Kafwain Tops Madame Wizard's Latest Top 10
By: William F. Reed

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 11, 2003) - Madame Wizard is sorry that Vindication has suffered an injury that will knock him out of the Triple Crown. Believe it or not, a couple of weeks ago she told me, her intermediary, that she didn't think Vindication would make it to the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

However, she asked me not to post it on the Internet because she didn't want to jinx the colt. Considering that no 2-year-old champion has won the Derby since 1979 and no Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner has ever won the roses, he already had a lot to overcome.

But, as horse players must, she has plunged on. Here are her latest rankings:

1. Kafwain -- Bob Baffert's iron horse made the kind of explosive move on the far turn in the San Vicente Stakes that is needed to wear a blanked of roses in Louisville.

2. Sky Mesa -- Trainer John T. Ward's decision to postpone his sophomore campaign doesn't inspire confidence. This talented colt will need some serious activity soon to remain in this spot.

3. Indy Dancer -- Whether he runs in the Fountain of Youth or the Risen Star, this one-run closer must stay in contact with the field in the early going.

4. Offlee Wild -- Handsome son of 1984 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Wild Again has the tactical speed to make his presence felt in the Fountain of Youth.

5. Ten Cents A Shine -- Under regular rider Jerry Bailey, this Ken McPeek trainee fired a bullet in a five-furlong work on Monday at Gulfstream Park. He should be tough in the Fountain of Youth.

6. Trust N Luck -- Speedy Calder colt will face an acid test when he faces tougher competition in the Fountain of Youth.

7. Man Among Men -- Turf winner switched back to the main track and upset highly regarded Empire Maker in the Sham Stakes at a mile and an eighth.

8. Domestic Dispute -- Impressive Santa Catalina Stakes winner may face Baffert stablemate Kafwain in the San Felipe Stakes on Mar. 16 at Santa Anita.

9. Saintly Look -- This multiple stakes winner at Fair Grounds took the Lecomte Stakes from the outside post and looks like the one to beat in Sunday's Risen Star.

10. Toccet -- Sidelined by ankle injuries, this road warrior is expected to resume training on Feb. 15.

Madame Wizard and yours truly wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day, especially newlyweds Bob and Jill Baffert.

Native Kentuckian William F. Reed has been a sports writer in various capacities for 43 years and has missed covering the Kentucky Derby a mere two times since 1966. He has been a high-profile sports writer in Kentucky for the Commonwealth's two largest daily newspapers, the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader and was a national columnist for Sports Illustrated, covering among other sports, Thoroughbred horse racing and college basketball. Reed currently pens a column for the Louisville Sports Report and covered Kentucky Derby 128 for kentuckyderby.com. He will be filing frequent installments for CDSN's (Churchill Downs Simulcasting Network) websites throughout 2003.

« Back To Billy Reed's Derby News
« Back To Derby News