Stakes}

A wonderful full field of fourteen will enter the gate in what is fast becoming one of the key Derby preps on the road to the Kentucky Derby. There is sufficient speed to carry this crew through solid fractions. Only four in the field have gone this distance. Speed numbers are exceptionally close which should produce one of the most competitive races on the day. All are Triple Crown nominees.

#11 Good Magic (J. Ortiz / C. Brown) should improve greatly over his last with the second highest (tie) last out speed number and three strong peaking workouts. The BC juvenile champ is 100% in the money from four career starts. A son of Curlin, he should travel close to the pace and launch his assault in the stretch.

$1 WIN  /  $2 PLACE  /  $3 SHOW.

#12 Flameaway (J. Lezcano / Casse) should challenge with the third highest last out speed number and two robust workouts. This lad has already posted a victory at Keeneland as a two year-old. A son of Scat Daddy, he should be forwardly placed poised to ward off challengers.

$1 PLACE  /  $2 SHOW.

#6 Marconi (Moore / Pletcher) will contend with a couple of very good last out speed numbers, a four race progression, and three sharp peaking workouts. Connections bring in one of the best jockey's in the world, Ryan Moore, to ride. He is the jock who road Mendelsohn to a scintillating victory in the UAE Derby last weekend. This guy is a son of Tapit and should be tracking and closing powerfully.

$1 SHOW.

Other Wagering Interests

#9 Tiz Mischief (Lanerie / Romans) comes in from Tampa Bay Downs where a earned a good speed fig last out. This colt has put in two superlative workouts prepping for this race and might do better than his barn mate. He is another that has won at Keeneland. A son of Into Mischief he should track and close boldly coming into the stretch.

#4 Kanthaka (Leparoux / Hollendorfer) is a California invader with a couple of very good last out speed numbers and three wholesome workouts. He is 75% in the money from four starts. A son of Jimmy Creed, he should be part of the tracking crew.

#10 Free Drop Billy (I Ortiz / Romans) looks to gather a third win on his sheet with the fourth highest last out speed number and two hearty workouts. He one of the three that has posted a win over the Keeneland track. A son of Union Rags, expect him to battle bravely among the tracking group.

#2 Sporting Chance (L. Saez / Lukas) should surprise with a couple of very good last out speed numbers, a two race progression, and three awe inspiring, peaking workouts. This lad is 80% in the money from five starts. A son of Tiznow, he has the tactical speed to adapt to whatever pace develops.

10 CENT Superfecta

#11 Good Magic  /  #12 Flameaway, #6 Marconi  /  #12, #6, #9 Tiz Mischief, #4 Kanthaka, #10 Free Drop Billy, #2 Sporting Chance.

Last Stakes Saturday (3/31) Results

Gulfstream Park R14.  Florida Derby--G1.  Our first pick, Catholic Boy, finished 4th.  Our second pick, Hofburg, finished 2nd for place money of $3.60 and show money of $4.40.  Our third pick, Audible, won (1st) for show money of $1.50.

Superfecta went 8-7-9-2.

Bankroll slips by a buck and change to settle at $222.54.