McCraken

MCCRAKEN (c, Ghostzapper">Ghostzapper—Ivory Empress, by Seeking the Gold)

'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY). T-Ian R. Wilkes. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 5-4-0-1, $410,848.

Last Start: 3rd, GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 8

Accomplishments Include: 1st, GIII Sam F. Davis S., TAM, Feb. 11, 1st, GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 26, 1st, Street Sense S., CD, Oct. 30

Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs, Caulfield on McCraken

KY Derby Points: 40

The colts ranked above McCraken, Always Dreaming and Irish War Cry, earned their top spots based on flash, panache, and my perception that each could be capable of delivering far more than we've seen so far. McCraken, on the other hand, has been solidly ranked at or near the top of the TDN Top 20 since January based on consistency, reliability, and the way he executed his job with professionalism while going undefeated through his first four starts. “A lot of horses have the talent, but they don't have the class. This horse has the class,” said trainer Wilkes. “You can have all the talent in the world, but if they can't handle the pressure, that's the difference. The horse with class can handle the pressure and get better.” You have to consider his subpar third in the Blue Grass S. an anomaly if you're to have full confidence in this 'TDN Rising Star' moving forward, and I agree with Wilkes's assessment that missed training and a missed prep (strained ankle) earlier in the season caused McCraken to bounce at Keeneland. “I feel like he is back into his rhythm,” Wilkes said after Sunday's 1:00.80 breeze (10/33) at Churchill Downs. “The Blue Grass was a little different for him in that he was fresh and didn't switch leads and that took away from his punch.” McCraken has previously displayed a keen sense of being in control without being overly aggressive, and he has the ability to shift smoothly into multiple gears when asked. It's also a huge plus that he's 3-for-3 over the Churchill strip.

VIDEO PPS