2022 Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for March 23

WHO’S HOT

With no points-scoring races last week, there were no changes to the Derby Watch top 20, which finds Smile Happy remaining the 6-1 favorite for the May 7 Kentucky Derby on the line of Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee. Smile Happy was confirmed for the April 9 Blue Grass Stakes this past week, joining a field also expected to include Derby Watch members Classic Causeway, Ethereal Road, Grantham, and Zandon. Epicenter, one of the co-second choices on McGee’s line, will be favored on Saturday in the Louisiana Derby, which has two other Derby Watch members – Call Me Midnight and Rattle N Roll – in the field.

WHO’S NOT

No defections from the list over the past week. Feel confident saying that won’t happen again this season.

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

ON THE BUBBLE

The unbeaten Zozos, who makes his stakes debut in only his third start in the Louisiana Derby, just missed the cut this week, but obviously will move onto the list should he finish first (100 points) or second (40 points) on Saturday. Galt is another Louisiana Derby entrant who bears watching; he was eliminated in the Fountain of Youth owing to the accident with less than a quarter-mile remaining, thus depriving him of a chance to pick up points that day. Charge It, Messier, We the People, and the filly Secret Oath all are under strong consideration to move onto the list by next week. The winners of the United Emirates Derby on Saturday (100 points for first, if eligible) and the Sunland Derby on Sunday (50 points for first) could find themselves on the list if their connections are keen on moving on.