Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 12, 2020

WHO’S HOT

Five-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert leads all trainers with three runners on the inaugural Derby Watch top 20 list, and all are among the top five on the current line set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form. McGee has Tiz the Law favored at 4-1, but the Baffert trio of Nadal (5-1), Thousand Words (8-1), and Authentic (10-1) are close behind. Dennis’ Moment (8-1), trained by Dale Romans, is the co-third choice. Other trainers well represented on the inaugural list are Steve Asmussen, Patrick Biancone, and Peter Eurton, all of whom have two runners each, and those named Jeremiah (Englehart, O’Dwyer), who combined have two runners as well. Albaugh Family Stables owns wholly (Dennis’ Moment) or in part (Thousand Words), two of the top four choices on McGee’s line.

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WHO’S NOT

Although he was one of three finalists for the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male of 2019, the highly regarded Maxfield has yet to record a workout this year and so has been left off the list pending an encouraging update, but the clock is ticking toward Derby Day, May 2. Green Light Go and Scabbard, who also were accomplished 2-year-olds, had disappointing 3-year-old debuts and need to rebound.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Marty McGee

ON THE BUBBLE

With the Risen Star split into two divisions that are each worth 50 points to the winner, there’s an excellent opportunity for horses just missing the cut this week – like Blackberry Wine and Silver State – to forge their way onto next week’s top 20 with their performances Saturday at Fair Grounds. Other point-scoring races this holiday weekend are the El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate and the Southwest on Monday at Oaklawn, the last of the preps worth 10 points to the winner.