Top Twenty 3-Year-Olds To Watch

by Ed Meyer

posted on January 12, 2009 in General Discussion, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby | No Comments >>

Rank. Horse, Starts-wins-2nds-3rds, Earnings, Sire, Trainer, Comment.

1. Old Fashioned, 3-3-0-0, $173,280, Unbridled’s Song, Larry Jones, The gray colt won the Remsen under wraps in the final furlong.
2. Break Water Edison, 5-2-1-0, $140,880, Lemon Drop Kid, John Kimmel, Impressive in the Nashua, he’s preparing to return in Florida.
3. Hello Broadway, 3-1-1-0, $71,060, Barclay Tagg, Broken Vow, Half-brother to Nobiz Like Shobiz is aimed at the Hutcheson.
4. Point Encounter, 1-1-0-0, $27,000, Point Given, Carla Gaines, He battled through fast fractions and drew clear to win his Santa Anita debut.
5. Giant Oak, 4-2-1-0, $81,396, Giant’s Causeway, Chris Block, Rallied while wide to finish second in the Ky. Jockey Club.
6. Quality Road, 2-1-1-0, $32,830, Elusive Quality, Jimmy Jerkens, Big and athletic, he could improve sharply when he learns to control his speed and stretches out.
7. Well Positioned, 2-1-0-1, $26,754, Awesome Again, Patrick Reynolds, He won by more than 14 at Aqueduct and is training in Fla.
8. Imperial Council, 2-1-1-0, $43,600, Empire Maker, Shug McGaughey, Impressive in both races, he’s training in Florida.
9. Vineyard Haven, 4-3-0-1, $419,000, Lido Palace, Saeed bin Suroor, His Champagne sparkled, but he’ll take the Dubai road to Ky.
10. Charitable Man, 2-2-0-0, $187,200, Lemon Drop Kid, Kiaran McLaughlin, $187,200, Sidelined by an injury, he has resumed training.
11. Danger To Society, 2-2-0-0-, 48,616, Harlan’s Holiday, Ken McPeek, He beat a good allowance field Thursday at Gulfstream.
12. Pioneer of The Nile, 5-2-0-1, $544,200, Empire Maker, Bob Baffert, He won the CashCall Futurity, but he hasn’t run on dirt.
13. Midshipman, 4-3-1-0, $1,380,200, Unbridled’s Song, Saeed bin Suroor, The Juvenile winner will take the most circuitous route.
14. Friesan Fire, 5-2-1-1, $123,265, A.P. Indy, Larry Jones, He showed his talent while winning the LeComte at Fair Grounds. The Risen Star’s next.
15. Beethoven, 5-3-0-1, $149,913, Sky Mesa, John Ward, He won the Ky. Jockey Club with determination and is training well in Florida.
16. Mr. Fantasy, 1-1-0-0, $24,600, E. Dubai, Kiaran McLaughlin, A romping maiden winner, he’ll probably remain in New York.
17. Square Eddie, 6-2-2-1, $767,366, Smart Strike, Doug O’Neill, The Juvenile runner-up is consistent and capable but has yet to run on dirt.
18. Capt. Candyman Can, 4-2-0-1, $121,645, Candy Ride, Ian Wilkes, He’s already a stakes winner at Churchill.
19. Indygo Mountain, 3-1-1-0, $36,416, A.P. Indy, Bret Calhoun, He stumbled leaving the gate in the LeComte and is better than that.
20. Haynesfield, 4-3-0-1, $125,321, Speightstown, Steve Asmussen, The New York-bred has won consecutive stakes.

Note: The field for the Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters based on earnings in graded stakes races.