Correll’s Top Ten: Fierceness heads leaderboard, Baffert duo follow

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
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Ryan Thompson Photo

TRINITY, Fla. – The “good” Fierceness showed up again in the Florida Derby on March 30 and the colt romped by more than 13 lengths to win in a nice time of 1:48.22 for the mile-and-an eighth race.

The son of City of Light grabbed the lead shortly after the start and never looked back. Fierceness cruised up the backstretch and as he rounded the second turn increased his lead and ran away from the rest down the stretch.

With this win Fierceness will jump to the top of most Kentucky Derby lists. My question is which Fierceness will show up on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. If you look at his five lifetime races; when he’s good, he’s very good; when he’s bad, he’s very bad.

Muth, a colt that will not be in the Kentucky Derby because of the ban Churchill Downs has placed on his trainer Bob Baffert, won the Arkansas Derby and did it impressively with a comfortable time of 1:49.54.

The son of Good Magic probably is headed to the Preakness on the third Saturday in May and will be a major threat to whichever colt wins the Derby. The 100 points that Muth would have been awarded went by the wayside and the next three finishers; Just Steel (50 points), Mystik Dan (30) and Timberlake (20) are on their way to Louisville.

Unbeaten Forever Young took the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. The son of Real Steel (JPN) picked up 100 points and a spot in the Derby starting gate. The winning time was a slow 157.89 for the mile-and-three-sixteenth distance.

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi said after the race he is confident and headed to Louisville.

Fierceness (Sire: City of Light) destroyed the field in the Florida Derby.

Muth (Good Magic) had little trouble winning the Arkansas Derby.

Nysos (Nyquist) plans are up in the air for this Baffert trainee.

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) headed for the Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland.

Catching Freedom (Constitution) won the Louisiana Derby.

Dornach (Good Magic) will face Sierra Leone in the Blue Grass.

Maymun (Frosted) is another Baffert slated for the Santa Anita Derby on April 6.

Imagination (Into Mischief) also headed to the Santa Anita Derby.

Endlessly (Oscar Performance) is the best 3-year-old grass horse in the country.

Timberlake (Into Mischief) was flat and finished fourth in Arkansas Derby.