Churchill Downs

Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 25, 2018

Jay Privman|Apr 25, 2018

Combatant trains at Churchill on April 22

Barbara D. Livingston Combatant gallops at Churchill Downs last Sunday.

WHO’S HOT

Combatant and Instilled Regard moved into the Derby Watch top 20 owing to defections that vaulted them up the points list. Both are 30-1 on the Kentucky Derby line set by Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper.

WHO’S NOT

Gronkowski and Quip were taken out of consideration for the Derby on Monday and thus have been removed from the list. Gronkowski was said to have a minor illness, while Quip is being given more time until his next start, which is scheduled to be the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 19 at Pimlico. Quip is owned in part by WinStar Farm, which is already well represented in this Derby with Audible, Justify, and Noble Indy.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 list | Derby Watch: Vino Rosso's connections looking for Derby double

ON THE BUBBLE

Blended Citizen has moved up the points list over the past week and now is on the bubble, ranked 21st. Entries for the Derby will be taken Tuesday and posts drawn at 11 a.m. Eastern that day. In addition to the maximum 20-horse field, up to four also-eligibles are allowed at entry time. An also-eligible must scratch into the Derby by 9 a.m. on May 4, the day before the Derby. If there are any scratches from the main body of the Derby field after that time, the also-eligibles cannot get in.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis