02/06/2013 4:31PM

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 6, 2013

By Jay Privman
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WHO’S HOT

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who won the Kentucky Derby three years ago with Super Saver, landed seven of the 20 horses on the inaugural Derby Watch list for 2013, including Violence, whom Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper, installed as the ante-post favorite for the Derby at 6-1. Verrazano, Watchmaker’s second choice at 8-1, and Shanghai Bobby, the fifth choice on Watchmaker’s line at 12-1, also are trained by Pletcher. Three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert has three horses on the list, while four-time Derby winner D. Wayne Lukas has two, as do Doug O’Neill, who won the Derby last year, and Mark Casse.

WHO’S NOT

Some prominent 2-year-olds of 2012 – including Dewey Square, Frac Daddy, Fury Kapcori, and Power Broker – did not make the cut, owing to disappointing recent performances or questions over whether they will be ready in time for the May 4 Derby.

ON THE BUBBLE

There were several horses who just missed making the cut this week, most notably Palace Malice – yet another Pletcher trainee – who is scheduled to make his next start in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds on Feb. 23, and Fortify, scheduled to run in the UAE 2000 Guineas in Dubai on Feb. 14. Code West, Demonic, Honorable Dillon, Majestic Hussar, Tiz the Truth, and Treasury Bill are among the many also knocking on the door.

[DERBY WATCH: Top 20 list and videos | O'Neill hopes to join list of repeaters]

russell 9 months ago
Drayton- I would agree that the race was very impressive. Probably the best so far. But so what. When someone farts in Verrazano's ear lets see how he responds.
Drayton 9 months ago
Verrazano .... end of story.
Paul Kelley 9 months ago
..I'm guessing the Ky. Derby winner wasn't mentioned in this piece.
russell 9 months ago
Anon- Shanghai Bobby like Holy Bull? NO WAY. Holy Bull was a very underrated horse. He would leave Bobby at the 3/4 pole and never look back. Look at Bull's win in the Woodward. Lights out!
Mark 9 months ago
Belvin Always in a Tiz
Anonymous 9 months ago
I would not run Shanghai Bobby in the Triple Crown races. I would run him in the Florida Derby, perhaps the Blue Grass (to see how he does on Poly) or the Derby Trial to see how he likes/dislikes CD. I would then take him to NY for the Peter Pan Then Jersey for the Haskell Then Saratoga for the Woodward (to see how he competes against his elders with weight for age. Then Santa Anita for the Breeders Cup. Yes, I know I have not put him in a 10 furlong race until California but sometimes the TC Races ruin a horse. We have a potential Holy Bull here so let's not ruin him.
Ryan Jones 9 months ago
You're crazy. Do not compare a slow 2year old to holy bull. The Bull was a beast. Bobby will be nowhere at the end of the year. He's not even in Uncle Mo's class to be quite honest.. And Mo was a mirage.
Patricia Doyle 9 months ago
It is not the TC races that ruin a horse.
Gunner 9 months ago
Reading about Bobby being Shanghaied made me drop my Moo Goo Gai Pan. Holy Bull, indeed!
John 9 months ago
Watch out for Treasury Bill, Ron Ellis trained, who usually runs them into shape, won in a canter , and Tiz the Truth, 3rd old won by 7 under wraps, had been outworking Fed Biz, 3rd in last weeks stakes race. Both impressive and bred to be good ones !
Gene 9 months ago
John, where in the world did you read/hear that Tiz The Truth outwokred Fed Biz??? Total fabrication...Fed Biz worked with Guilt Trip, Tiz The Truth was OUTWORKED by Flashback... If you look at the corresponding dates, they haven't even work on the same days since before their respective last starts..Why must people make things up???