McKinzie moves to the top of 2018 Kentucky Derby Contenders List

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
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Gulfstream Park in south Florida now has two-thirds of its Kentucky Derby prep races in the books and I really don’t think we learned that much. No dominate colt has stepped forward to claim the title as the champ of Gulfstream.

Audible won the Holy Bull but didn’t run in the Fountain of Youth on March 3. That race was won by Promises Fulfilled, a son of Shackleford (Forestry). That pedigree doesn’t exactly scream 10 furlongs, which is the distance of the Kentucky Derby. I know Shackleford won the Preakness, but that is a sixteenth of a mile shorter than 10 furlongs and they were closing in on him at the finish.

Promises Fulfilled basically won the Fountain of Youth on the frontend and it appeared the track was playing to speed most of the day.

Good Magic, the Juvenile champion, ran an OK third in the race. He hadn’t run in four months and it was obvious that the colt needed a race. Trainer Chad Brown said the son of Curlin was blowing pretty hard after the race. In my opinion this was just a step on the trail to Louisville and that why I’m not going to drop him very far on my top 10 list.

The second-place finisher in the Fountain of Youth was Strike Power, but he’s by Speightstown and that doesn’t really say distance to me either.

Coming up on March 10 is the Gotham in New York and Dale Romans scratched Free Drop Billy out of the Fountain of Youth to run in the Gotham. Unless he plans to run the colt in the Wood Memorial, I find that move a little strange. He was second the Holy Bull and maybe Romans thought he didn’t like the track or just wasn’t ready for the Fountain of Youth.

Also on March 10 is the Tampa Bay Derby, which probably will include Sam F. Davis winner Flameaway and third-place finisher Vino Rosso who was moving like a freight train at the end of the race.

The big matchup on March 10 will be the San Felipe at Santa Park in Southern California. Bob Baffert has McKinzie and Solomini, but only one probably will run. The other one could head to Oaklawn Park for the Rebel on March 17. Others being considered are Bolt d’Oro who had a terrible trip in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and has yet to race this year. Lombo, who won the Robert Lewis, is being considered as well as Kanthake, winner of the San Vicente on Feb. 10 and is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

Another California colt to keep an eye on is Justify, a Baffert trainee of course, that was very impressive in winning a maiden race at Santa Anita. Rumors have it that he may head to the Sunland Derby on March 25 in New Mexico. But Baffert is known to change his mind at the last minute, so stay tuned.

The 2018 Kentucky Derby contenders are:

McKinzie (Street Sense) goes to the top and is headed to the San Felipe.

Bolt d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) also is being pointed to the San Felipe.

Solomini (Curlin) is either looking at the San Felipe or the Rebel at Oaklawn.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Good Magic (Curlin) was third in the Fountain of Youth, but I still think he’s got a lot of talent.

Avery Island (Street Sense) won the Withers at Aqueduct.

Audible (Into Mischief) looked strong in winning the Holy Bull at Gulfstream in his first out of the year.

My Boy Jack (Creative Cause) goes here after the Southwest win, but I still want to see him on dry land.

Instilled Regard (Arch) won the Lecomte at the Fair Grounds, but was fourth in the Risen Star. I will have to take another look at him.

Flameaway (Scat Daddy) won the Sam F. Davis.

Mourinho (Super Saver) won the Smarty Jones on Dec. 15 but was fourth in the Southwest over a muddy track.

Promises Fulfilled (Shackelford) won the Fountain of Youth but I have pedigree issues.

Cover Photo: McKinzie; Zoe Metz Photo