STRENGTHS: With 15 career starts, Supah Blitz is the most seasoned of the Derby entrants. He's also been fairly reliable throughout his career with 12 in-the-money finishes.
The Derby distance should be no problem for a son of Mecke, who won several stakes at 1 1/4 miles, including the Arlington Million and Super Derby. Mecke finished fifth in the 1995 Derby.
STRENGTHS: Scrimshaw has always been well regarded, but he didn't live up to his potential until he had throat surgery prior to his three-length win in the Grade 2 Lexington. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has owned that race in recent years. He parlayed a 1999 Lexington win into a Kentucky Derby victory with Charismatic at $64.60. Proud Citizen won it in 2002, then used the race as a springboard to a second-place Kentucky Derby finish behind War Emblem as a 23-1 longshot. Expect improvement once again, as Lukas winds this one up for his best try on the first Saturday in May.
STRENGTHS: There are plenty of them. Not only does he have current form, but that form took him to victory in two of the key Derby preps: the Louisiana Derby and the Blue Grass. In each race he was quite impressive, pulling clear to win by more than two lengths in the Louisiana Derby and almost four in the Blue Grass. He has tactical speed, push-button acceleration, and heart - key ingredients for most any Derby win.
Strengths: While building a good foundation racing from July to December of his 2-year-old year, Outta Here placed twice in graded stakes before winning a maiden race at a mile at Santa Anita. In July, in only his second start, he beat favored Kafwain in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship before finishing two lengths behind him in the Grade 3 Best Pal.
STRENGTHS: His sire typically gets strong, gritty, and durable horses who are competitive at distances of six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. His broodmare sire became racing's only undefeated Triple Crown winner. Aside from that, Offlee Wild has shown he can carry his speed around two turns and has the kind of near-the-pace running style that should get him a spot up near the front and out of traffic problems. He also proved he can handle the Churchill track: He earned his diploma over it last fall and followed it up with a second-place finish.
STRENGTHS: He is certainly one of the more experienced horses in the field, and he has steady Beyer Speed Figures. Like the rest of these, he has never tried this distance, but his closing style should suit him well here, and he would be one of the horses to benefit most from a quick, contested pace. He regressed some in the Illinois Derby but may be set to run back to his prior race, when he earned a Beyer Figure of 98 with a late run in the Louisiana Derby.
STRENGTHS: Utah-bred was a bargain-priced ($4,500) yearling purchase, and he has outrun everyone's expectations in just four career starts. Smoked the opposition down in Panama in his first two outings as a 2-year-old, proving himself worthy of a chance at better. Indian Express hasn't disappointed since joining the Derby-winning Baffert barn, with respectable performances in both of his starts this year. Moved forward with a very game effort in the Santa Anita Derby in his first try at a route to earn his ticket to Louisville.
STRENGTHS: The heart and soul of good handicapping is finding a horse who ran a superior race in defeat. Funny Cide's performance in the Holy Bull is a good example. Burdened with post 13, he unleashed a great run around the clubhouse turn (after hitting the gate at the start). He tried to get close to the pacesetters and began to fade from view. If Funny Cide lost the race by a large margin, it could have been forgiven, but he showed great strength in holding on bravely for fifth, losing by less than seven lengths.
STRENGTHS: Ran well despite encountering trouble several times in his first distance try in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, and figures to only improve from there. Often horses who run evenly in that first route try haven't set forth their best effort, but they do in subsequent tries. There doesn't seem to be an overabundance of speed in this year's Derby, and Eye of the Tiger can certainly be on or near the lead, giving him a bit of a tactical edge on many of his rivals.
STRENGTHS: Where to begin? Empire Maker's pedigree sparkles like a freshly cut diamond. His sire, Derby winner Unbridled, gave us 1996 Derby winner Grindstone. His dam, the temperamental but talented Toussaud, has produced such standouts as Chester House, Honest Lady, Chiselling, and Decarchy. This top-class, high-stamina bloodline should serve Empire Maker well as he navigates the demanding Derby distance.