Correll’s Corner: Arabian Knight heads early Kentucky Derby 149 list

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

TRINITY, Fla. – It’s about three months to that “big race” for 3-year-olds on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, so let’s see who’s in this year’s crop.

Arabian Knight (sire: Uncle Mo) tops the list after his impressive win in the Southwest Stakes (96 Beyer) at Oaklawn Park. This was a followup to his runaway performance in a maiden race on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Keeneland. Bob Baffert is loaded this year, but …

Forte (Violence) goes here off his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His connections are awaiting his 2023 return.

Instant Coffee (Bolt d’Oro) has won the Kentucky Jockey Club at Louisville and the Lecomte at Fairgrounds in New Orleans. He’s Brad Cox’s top runner.

Faustin (Curlin) ran second in the one-turn San Vicente to his speedster stablemate Havameltdown. Faustin is a two-turn colt and didn’t embarrass himself in the San Vicente. Yep, he’s another Baffert.

Cave Rock (Arrogate) was flying high until he ran into Forte in the Juvenile (Baffert).

Dubyuhnell (Good Magic) won the Remsen at Aqueduct, but I have never been a big fan of winter racing in New York.

Practical Move (Practical Joke) outran a trio of Baffert colts to win the Los Alamitos Futurity and that could be saying something.

Verifying (Justify) is one of the many colts Cox is training, but I think he’s a step behind stablemate Instant Coffee.

Reincarnate (Good Magic) won the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita and comes from loaded Baffert barn.

Victory Formation (Tapwrit) won the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. He’s another Cox colt.

Others to keep an eye on: Red Route One, Two Phils, National Treasure, Blazing Sevens and Curly Jack.