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Owner: Victor Avila (Victoria’s Ranch)

Trainer: Juan Carlos Avila

Jockey: Samy Camacho

Breeder: Carhue Investments, Grouseridge Ltd. & Marengo Investments

Sire: Uncle Mo

Dam: Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band

Sales Record: $150,000 at the OBS April sale

Race Record: 2-1-1 from five starts, $340,350

Major Races: G1 Arkansas Derby (2nd), G2 Tampa Bay Derby (1st)

Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

It was unclear how talented this colt might be after his Tampa Bay Derby victory, but his second-place finish to Nadal in the Arkansas Derby was impressive. The long layoff from May to September could be a concern, but he’s a lightly-made animal so there’s no reason to think it wouldn’t benefit him. King Guillermo is already at Churchill Downs getting used to the surface, and I’ll keep a close eye on his works, but as of right now it looks like he’ll be a major contender.

• Straight Sets: Nadal Takes Second Division Of Arkansas Derby For Baffert Sweep
• Arkansas Derby: King Guillermo Gets Feel For Oaklawn Surface
• Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Jockey Camacho Stays Humble Heading To The ‘Big Time’
• Named For Martinez’ Late Father, King Guillermo A Longshot Dream Come True
• More here

Owner: Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing, LLC

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Breeder: SF Bloodstock

Sire: Uncle Mo

Dam: Peace Time, by War Front

Sales Record: $95,000 weanling at Keeneland November

Race Record: 1-3-0 from four starts, $238,800

Major Races: G1 Travers Stakes (2nd), G3 Peter Pan Stakes (2nd)

Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

This lightly-raced colt ran a big race in the Peter Pan, especially first time against winners, and took another big step forward in the Travers. He’s got all the reason in the world to move up again in the Derby, his third start off the layoff. Caracaro may have been soundly defeated by Tiz the Law, but the late-developing colt ran a solid race and earned his spot in the Run for the Roses.

• On To The Derby For Travers Runner-Up Caracaro; Rice Keeping Max Player’s Options Open
• Caracaro ‘In Another Category’ Than Delgado’s Other Derby Starters
• ‘Really? I Did That?’ Castellano Hoping To Add To Record Six Travers Wins
• Country Grammer Shows Long-Distance Chops Winning Peter Pan
• More here

Owner: John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing and Paul Braverman

Trainer: Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Jockey: Paco Lopez

Breeder: Brian Culnan

Sire: Cross Traffic

Dam: Maime Reilly, by Graeme Hall

Sales Record: $27,000 RNA at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old in training sale

Race Record: 2-3-2 from nine starts, $565,470

Major Races: G1 Haskell Stakes (2nd), G3 Matt Winn (2nd), G2 Louisiana Derby (2nd), G2 Risen Star (3rd)

Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

Progressive colt showed up in a big way in the Haskell, and looked like he’d handle the extra distance of the Kentucky Derby with ease. Ny Traffic has had a good deal of racing experience, and is taking a step forward with each race. He’s tactical and gritty, so he should be able to make some noise on the first Saturday in September. 

• ‘Another Jump Forward’: Joseph Pleased With Ny Traffic’s Haskell Performance
• Authentic Just Lasts In Desperate Haskell Finish; Baffert Wins For Ninth Time
• Ny Traffic Bound For Jersey’s Haskell After Sharp Gulfstream Drill
• More here

Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone

Trainer: Patrick Biancone

Jockey: Luca Panici

Breeder: Flaxman Holdings Limited

Sire: Karakontie

Dam: Light Blow, by Kingmambo

Sales Record: $20,000 2-year-old at OBS April sale

Race Record: 4-1-1 from seven starts, $323,310

Major Races: G2 Tampa Bay Derby (2nd), G3 Sam Davis (1st)

Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

He’ll need the right trip to win the Derby, but his late-closing style could be especially dangerous when there appears to be plenty of speed signing on for the first Saturday in September. Biancone admitted that he rushed Sole Volante to the Belmont 10 days after winning an allowance race, and that he runs better fresh, so I won’t hold the Belmont sixth against him.

• Sole Volante Breezes On Grass In Advance Of Kentucky Derby
• Sole Volante To Train Up To Kentucky Derby; Ete Indien Suffers Setback
• Luca Panici Feeling ‘Confident’ In Long-Time Partnership With Sole Volante
• Sole Volante To Wheel Back In 10 Days For Belmont Stakes
• More here

Owner: George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.

Trainer: Linda Rice

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Breeder: K & G Stables

Sire: Honor Code

Dam: Fools in Love, by Not For Love

Sales Record: $150,000 RNA at Keeneland September yearling sale

Race Record: 2-1-3 from five starts, $373,500

Major Races: G1 Travers (3rd), G1 Belmont Stakes (3rd), G3 Withers (1st)

Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

He ran willingly enough in the Belmont, and all reports from the colt’s camp were positive leading up to his third in the Travers. Rice hasn’t determined whether he’ll point to the Derby yet, but Max Player’s late-running style should put him in contention if he does.

• On To The Derby For Travers Runner-Up Caracaro; Rice Keeping Max Player’s Options Open
• Rice Hoping Rosario Keeps Max Player Closer To The Pace In Travers
• ‘Level-Headed’ Max Player Puts In Final Work For Saturday’s Travers
• How Much Was That Horse Worth? Max Player Valued At Seven Figures After Withers Score
• ‘Everything Is Going Smoothly’ With Travers Contender Max Player
• More here

Owner: St. Elias Stable

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: Joe Bravo

Breeder: Cloyce Clark

Sire: Quality Road

Dam: Mary Delaney, by Hennessy 

Sales Record: $400,000 yearling at Keeneland September

Race Record: 2-0-1 from three starts, $188,850

Major Races: G1 Haskell (3rd), G1 Belmont (2nd)

possible for Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

Unimpressive performance in the Haskell, and Dr Post appears to be more of a one-paced grinder than the kind of horse who can win the Kentucky Derby. Down the road, he ought to try some marathon distances, because he looks like the type to run all day long.

However, should the colt’s racing tactics change, he might be worth a second look.

• Dr Post, Authentic Top Probables For ‘Win And You’re In’ Haskell Stakes
• Aftermath: Pletcher, Rice Ponder Next Starts For Belmont’s Second- And Third-Place Finishers
• Vincent Viola: ‘The Belmont Is Absolutely The Race That I Covet The Most’
• More here

Owner: Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister

Trainer: Dale Romans

Jockey: Joe Talamo

Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III

Sire: Uncle Mo

Dam: Symbolic Gesture, by Bernardini

Race Record: 1-3-1 from eight starts, $143,732

Major Races: Ellis Park Derby (2nd), G3 Gotham (3rd)

Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

Clearly second-best to Art Collector in the Ellis Park Derby, but Romans plans to point this son of Hard Spun to the Run for the Roses. And why not? It’s his home track, and the Virginia-bred is improving a bit this year. 

• Art Collector Records Front-Running Win In Runhappy Ellis Park Derby
• ‘Later Developing’ Attachment Rate Gives Romans A Shot In Matt Winn
• More here

Owner.Breeder: Godolphin

Trainer: Brad Cox

Jockey: Florent Geroux

Sire: Street Sense

Dam: Collective, by Bernardini

Race Record: 3-2-0 from nine starts, $327,745

Major Races: G3 Indiana Derby (1st)

possible for Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

Big run at Indiana Grand, and his pedigree says he should love every inch of a mile and a quarter. He improved late in the Ellis Park Derby, so another furlong might be to his liking at Churchill Downs. Shared Sense will need a couple of defections, but it appears likely he’ll get them.

• Shared Sense Completes Trainer Brad Cox’s Indiana Derby, Oaks Double
• Trainer Brad Cox Has ‘Two Live Shots’ With Indiana Derby, Oaks Starters
• More here

Owner/Breeder: Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Jockey: Joe Bravo

Sire: Uncle Mo

Dam: Teardrop, by Tapit

Race Record: 2-0-1 from four starts, $166,850

Major Races: G1 Belmont Stakes (4th), G3 Matt Winn Stakes (3rd)

Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on Aug. 15

Expected to make it into the main body of the field even without points earned in this weekend’s Pegasus Stakes, the lightly-raced Pneumatic has a lot of upside for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. He’ll need to step forward to compete with the best on this list, but Saturday’s performance should answer some questions.

• Matt Winn Third Pneumatic Nominated To Triple Crown; Belmont, Haskell Among Options For Next Start
• Equibase Analysis: Pneumatic Might Just Drill Foes In Matt Winn
• More here

Owner: Rey Hernandez and Arnaldo Monge

Trainer: Rey Hernandez

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Breeder: Paige Jillian Blu Sky Stables

Sire: Dialed In

Dam: Southern Classic, by Southern Image

Race Record: 2-1-2 from nine starts, $191,290

Major Races: G1 Arkansas Derby (3rd), G3 Lecomte Stakes (4th), G2 Kentucky Jockey Club (2nd)

Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5

Expected to make the main field via defections, the one-eyed Finnick the Fierce will draw plenty of fan-favoritism. He’s a cool colt who’s run well intermittently, and a good performance could put him in the mix on Derby day.

• Finnick The Fierce, Man In The Can Breeze In Advance Of Blue Grass
• Jeff Ruby Steaks: One-Eyed Finnick The Fierce ‘Seems To Have Taken To The Polytrack’
• More here