THUNDER SNOW (IRE) (c, Helmet (Aus)—Eastern Joy {GB}, by Dubai Destination) O-Godolphin Racing LLC. B-Darley (IRE). T-Saeed bin Suroor. Lifetime Record: G1SW, 8-4-2-0, $1,627,692. Last Start: 1st, G2 UAE Derby, MEY, Mar. 25. Accomplishments Include: 1st, G1 Criterium International, STC, Oct. 30, 1st, UAE 2000 Guineas, MEY, Feb. 11. Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby [...]

PATCH (Union Rags—Windyindy, by A.P. Indy) 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Calumet Farm (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher. Lifetime Record: GSP, 4-1-2-0, $230,020. Last Start: 14th, GI Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands., CD, May 6 Equineline PPs Somewhere down the line, the racing gods will owe Patch a more favorable post position assignment. He got buried in [...]

UNTRAPPED (c, Trappe Shot—Exit Three, by Giant's Causeway) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Michael Langford. B-Indian Creek & Jonathan Sheppard (KY). T-Steven M. Asmussen. Lifetime Record: MGSP, 5-1-3-1, $256,800. Last Start: 6th, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 15 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 34 Untrapped is going to sneak into the Derby based on qualifying [...]

STATE OF HONOR (c, To Honor and Serve—State Cup, by Elusive Quality) O-Conrad Farms. B-Manfred & Penny Conrad (ON). T-Mark E. Casse. Lifetime Record: GISP, 10-1-4-2, $382,548. Last Start: 2nd, GI Xpressbet Florida Derby, GP, Apr. 1 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 62 State of Honor has had a little bit of everything [...]

IRAP (c, Tiznow—Silken Cat, by Storm Cat) O-Reddam Racing LLC. B-Aaron & Marie Jones (KY). T-Doug F. O'Neill. Sales History: $140,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GISW, 8-1-3-1, $772,600. Last Start: 1st, GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 8 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 113 Irap ran [...]

Yoshida set a fast pace and still finished full of run to break his maiden in style at Keeneland and become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'. Debuting on the Aqueduct lawn Nov. 19, the bay put together a strong late rally despite lugging in and finished a close second, after which he was laid up [...]

1st-KEE, $72k, Alw, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:05 p.m. EDT Richard Ravin and Patricia's Hope LLC's SHACKIN UP (Shackleford) makes her long-awaited return after becoming the first 'TDN Rising Star' for her then-freshman sire May 28 at Arlington. The $160,000 OBS March buy took all the money that day, immediately blasted out to the front [...]

Less than two months ago, it appeared as though Mo Town (Uncle Mo) and Irish War Cry (Curlin) had asserted themselves as leaders on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby. Their current position is illustrative of how rocky that trail can be, as the two colts will each try to overcome uncharacteristically dull efforts [...]

It may have been downgraded to a Grade II event for this year, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the field for the Toyota Blue Grass S., as four top GI Kentucky Derby contenders take their final major steps toward the May 6 Run for the Roses in the featured race of a [...]

IT'S YOUR NICKEL (c, Dialed In—Bold American, by Quiet American) O-Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Scott K. Akman & Nehoc Stables. B-Stephen Wigmore (KY). T-Kenneth G. McPeek. Sales History: $100,000 Ylg '15 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: SW, 4-3-0-0, $140,220. Last Start: 1st, John Battaglia Memorial S., TP, Mar. 4 Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, [...]

ALWAYS DREAMING (c, Bodemeister—Above Perfection, by In Excess {Ire}) O-Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables et al. B-Santa Rosa Partners (KY). T-Todd A. Pletcher. Sales History: $350,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 5-3-1-1, $648,900. Last Start: 1st, GI Xpressbet Florida Derby, GP, Apr. 1 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 100 Always [...]

Two well-regarded 3-year-old colts threw down in a good stretch battle Mar. 9 at Santa Anita, finishing a neck apart, and both horses have received deserved attention since. But five-plus lengths behind 'TDN Rising Star' Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) and Reach the World (Tapit)–ranked 15th and 18th respectively in the latest TDN Derby 20–that [...]