Derby Top Twelve

LANI (c, Tapit—Heavenly Romance {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) O-Yoko Maeda. B-North Hills Co. Ltd (KY). T-Mikio Matsunaga Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Last Start: 1st, GII UAE Derby, MEY, Mar. 26 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs Andrew Caulfield on Lani KY Derby Points: 100 Lani is a wonderfully bred son of Tapit who has won in Japan and in Dubai. The problem is that everything that has come out of the GII UAE Derby in the past has appeared to be in over their heads in the...

CREATOR (c, Tapit—Morena {Per}, by Privately Held) Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: Unlisted Sales history: $440,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP O-WinStar Farm LLC. B-Mt. Brilliant Broodmares I LLC (KY). T-Steve Asmussen Last Start: 1st, Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 16 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs Andrew Caulfield on Creator KY Derby Points: 110 This has been the year where a lot of horses came from nowhere and Creator is no exception. It took him six starts to break his maiden and he didn't do so until Feb. 27. Forty-nine days later he...

MY MAN SAM (c, Trappe Shot–Lauren Byrd, by Arch) Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: 11 O-Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables LLC & Jay W. Bligh. B-Jay W. Bligh (KY). T-Chad Brown Last Start: 2nd, GI Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 9 Thoro-Graph Sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 40 Things haven't exactly worked out as trainer Chad Brown had probably hoped when it comes to his GI Kentucky Derby contenders, but in 'TDN Rising Star' My Man Sam, he does have an interesting contender. In a year where late-bloomers...

OUTWORK (c, Uncle Mo—Nonna Mia, by Empire Maker) Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: 8 O/B-Repole Stable (KY). T-Todd Pletcher Last Start: 1st, GI Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 9 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 120 The last winner of the GI Wood Memorial to come back and win the GI Kentucky Derby was Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prospector) in 2000 and most think the slump will continue this year, as Outwork hasn't gotten many people excited. He won the Wood in a dreadfully slow 1:52.92 and beat a...

WHITMORE (g, Pleasantly Perfect–Melody's Spirit, by Scat Daddy) O-Robert V. LaPenta, Harry T. Rosenblum and Southern Springs Stable. B-John Liviakis (KY). T-Ron Moquett Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Last Start: 3rd, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, Apr. 16 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 44 Whitmore might be ranked lower in other places, but we like his consistency. He's never won beyond six furlongs and he's lost his last three, but he shows up. He was second in the GIII Southwest, second in the GII Rebel...

GI Arkansas Derby Winner: Creator (Tapit) 4/16/16 [ Watch the Race ] GIII Lexington S. Winner: Collected (City Zip) 4/16/16 [ Watch the Race ] GI Wood Memorial S. Winner: Outwork (Uncle Mo) 4/9/16 [ Watch the Race ] GI Blue Grass S. Winner: Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) 4/9/16 [ Watch the Race ] GI Santa Anita Derby Winner: Exaggerator (Curlin) 4/9/16 [ Watch the Race ] GIII Spiral S. Winner: Oscar Nominated (Kitten's Joy) 4/2/16 [ Watch the Race ] GI Florida Derby Winner: Nyquist (Uncle Mo) 4/2/16 [...

CUPID (c, Tapit--Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius) Apr. 8 TDN Top 12 Rank: 6 O-Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith. B-JKG Thoroughbreds. T-Bob Baffert Sales history: $900,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP Last Start: 10th, GI Arkansas Derby, OP, April 9 Next Start: ?? Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs Andrew Caulfield on sire Tapit A big disappointment as he was chewed up by a fast pace and finished 10th in the GI Arkansas Derby. After a rare poor showing by a Baffert-trainee on the Derby, he'll descend sharply in...

DESTIN (c, Giant's Causeway—Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: 7 O-Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC. B-James C. Weigel & Taylor Made Stallions Inc (KY). T-Todd Pletcher Sales history: $400,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP Last Start: 1st, GII Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 12 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 51 You knew this would happen sooner or later. With trainers so bent on giving their horses as much time as possible between races we have the first serious Derby contender in eons to come...

DANZING CANDY (c, Twirling Candy—Talkin and Singing, by Songandaprayer) O-Halo Farms, Jim & Diane Bashor. B-Halo Farms (KY). T-Clifford W. Sise, Jr. Apr. 15 TDN Top 12 Rank: On the Bubble Last Start: 4th, GI Santa Anita Derby, SA, Apr. 9 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs KY Derby Points: 60 Can you throw out 'TDN Rising Star' Danzing Candy's poor showing in the GI Santa Anita Derby? Jockey Mike Smith said he simply couldn't control his mount that day and said the slop and goo at Santa Anita bothered the colt....

ZULU (c, Bernardini--Temporada, by Summer Squall) Mar. 23 TDN Top 12 Rank: 12 O-Stonestreet Stables LLC, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith. B-Ron Magers & Robert Marcocchio. T-Todd Pletcher Sales history: $900,000 2yo '15 FTFMAR; $400,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP Last Start: 12th, GI Blue Grass, Kee, April 9 Next Start: Undecided Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs Miserable effort in the GI Blue Grass. Won't find him anywhere near the top 12 in next TDN rankings. VIDEO PPS   FINISH RACE 2nd GII Fountain of Youth S. 1st Allowance 1st Maiden

MALIBU SUNSET (c, Bernardini--One Stormy Mama, by Storm Cat) O-Gary & Mary West. B-Mike Abraham. T-Bob Baffert Sales history: $240,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP; $190,000 RNA '13 FTKNOV Last Start: 1st, Allowance, SA, Feb. 28 Next Start: Undecided Mar. 9 TDN Top 12 Rank: 10 Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs  Hall of Famer Bob Baffert has yet to pick out a race for 'TDN Rising Star' Malibu Sunset and it will be interesting to see what he chooses. His next start will be only the third of his career, so does he...

SMOKEY IMAGE (c, Southern Image--Special Smoke, by Free House) O-Irvin Racing Stable. B-C Punch Ranch, Inc. T-Carla Gaines. Last Start: 7th, GII San Felipe, SA, March 12 Next Start: Undecided Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs So much for being the next California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit).  He was badly beaten in the GII San Felipe, showing he wasn't up to the task of facing quality open company stakes horses. Will be dropped out of TDN Top 12. RACE HISTORY FINISH RACE 1st California Cup Derby 1st Golden State Juvenile S. 1st I'm Smokin...