Correll’s Corner: They’re off

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
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TRINITY, Fla. – I’ll run through the whole field for the 152nd Kentucky Derby on May 2 and give out which ones I think are playable and which ones can be tossed. I’ll go in post-position order with morning-line odds. I’ll also give each colt’s highest speed figure and running style.

Renegade 4-1 (Into Mischief) won the Arkansas Derby with the fastest time in all the major preps. I’ll probably make him my top pick. A key horse. 107. Stalker/closer. Todd Pletcher. 1

Albus 30-1 (Yaupon) won the Wood Memorial. I don’t think the pedigree says he’ll go that far. Toss. 89. Stalker. Riley Mott. 2

Intrepedio 50-1 (Maximus Mischief) was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby. He worked 45 flat at Santa Anita on April 26. Toss. 99. Stalker. Jeff Mullins. 3

Litmus Test 30-1 (Nyquist) was seventh in the Arkansas Derby. Toss. 105. Press the pace. Bob Baffert. 4

Right to Party 30-1 (Constitution) was second in the Wood Memorial. If I don’t like Albus, then I don’t like this guy either. Toss 87. Closer. Ken McPeak. 5

Commandment 6-1 (Into Mischief) won the Florida Derby, but just barely. He’s a top five colt but he may not be the best closer. A key horse. 99. Stalker. Brad Cox. 6

Danon Bourbon 20-1 (Maxfield) won the Fukuryu Stakes. I watched the replay and I wasn’t impressed. No speed figure. Stalker. Manabu Ikezoe. 7

So Happy 15-1 (Runhappy) won the Santa Anita Derby and he’s not a bad colt, but I think he took advantage of a hot pace. Useable. 100. Press the pace. Mark Glatt. 8

The Puma 10-1 (Essential Quality) was second in the Florida Derby and he gave Commandment all he wanted. He could be the surprise horse. Useable. 97. Stalker. Gustavo Delgado. 9

Wonder Dean 30-1 (Dee Majesty) won the UAE Derby, but it was a slow time and the Japanese horses will take a lot of money. Use underneath. No speed figure. Stalker/closer. Daisuke Takayanagi. 10

Incredibolt 20-1 (Bolt d’Oro) won the Virginia Derby, but he’s been off since. Toss. 95. Stalker. Riley Mott. 11

Chief Wallabee 8-1 (Constitution) was third in the Florida Derby. He gets blinkers and the wise guys are going to play him. Use underneath. 99. Stalker. Bill Mott. 12

Silent Tactic – Scratched. 13

Potente 20-1 (Into Mischief) was second in the Santa Anita Derby, but I don’t think he ran the race he was supposed to. I’m using him. 96. Press the pace. Bob Baffert. 14

Emerging Market 15-1 (Candy Ride) won the Louisiana Derby, but it was a pretty slow race. Use underneath. 96. Stalker. Chad Brown. 15

Pavlovian 30-1 (Pavel) was second in Louisiana Derby but it was a weak race. Toss. 96. Speed/press the pace. Doug O’Neill. 16

Six Speed 50-1 (Not this Time) was second in the UAE Derby and that’s about all I can say. Toss. No speed figure. Speed/press the pace. Bhupat Seemar. 17

Further Ado 6-1 (Gun Runner) won the Blue Grass in a freaky manner, but looks like a normal colt on other tracks. He’ll burn a lot of money. Useable. 107. Stalker. Brad Cox. 18

Golden Tempo 30-1 (Curlin) was third in the Louisiana Derby. Toss. 95. Closer. Cherie DeVaux. 19

Fulleffort -Scratched. 20

Great White 50-1 (Volatile) was fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes. Toss. 91. Stalker/closer. John Ennis. 21

Ocelli 50-1 (Connect) was third in the Wood Memorial. Toss. 87. Closer. Whit Beckman. 22

Also eligibles:

Robusta 50-1(Accelerate) was seventh in the Santa Anita Derby. Toss. 93. Stalk/closer. Doug O’Neill. 23

Corona de Oro 50-1 (Bolt d’Oro) was third in the Stonestreet Lexington. Toss. 91. Stalker. Dallas Stewart.

The race boils down to four colts: Commandment, Further Ado, Renegade and So Happy. I’m going with Renegade to win and I’m hoping the one hole won’t be a problem. Useable horses underneath in exactas, trifectas and superfectas are: The Puma, Chief Wallabee, Further Ado, Emerging Markets and whichever 50-1 shots you like.

If I have to pick a long-shot, I will go with Potente. Baffert only has one in the race and he could be dangerous. He was taken out of his running style in the Santa Anita Derby when his stablemate (Cherokee Nation) stumbled at the start and Potente found himself on the lead and had to go with it. There is enough speed in this race that he does not need to set the pace. I think he has a big shot.