Mike Welsch's top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream on Feb. 16

Top 3-year-old males

1 – UPSTART
Trainer: Rick Violette Jr.
Pedigree: Flatter-Party Silks, by Touch Gold
Last race: 1st in Holy Bull on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 106 / 106
Target race: Fountain of Youth, Feb. 21 at Gulfstream
Comment: His stock rose significantly after cruising to an easy graded victory in the Holy Bull. At the moment, he’s the top dog amongst the 3-year-olds racing on the south Florida circuit.

2 – CARPE DIEM
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Giant’s Causeway-Rebridled Dreams, by Unbridled Song
Last race: 2nd in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 93 / 93
Target race: Tampa Bay Derby, Mar. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs
Comment: Training forwardly for his return, he should get better the farther he goes. He takes an easier route off the layoff shipping to Tampa, rather than facing the tougher and more seasoned group of 3-year-olds pointing for the Fountain of Youth.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

3 – KHOZAN
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Distorted Humor-Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy
Last race: 1st in maiden special weight on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 103 / 103
Target race: Undecided
Comment: He’s a half-brother to Royal Delta so there’s no need to be concerned about the pedigree. He turned in a monstrous effort in his debut but is facing an uphill climb and bucking a lot of history not launching his career until late January.

:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Aqueduct | Fair Grounds | Oaklawn | Santa Anita

4 – DAREDEVIL
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: More Than Ready-Chasethewildwind, by Forty Niner
Last race: 11th in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 57 / 107
Target race: Swale, Feb. 28 at Gulfstream
Comment: He didn’t have much of a trip in the Breeders’ Cup but did handle Upstart with relative ease when pair met in the Champagne. He begins his 3-year-old campaign sprinting, and it will be interesting to see where he shows up for his final Derby prep and two-turn bow at 3 after the Swale.

5 – FROSTED
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Pedigree: Tapit-Fast Cookie, by Deputy Minister
Last race: 2nd in Holy Bull on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 96 / 96
Target race: Fountain of Youth, Feb. 21 at Gulfstream
Comment: He disappointed when second-best as the favorite behind Upstart in the Holy Bull but did run a career-best Beyer in the process. He is expected to improve with that race under his belt in Fountain of Youth rematch.

Honorable mention: GORGEOUS BIRD, BLUEGRASS SINGER, ITSAKNOCKOUT, MADEFROMLUCKY

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

Top 3-year-old fillies

1 – LADY ELI
Trainer: Chad Brown
Pedigree: Divine Park-Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
Last race: 1st in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Oct.31 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 96 / 96
Target race: Undecided
Comment: This turf specialist may be the most talented 3-year-old in the country. She was given a good freshening following her undefeated 2-year-old campaign and is still a long way from returning to the races. Whether she tries the dirt at some point this season remains unclear.

2 – BIRDATTHEWIRE
Trainer: Dale Romans
Pedigree: Summer Bird-My Limit, by Wagon Limit
Last race: 1st in Forward Gal on Jan. 24 at Gulfstream
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 87 / 87
Target race: Davona Dale, Feb. 21 at Gulfstream
Comment: This rapidly improving filly won the Forward Gal turning back to seven furlongs but looks like the more distance the better for her. Expect big things again in the Davona Dale as she continues to progress toward her first major goal of the year, the Kentucky Oaks.

3 – ANGELA RENEE
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Bernardini-Pilfer, by Deputy Minister
Last race: 3rd in Demoiselle on Nov. 29 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 76 / 87
Target race: Rachel Alexandra, Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds
Comment: This Grade 1 winner disappointed in her final two starts at 2. She will ship out of town to launch her 3-year-old campaign and try to regain some of her lost luster in the Rachel Alexandra.

4 – ESKENFORMONEY
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Eskendereya-But for Money, by Not For Love
Last race: 1st in optional claimer on Jan. 16 at Gulfstream
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 82 / 82
Target race: Davona Dale, Feb. 21 at Gulfstream Park
Comment: It took her a while to put it all together and find her favorite surface, but she’s improved rapidly since moved to the dirt during the fall of her 2-year-old campaign. She’ll get a class check in the Davona Dale.

5 – FEATHERED
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Last start: 2nd in Starlet on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos
Last Beyer / Best Beyer: 86 / 86
Target race: Undecided
Comment: She held her own against division champion Take Charge Brandi in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Grade 1 Starlet to conclude her 2-year-old campaign, and she continues to progress toward 3-year-old debut.