Contenders of Road to Kentucky Derby 149
A closer look at point earners for the 2023 Kentucky Derby
Hit Show
Verifying
- Sire: Justify & Dam: Diva Delite
- Pro: Verifying finished second in the Champagne (G1) as a juvenile and has the pedigree to improve with maturity. He also has the speed to sit a favorable trip in this largely paceless field.
- Verifying’s last prep-race performance; Verifying was worn down by favorite Tapit Trice in a stretch battle, the pair pulling 5 3/4 lengths clear of the rest in the Blue Grass Stakes.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 50-1
- Verifying Morning Line Odds
Two Phil’s
- Sire: Hard Spun & Dam: Mia Torri
- Pro: G3 winner at two, Two Phil's has some stylish victories; Accomplished dirt campaigner has won the Street Sense (G3) and placed in the Risen Star (G2) and Lecomte (G3).
- Two Phil’s’ last prep-race performance; The chestnut son of Hard Spun powered clear into upper stretch and drew off stylishly through the final furlongs, stopping the teletimer in 1:49.03. His recorded a convincing victory over the synthetic track at Turfway Park, the only major qualifier not contested on a dirt oval.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 21-1
- Two Phil’s Morning Line Odds
Confidence Game
- Sire: Candy Ride (ARG) & Dam: Eblouissante
- Pro: A well-timed rally from midfield carried Confidence Game to victory in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park, stamping the improving colt as a viable contender for the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1).
- Confidence Game’s last prep-race performance; Confidence Game received a great trip. While longshots Powerful and Frosted Departure duked it out on the front end, setting an honest pace of :22.75, :46.17, and 1:11.45, Confidence Game rated nicely in fifth while racing outside in the third flight.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 29-1
- Confidence Game Morning Line Odds
Tapit Trice
Finishing 1st in a competitive Blue Grass Stakes field last out, Tapit Trice has not lost since his first start finishing 3rd in November of 2022. With Tapit Trice’s popular sire Tapit, and successful Dam Danzatrice, by Kentucky Derby alumni Dunkirk, there is strong potential for success being a pupil of trainer Todd Pletcher.
- Sire: Tapit & Dam: Danzatrice
- Pro: Unleashed a big homestretch rally to win the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) last month. Looked a potential star winning Gulfstream allowance, earning 99 Brisnet Speed figure.
- Tapit Trice’s last prep-race performance; Tapit Trice appears to be developing into a serious racehorse, displaying more professionalism in a neck win, and Verifying enhanced his Kentucky Derby credentials with the game runner-up effort.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 11-1
- Tapit Trice Morning Line Odds
Kingsbarns
Reincarnate
- Sire: Good Magic & Dam: Allanah
- Pro: Reincarnate did not enjoy the best of trips in Rebel, more dangerous when able to show early foot.
- Reincarnate’s last prep-race performance; Reincarnate, always thereabouts but failing to lift, salvaged third by a head. Adding 30 points to his ledger, the Tim Yakteen trainee has a total of 45.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 24-1
- Reincarnate Morning Line Odds
Mage
- Sire: Good Magic & Dam: Puca
- Pro: Mage endured a tough trip in Fountain of Youth (G2); fared well despite inexperience.
- Mage’s last prep-race performance; Second choice Mage had surged past Forte from farther back in the field to make his own overland bid turning into the stretch, Forte waited and moved past Mage at the wire.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 46-1
- Mage Morning Line Odds
Disarm
- Sire: Gun Runner & Dam: Easy Tap
- Pro: Disarm is an improving colt rallied from behind a slow pace to finish second in the Louisiana Derby.
- Disarm's last prep-race performance; Disarm, who entered the Lexington ranked 26th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, needed a top three finish to qualify, and he rallied to stamp his ticket as the 3.46-1 second choice, edging 22-1 outsider Denington by a half-length for third. The six points moved Disarm to 18th, knocking Jace's Road one spot outside the top 20.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 33-1
- Disarm Morning Line Odds
Jace’s Road
Sun Thunder
- Sire: Into Mischief & Dam: Greenfield d’Oro
- Pro: Finished second in the Risen Star (G2) behind next-out Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire. Sun Thunder rallied nicely in Risen Star, though run down late after making the lead.
- Sun Thunder’s last prep-race performance; Sun Thunder rallied on the inside for fourth, good for 20 points to boost his account to 54.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 99-1
- Sun Thunder Morning Line Odds
Angel of Empire
Angel of Empire has won back-to-back Road to Kentucky Derby prep races in the Arkansas Derby and Risen Star Stakes. The bay colt is by Kentucky Derby 4th place finisher and Preakness Stakes 2nd place runner Classic Empire. Armony’s Angel, Angel of Empire’s Dam, is by former Kentucky Derby hopeful and Woodward Stakes winner To Honor and Serve.
- Sire: Classic Empire & Dam: Armony’s Angel
- Pro: Emerged from the pack to win Risen Star (G2), a race dominated by closers. Strong main track record, including clear second in Smarty Jones S.
- Angel of Empire’s last prep-race performance; A decisive success in the Arkansas Derby. He continued his progression by offering a sharp turn of foot to seize control, rolling home to a 4 1/2-length decision.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 29-1
- Angel of Empire Morning Line Odds
Raise Cain
Derma Sotogake (JPN)
- Sire: Mind Your Biscuits & Dam: Amour Poesie (JPN)
- Pro: Derma Sotogake won the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and finished a good third in the Saudi Derby (G3) to kick off 2023.
- Derma Sotogake (JPN)’s last prep-race performance; Under a masterful change of tactics by jockey Christophe Lemaire, Derma Sotogake wired Saturday’s $1 million UAE Derby (G2), and the 100-point windfall will put the Japanese colt in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 13-1
- Derma Sotogake (JPN) Morning Line Odds
Rocket Can
- Sire: Into Mischief & Dam: Tension
- Pro: Rocket Can took another step forward when solid second to Forte in Fountain of Youth (G2).
- Rocket Can’s last prep-race performance; Fourth-placer Rocket Can picked up another 20 points to increase his tally to 60. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott noted that the colt keeps implying he has more up his sleeve.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 32-1
- Rocket Can Morning Line Odds
Continuar (JPN)
- Sire: Drefong & Dam: Pan De Ring (JPN)
- Pro: Continuar won the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby and finished a good third in the Saudi Derby (G3) to kick off 2023.
- Continuar’s last prep-race performance; Continuar has 40 points, between his Cattleya Stakes win and UAE Derby third, plus a hefty bankroll!
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 54-1
- Continuar Morning Line Odds
Cyclone Mischief
Mandarin Hero (JPN)
- Sire: Shanghai Bobby & Dam: Namura Nadeshiko (JPN)
- Pro: Ran a terrific race in Santa Anita Derby and can improve on that U.S. debut.
- Mandarin Hero’s last prep-race performance; Japanese invader Mandarin Hero gave an excellent account of himself, surging boldly between rivals to miss by a nose on the wire.
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6 closing odds value: 99-1
- Mandarin Hero Morning Line Odds
King Russell
- LEGEND:
- Kentucky Derby Future Wager
- Pool 6 of the KFDW closed April 1, 2023 and can help reveal how the participating betting public feels about a horses’ chance to win the Kentucky Derby, with the Future Wager being parimutuel in nature.
- Sire = A horse’s father, Dam = A horse’s mother
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