Gunnevera

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 Derby contenders in an attempt to identify horses that instilled in me a high degree of confidence that they would be firing in the final furlong, and Gunnevera was the only name that truly stood out in terms of durability and stamina. Having said that, I still perceive him as more of a hits-the-board threat than an all-out win candidate. Yet in many Derbies, just finishing with willing encouragement when all the other foes are tiring in the final hundred yards is enough to get a horse draped in a blanket of roses, and that could happen to Gunnevera too, provided pace and traffic scenarios align perfectly for this one-run stayer. It's promising to see that newly elected Hall-of-Famer Javier Castellano will be partnering with Gunnevera in the Derby (Castellano didn't truly commit until late in the campaign because he had calls on two other contenders, but he has been aboard for all three of the colt's graded stakes victories). Ignore Gunnevera at your own peril in vertical Derby bets–just don't mortgage the farm keying him on top.

VIDEO PPS