The Shakeup

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

The first Kentucky Derby Championship Series race is Feb.16 at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. The mile-and-a-sixteenth Risen Star drew a field of 15 (one is an also eligible), so look for a field of 14.

Lecomte winner War of Will hasn’t scared anyone off with the second- and third-place finishers (Hog Creek Hustle and Manny Wah) also returning for the race.

There are still two 10-point Derby preps left with the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate on Feb. 16 and the Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 18. March gets busy with 10 50-point races. The 50 points goes to the winners with the next three spots getting 20-10-5 points respectively.

We have a shakeup in the Top 10 but Game Winner, the undefeated son of Candy Ride still is on top. He’s untested in four starts and that includes the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Bob Baffert trainee is being pointed to the San Felipe on March 9 at Santa Anita Park in Southern California as his 3-year-old debut. If all goes well it then will be the Santa Anita Derby on April 6.

War of Will, a son of War Front, won the Lecomte impressively at the Fair Grounds and comes back for the Risen Star. He is trained by Mark Casse and this colt’s future is definitely on dirt. If he dominates in the Risen Star, I will move him to the top spot until Game Winner runs. War of Will has a tough job in the Risen Star drawing post 14.

Mucho Gusto, a son of Mucho Macho Man, made it look easy in the Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 2 at Santa Anita. He’s another Baffert trainee.

Well Defined, an offspring of With Distinction, surprised everybody in the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 9 at Tampa Bay Downs. Kathy O’Connell trains.

Gray Attempt won the Smarty Jones but I question his distance limitations. Jinks Fires trains the son of Graydar.

Harvey Wallbanger, a son of Take Charge Indy, had everyone tipsy after his strong performance in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. Kenny McPeak is the trainer.

Knicks Go, a son of Paynter, really disappointed in the Sam F. Davis, but I’ll give him one mulligan after two strong performances. Ben Colebrook is the trainer.

Improbable, another Bob Baffert trainee, won the Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 8. He is a son of City Zip and I’m still waiting for him to make his 2019 debut.

Tax, a son of Arch, won the Withers on Feb. 2 at Aqueduct, but like I’ve said before I’m not a fan of winter racing New York. He stays until someone better comes along.

Gunmetal Gray ran a disappointing race in the Robert B. Lewis. It was a sloppy track so maybe that’s the excuse, but that doesn’t bode well for a wet Kentucky Derby. Jerry Hollendorfer conditions this son of Exchange Rate.

Cover Photo: Game Winner; Coady Photography