Derby Top Twelve

GUNNEVERA (c, Dialed In--Unbridled Rage, by Unbridled) O-Peacock Racing Stables, LLC. B-Brandywine Farm & Stephen Upchurch (KY). T-Antonio Sano. Sales History: $16,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 8-4-2-0, $1,075,200. Last Start: 3rd, GI Xpressbet Florida Derby, GP, Apr. 1 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S., GP, Mar. 4; 1st, GIII Delta Downs Jackpot S., DED, Nov. 19; 1st, GII Saratoga Special S., SAR, Aug. 14 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs, Caulfield on Gunnevera KY Derby Points: 84 I ran down the list of the TDN Top 20...

PRACTICAL JOKE (c, Into Mischief--Halo Humor, by Distorted Humor) O-Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William H. Lawrence. B-Whispering Oaks (KY). T-Chad C. Brown. Sales History: $135,000 Ylg '15 KEEJAN; $240,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 6-3-2-0, $1,015,800. Last Start: 2nd, GII Toyota Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 8 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Hopeful S., SAR, Sept. 5; 1st, GI Champagne S., BEL, Oct. 8. Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 74 There was plenty of buzz about Practical Joke as a 2-year-old. The athletic bay won his first three...

GORMLEY (c, Malibu Moon--Race to Urga, by Bernstein) O-Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Moss. B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY). T-John A. Shirreffs. Sales History: $150,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 7-4-0-0, $920,000. Last Start: 9th, GI Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands., CD, May 6 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 8, 1st, GI FrontRunner S., SA, Oct. 6, 1st, GIII Sham S., SA, Jan. 7. Equineline PPs, Caulfield on Gormley Gormley has earned "sleeper" status in the Belmont S. at 8-1 odds. I like...

AMERICAN ANTHEM (c, Bodemeister--Indy's Windy, by A.P. Indy) O-WinStar Farm, LLC, S F Bloodstock, LLC & China Horse Club. B-WinStar Farm (KY). T-Bob Baffert. Sales History: $180,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $435,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-1-1-0, $54,200. Mar. 28 TDN Top 20 Rank: 8 Last Start: 10th, GII Rebel S., OP, Mar. 18 Next Start: GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 8 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 4 American Anthem will get a new jockey (Rafael Bejarano) for the Santa Anita Derby as trainer Baffert has...

MCCRAKEN (c, 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,...

CLASSIC EMPIRE (c, Pioneerof the Nile--Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief) O-John C. Oxley. B-Steven & Brandi Nicholson (KY). T-Mark E. Casse. Sales History: $475,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt, MGISW, 7-5-0-1, $2,120,220. Last Start: 1st, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 15 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile, SA, Nov. 5, 1st, GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, KEE, Oct. 8, 1st, GIII Bashford Manor S., CD, July 2. Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs, Caulfield on Classic Empire KY Derby Points: 132 If he wins the Derby, Classic...

MO TOWN (c, Uncle Mo--Grazie Mille, by Bernardini) 'TDN Rising Star' O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Team D. B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock (KY). T-Anthony W. Dutrow. Sales History: $200,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $251,600. Mar. 28 TDN Top 20 Rank: 5 Last Start: 5th, GII Risen Star S., FG, Feb. 25 Accomplishments Include: 1st, GII Remsen S., AQU, Nov. 26 Next Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 8 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs, Caulfield on Mo Town KY Derby Points: 10 Roughly one-quarter...

TROJAN NATION (c, Street Cry {Ire}–Storm Song, by Summer Squall) O-Julie Gilbert & Dr. Aaron Sones. B-Dr. Aaron Sones (KY). T-Patrick Gallagher Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Last Start: 2nd, GI Wood Memorial, AQU, Apr. 9 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 40 The maiden. Ok, so it hasn't happened in a long time, but Trojan Nation would not be the first maiden to win the GI Kentucky Derby. Three others have done it: Buchanan (1884), Sir Barton (1919) and Brokers Tip (1933). Nine maidens...

MAJESTO (r, Tiznow–Unacloud, by Unaccounted For) O-Grupo 7C Racing Stable. B-Diamond A. Racing Corp (KY). T-Gustavo Delgado Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Sales history: $300,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP. Last Start: 2nd, GI Florida Derby, GP, Apr. 2 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 40 The good news is that Majesto was second in the GI Twinspires Florida Derby, which meant he had enough points to get into the GI Kentucky Derby. The bad news is that the only race he has won is a Feb....

TOM'S READY (c, More Than Ready–Goodbye Stranger, by Broad Brush) O-GMB Racing. B-Blackstone Farm LLC (PA). T-Dallas Stewart Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Sales history: $145,000 RNA Wlg '13 KEENOV; $145,000 Ylg '14 FTNAUG Last Start: 2nd, GII Louisiana Derby, FG, Mar. 26 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 44 Though he has more points than Mo Tom (Uncle Mo), he's widely regarded as the second-best horse from the stable of Gayle and Tom Benson, the owners of the New Orleans Saints and the NBA...

OSCAR NOMINATED (c, Kitten's Joy—Devine Actress, by Theatrical {Ire}) O-Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey. B-Mrs. Jerry Amerman (KY). T-Michael Maker Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Last Start: 1st, GIII, Spiral S., TP, Apr. 2 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs Andrew Caulfield on Oscar Nominated KY Derby Points: 50 They get no more enthusiastic than owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, which explains why this guy will be supplemented into the Derby field at the cost of 200 grand. That's an awful lot to pay for a horse that likely...

SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS (g, Mineshaft—Uchitel, by Afleet Alex) O-Samuel F. Henderson. B- Branch Equine, LLC (KY). T-Donnie K. Von Hemel Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Sales history: $72,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP. Last Start: 2nd, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 16 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 50 Suddenbreakingnews is another blue-collar type who usually shows up. The late-runner was a bit of a disappointment when fifth in the GII Rebel S., but rebounded with a second-place finish in the GI Arkansas Derby. The difference between the two...