BloodHorse news editor Byron King presents his Derby Dozen with a review of leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 3.

King’s latest list reflects the results of the Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes Feb. 5 and looks ahead to two more Derby preps this upcoming weekend at Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park.

Check out America’s Best Racing’s Triple Crown page to keep up to date with stories and statistics on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Coady Media

1. Sovereignty

His return at 3 was delayed by interrupted training, but he seems now to be in a steady pattern. Unraced since winning the Street Sense Stakes last fall at Churchill Downs, he is pointed toward the March 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott told Daily Racing Form. The configuration of the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth might hinder his late-running style – races at that distance have a short stretch due to ending at what is typically the sixteenth pole – but the timing of the Fountain of Youth is favorable to leave him with the chance to have two spaced-out preps before the Kentucky Derby.

BENOIT photo

2. Barnes

Kentucky Derby Future Wager gamblers remain enchanted with this 2-for-2 colt, making him the individual betting choice at 8-1 odds in the fourth such pool that closed over the weekend. Though Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a six-time Derby winner, chose not to enter this colt in the Feb. 23 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park, Barnes appears in sharp form. He was outstanding in a six-furlong in-company workout in 1:12 Feb. 17 at Santa Anita Park as he gears up for his first race in the March 1 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes there.

Eclipse Sportswire

3. Citizen Bull 

Last year's Eclipse Award-winning juvenile male, a front-running winner of the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in his lone start this year, tops the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 points. That advantage, which puts him safely into the Derby field based on historical trends, means that trainer Bob Baffert does not have to run this already seasoned colt any more than necessary. So, with Barnes likely for the San Felipe, he could sit that one out and await the April 5 Santa Anita Derby or another prestigious race in late March or early April.

Click image to purchase shirt.

4. Chancer McPatrick  

Given that he disappointed in his lone start around two turns last year when sixth in the Nov. 1 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA at Del Mar, his planned starts this year in two-turn routes will help determine if he is a legitimate classic contender or more effective as a late-running one-turn horse. He took the seven-furlong Hopeful Stakes and one-mile Champagne Stakes last year with wide rallies but never fired in the Juvenile when the pace and flow of the race favored front-runners. The March 8 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby is on deck.

Lauren King/Coglianese Photo

5. Burnham Square 

The Holy Bull Stakes winner will likely return at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth, potentially setting up an intriguing clash with Sovereignty and other promising 3-year-olds such as River Thames, who is unbeaten in two starts. Burnham Square's most recent drill, an easy half-mile in :50.05 at Palm Meadows Training Center Feb. 15, was pure maintenance. He worked alone and without the blinkers he has been wearing in his two most recent victories.

Eclipse Sportswire

6. Journalism

Some of these in the Derby Dozen lineup, such as Barnes and Chancer McPatrick, still must prove their two-turn proficiency. Not Journalism. After losing his debut in a sprint, he has rattled off two route wins, topped by the Dec. 14 Los Alamitos Futurity. Among those he defeated in the latter race was graded stakes winner Getaway Car, who grittily took the Sunland Park Derby Feb. 16. Note the sharp works from Journalism since he resumed training this winter after getting sick. Ready to square off against Barnes in the San Felipe.

Coady Photography

7. Sandman

Based on the closing odds of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, in which he was the fourth choice among individual wagering interests at 16-1, he seems likely to start as the favorite in the 14-horse Rebel Stakes, now set for Feb. 23 after being postponed a day. None of those taking more backing than him in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager are entered in the race, though the race is still stacked with quality, as one would expect for $1.25 million. Excited to see what Sandman can do if he breaks smartly and puts it all together. Recall that he blew the break and had a wide trip when second in the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes.

Coady Photography

8. Coal Battle

Though he won the Jan. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes on the lead, that was the product of there being little pace in the lineup. Look for him to revert to his usual stalking or closing style in a Rebel that drew at least several legitimate speed horses. He is likely best with a target, anyway. His fastest Equibase Speed Figure, a 96, was earned when he rallied to victory in the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 13. Unbeaten in four dirt starts, he gets a class test in the Rebel in his first graded stakes attempt.

Coady Media

9. Speed King

The horse Coal Battle caught in the Remington Springboard Mile was Speed King, who gave him a fight before falling a half-length short in his first route. Following up with a Southwest victory, Speed King is more seasoned now than he was and quicker, too. He ran a career-best 103 Equibase Speed Figure in the Southwest, sustaining his front-running pace even after being hounded into quick splits down the backstretch and on the second turn. This time, he faces what appears to be two pace threats in the Rebel in longshots Innovator and Smoken Wicked.

Click image to purchase shirt.

10. Rodriguez

He worked Feb. 17 at Santa Anita, covering six furlongs in 1:11.80 – a quick work without company, though his rider did encourage him. Look forward to what we see from this promising colt in the weeks to come. As well as he ran to be second in the Robert B. Lewis, he was green and lost focus midrace, suggesting he has room for improvement.

Eclipse Sportswire

11. Built

No one was catching Magnitude in the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds when the winner sizzled 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.85, but that exciting colt is unfortunately off the Derby trail with an ankle chip. Built was caught late and lost by a head to Chunk of Gold for second, 9 ¾ lengths behind the winner. Built's body of work this winter in New Orleans further includes a win over Magnitude in the Dec. 21 Gun Runner Stakes and a close second in the Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes.

Coady Media

12. First Resort

Unraced since winning the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs, he swings back into action in the Feb. 22 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Turfway Park's Tapeta track. It is an all-weather surface on which he has no experience racing, though he has trained smartly over it this winter for trainer Eoin Harty. He showed last year he was a naturally speedy horse of high quality, precocious enough to place in the Saratoga Special Stakes over the summer. He outnods prospects such as Tappan Street, John Hancock, Baeza, and Captain Cook for the final spot in the Derby Dozen rankings.