The 149th Kentucky Derby Selections

Posted On 05 May 2023

By Rick Francis —-

The 149th Running of the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby for the first time in recent memory will include all the Also Eligibles; we offer our selection and pleased to once again have the Ladies of the Gretna Jockey Club give us their picks. Good Luck to all!

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Race 12) 1&1/4 Mile. Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve Grade I. Purse $3,000,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS,
Post Time: ( 6:57)/ 5:57/ 4:57/ 3:57

1) Hit Show (Cox/Franco); all-out nose second last out in Grade 2 Wood; post and Aqueduct to Churchill not strong angles.

2) Verifying (Cox/Gaffalione); run down at the Blue Grass finish line last out; post does this one no favors.

3) Two Phil’s (Rivelli/Loveberry); has become the “Wise Guy” pick seemingly based on his synthetic score last out, however his two prior efforts at Fair Grounds, G3 Lecomte and Grade 2 Risen Star, were both money finishes; don’t overlook the “Wise Guys”.

4) Confidence Game (Desormeaux/Graham); dug in and held on to take the Grade 2 Rebel; off since that late February start but has been working solidly over this course for the last month.

5) Tapit Trice (Pletcher/Saez); needed every bit of his long stride in taking the Blue Grass; Tapit colt has done little wrong in registering 4 straight wins but will need to be more engaged earlier; win threat.

6) Kingsbarn (Pletcher/Ortiz, J.); makes only his fourth career start, first three all impressive highlighted by his gate-to-wire victory in the G2 La. Derby contested at a mile & 3/16ths; major player.

7) Reincarnate (Yakteen/Velazquez); back-to-back thirds in Oaklawn’s big Derby preps; think distance will be an issue for this colt by Good Magic.

8) Mage (Delgado/Castellano); racing wide throughout in the Florida Derby he was caught late to finish second to heavy favorite Forte; exotics player.

9) Skinner (Shirreffs/Hernandez, Juan)(SCRATCHED); though he closed to within a 1/2 length in the Santa Anita Derby, he wasn’t going to catch the leader; Derby distance today does him in.

10) Practical Move (SCRATCHED)

11) Disarm (Asmussen/Rosario); Gun Runner colt, in the money with all five career starts just can’t find the winner’s circle in graded contests, won’t here.

12) Jace’s Road (Cox/Geroux); faded in each of his last two; pass.

13) Sun Thunder (McPeek/Nernandez, B. Jr); runner-up effort in G2 Risen Star notwithstanding, he’s failed to threaten at this level.

14) Angel of Empire (Cox/Prat); have liked this Classic Empire colt for sometime. Shows an explosive stretch kick that should make for a stirring duel haeding for home with his foe to the outside.

15) Forte (Pletcher/Ortiz, I. Jr); guess someone can find a reason not to like the reigning BC Juve champ and 5-time Graded Stakes winner, I can’t; last winner from post 15, Smarty Jones.

16) Raise Cain (Colebrook/Morales); would be a Rich Strike type of upset.

17) Derma Sotogake (Otonashi/Lemaire); there’s no denying the $1.1 million he’s won is “real” money just not sure it came against “real” competition; should he’s “real” he’ll take my money.

18) Rocket Can (Mott/Alvarado); Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott always surprises in these moments as with Country House; you can play em all but I can’t.

19) Lord Miles (SCRATCHED)

20) Continuar (SCRATCHED)

21) Cyclone Mischief (Romans/Rosario); finished third in Gulfstream’s two Derby preps but was fading in each.

22) Mandarin Hero (Fujita/Kimura); stalked a solid pace and was within a nose of taking the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby; worth a shot in underneaths.

23) King Russell (Moquett/Bejarano); finished a willing second in Ark Derby, here it’ll take a monumental effort to hit from here though we saw it happen last year.