2013 Kentucky Derby Watchlist

As with any of my Kentucky Derby watchlist it is very important to hear what Mike Welsch and the other clockers are saying leading up to the Derby.


Top 5
Revolutionary - The "cardiac attack" horse from the Withers and Louisiana Derby is as game as they come.  Not sure he is good enough to best some of these, but he should be running hard to the wire.  I would say he needs a decent post to avoid traffic, but with Borel, riding the rail is always an option.  He maybe the best price on the board out of my top 5.

Orb - I had a hard time backing him in his preps, but those wins land him squarely in my top 5.  He'll need a good post and ride to avoid traffic, but you know from his preps he will be looking to have dead aim on the front runner turning for home.

Goldencents - In the Santa Anita Derby he posted a beyer that would probably win this years Kentucky Derby.  Many say he can't get the distance, but the same thing was said about Secretariat.  Hmm, someone remind me how that turned out?  Anyway, he's a solid contender and though many haven't heard of his jockey, Kevin Krigger, this is not his first race.  I thought he rode Goldencents like he was on the best horse in the Santa Anita Derby.  Definite contender for Doug O'Neil to go back to back!

Normandy Invasion - This horse might be peaking at the right time.  He was closing hard in the late stages of the Wood Memerial and may have very well run past Verrazano if the race was longer.  He's a game horse, which I've already mentioned I like, but with the effort in the Wood he maybe a buzz horse come Derby week.

Verrazano - Though the Wood Memorial was slow, he is undefeated and he proved he could hold off a closer in that effort too.  He figures to be a short price and is by no means a cinch.  I think the post draw will be more important for him than any of my other top 5.


Others to Watch/Exotic Horses
Java's War - This horse could very well plod his way into the exotics.

Overanalyze - Though the time of the Arkansas Derby was slow, he did close into that slow pace and drew away.  Plus he looked good striding towards the wire.

Mylute - Was a stubborn second behind Revolutionary in the Louisiana Derby.

Oxbow - Draw a line through the Arkansas Derby effort, he got bad position for his style and lost the race going into the first turn.

Will Take Charge - Is training up to the Derby following his win in the Rebel.  Not sure what Lukas has up his sleeve on this one.