Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for April 3, 2019
WHO’S HOT
Maximum Security and Bodexpress, the one-two finishers in the Florida Derby, and Plus Que Parfait, the winner of the United Arab Emirates Derby, are the three newcomers to this week’s Derby Watch top 20, which as the Derby draws closer will significantly adhere to the current points list. Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper, has Maximum Security as his fourth choice at 12-1. Plus Que Parfait is 30-1 on his line, with Bodexpress at 50-1. Game Winner, the Derby favorite, is now 5-1 on Watchmaker’s line after being 6-1 a week ago. He is scheduled for his final prep on Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby.
:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker
WHO’S NOT
Hidden Scroll was the most prominent of the three horses removed to make room for the newcomers. Also off the list, but perhaps only temporarily, are Nolo Contesto and Vekoma, both of whom are scheduled to run Saturday, in the Santa Anita Derby and Blue Grass, respectively. If they earn enough points this weekend, they’ll be right back on the list.
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ON THE BUBBLE
In addition to Nolo Contesto and Vekoma, other horses who could move onto the list with sufficient points in races this Saturday include Final Jeopardy, Somelikeithotbrown, and Win Win Win. Gray Magician, the UAE Derby runner-up, has enough points to be in the top 20, but he’s not a definite starter in the Derby. So, for now, he’s off the list, but if his starting status changes, he’d have a spot.
