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

WHO’S HOT

Owing to poor performances in the Risen Star by two members of the inaugural Derby Watch top 20 last week, Ben Diesel and Cyberknife have been added to the list. Cyberknife, an impressive allowance winner on the Risen Star undercard at Fair Grounds, is 20-1 on the line for the May 7 Kentucky Derby set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form. Ben Diesel, entered Saturday in the Rebel at Oaklawn, is 30-1. Smile Happy, runner-up in the Risen Star, remains McGee’s favorite at 5-1, but Risen Star winner Epicenter is now the second choice at 6-1; he was 15-1 last week. Zandon, third in the Risen Star, is down to 10-1 from last week’s 12-1, and fourth-place finisher Pioneer of Medina is now 30-1 from last week’s 50-1.

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WHO’S NOT

Slow Down Andy and Pappacap were removed from the list after finishing out of the top four – thus failing to earn any points – in the Risen Star. To adjust in part for the odds drop on Epicenter, McGee raised the price on Withers winner Early Voting from 12-1 to 15-1.

ON THE BUBBLE

Charge It, a romping maiden winner of his last start at Gulfstream, was under consideration but failed to make the cut. He is 1 for 2, but trainer Todd Pletcher said he will run in a Derby prep in his next start, though where and when has yet to be decided. There are three Rebel entrants – Barber Road, Ben Diesel, and Chasing Time – on the Derby Watch list, but a victory by anyone else eligible to earn points would move that horse onto next week’s list owing to the 50 points for a win guaranteeing a spot in the Derby field; Newgrange is not eligible to earn points.

– Jay Privman