2022 Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for March 16

WHO’S HOT

There was very little movement in the Derby Watch top 20, with Grantham, the runner-up in the Tampa Bay Derby last Saturday, the lone newcomer to this week’s list. He is a 50-1 shot for the May 7 Kentucky Derby on the line of Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee. The prices of all the other horses on the list remained the same, with Tampa Bay Derby winner Classic Causeway still the co-second choice – with three others – at 8-1, behind favored Smile Happy, who is 6-1. Joel Rosario on Wednesday picked up the mount on Mo Donegal, the Remsen winner and third-place finisher in the Holy Bull, for the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 9 owing to Irad Ortiz Jr. not being able to be in two places at once. Ortiz is committed to Keeneland that day for multiple mounts, including Classic Causeway in the Blue Grass.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more

WHO’S NOT

Major General, who stumbled at the start of the Tampa Bay Derby and had things regress from there while finishing last, was removed from the list.

ON THE BUBBLE

The filly Secret Oath, ticketed to the Arkansas Derby April 2, is one of several talented runners who have yet to earn points but are headed to major preps in coming weeks that could propel them to the Derby if they were to finish first (100 points) or second (40) in races worth 170 points overall. We the People, also headed to the Arkansas Derby; Zozos, who goes in the Louisiana Derby March 26, and Charge It, who runs next in the Florida Derby April 2, are knocking on the door as, of course, is Messier, should anything transpire in coming weeks that would make his Santa Anita Derby start April 9 worth points.

– Jay Privman