Correll’s Derby Watch: Litigate makes the list

Posted On 13 Feb 2023

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-\

TRINITY, Fla. – Hit Show won the Withers at Aqueduct on Feb. 11 in New York. The Kentucky Derby prep race earned the son of Candy Ride 20 points toward getting in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

The Brad Cox trainee ran 1:54.71 for the mile-and-an-eighth race which is a somewhat typical time for winter racing in New York.

Meanwhile, Litigate won the Sam F. Davis (also a points race) at Tampa Bay Downs and he looks like a colt that could still improve. He’s by Blame out of a Mineshaft mare so distance will not be an issue. His final time was 1:44.80 for the mile-and-a-sixteenth race over what is considered a heavy track.

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.

Litigate (Candy Ride) is trained by Todd Pletcher and has room for improvement.

Others to keep an eye on: Victory Formation (Tapwrit) won the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. He’s another Cox colt. Gun Pilot, Newgate, Red Route One, Two Phils, National Treasure, Blazing Sevens and Curly Jack.