Reality time: the Kentucky Derby is 100 days away. Yes, this means that we are now in full-flight for the wire to the biggest day in racing, and that it’s time to take a look at the 3-year-olds who have begun to make some noise. While the scene has been dominated by the imposing Uncle Mo, there are several hopefuls dwelling in his shadow who could step up in the following months and fill the role of “serious contender.” The question is, overall, how talented will the Class of 2011 prove to be?
Uncle Mo
The undisputed, undefeated leader of the 3-year-old crop is also the winner of the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Grade I Champagne Stakes. The son of Indian Charlie turned away a talented field of rivals in the Breeders’ Cup with condescending ease, earning a 108 Beyer in the process, and has won each of his races by convincing margins. He has never really been tested, and never asked to put his guts on the line, but as his talent has been positively bursting at the seams, he is being touted as the next Big Thing in racing. His trainer, Todd Pletcher, is planning to take Mo along the softest road possible to the Kentucky Derby. The Grade II Tampa Bay Derby and the Grade I Wood Memorial are slated to be his only prep races before starring in the big show in May.
Boys at Tosconova
After breaking his maiden in a stunning performance at Belmont Park, earning himself 103 Beyer, Boys at Tosconova splashed onto the scene as a colt ready to rock the juvenile picture. He went on to win the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga in a hand-ride by two lengths, and entered the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile a worthy contender for the unchallenged Uncle Mo. Of course we all know how that story went—Uncle Mo literally embarrassed the rest of the field, drawing away to leave Boys at Tosconova, who finished well ahead of the rest of the pack, 4 ½ lengths behind. Had Uncle Mo not been in the picture, it would be Boys at Tosconova wallowing in the glory of being the “Next Big Thing,” as he put away the rest of the competition as easily as Mo away him. Should Uncle Mo not be able to handle an imperfect trip when next these two meet, BAT stands a heavy chance to steal the spotlight. After his trainer, Rick Dutrow, took him out of consideration for the Holy Bull this Saturday, his next start is up in the air; his ultimate goal will likely be the Florida Derby.
To Honor and Serve
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, To Honor and Serve is another colt that is hinting at great things after winning a key juvenile stakes race. The Bernardini colt has won three races in a row, including the Nashua Stakes and the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct. To Honor and Serve cruised into the public eye after trouncing his competition by 8 ¾ lengths in a maiden special at Belmont last October. In the Nashua, he impressed again by winning his first stakes test by 4 lengths while never being asked to run. John Velazquez had to get after To Honor and Serve in the stretch of the Remsen on his way to a 1 ¾-length victory, but that had mostly to do with the colt ogling around; according to the jockey, the colt possesses quite a bit of untapped potential. If he can grow off his juvenile form, To Honor and Serve will serve as a major player on the Kentucky Derby trail. Bill Mott has mentioned the Fountain of Youth Stakes as his colt’s next possible start.
Comma to the Top
Comma to the Top took a little time before he started to straighten out on the path to stardom, but after winning his past five races in a row, he is proving to be quite the eyebrow-raiser. A winner now on both synthetic and turf, Comma to the Top may not have the dirt form like some of the early buzz horses on the Derby trail, but he makes up for this with plain honest experience. With a record of 6 wins in 10 starts, this colt by Bwana Charlie is by far one of the most seasoned 3-year-olds to have a Grade I victory on his resume. Comma to the Top started off his streak by knocking off a couple of allowance races at Golden Gate; after that, he was ready to reign supreme in the Real Quiet Stakes, the Grade III Generous Stakes, and most recently, the Grade I CashCall Futurity. Comma to the Top likes to run fast early and pull away from his competition around the turn, and this was his weapon of choice throughout his win streak. Look for him to try dirt for the first time at Santa Anita in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes or the El Camino Real Derby on the road to the Santa Anita Derby.
Premier Pegasus
It’s hard to ignore the noise around an unbeaten horse, and harder still if the colt happens to be a son of the royally-bred Kentucky Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus. Premier Pegasus has only run three races, but he has won the hearts of his fans out West with a gritty, front-running style and a will to win. His debut at Del Mar proved Pegasus can put up a fight, as he battled back to regain his lead when it was stolen turning for home. Since that victory, he has racked up wins in the Jack Goodman Stakes and the Grade III Hollywood Prevue. Though his pedigree would suggest he should have no problem handling traditional dirt, he’s never run on it before, and there’s no way to know if he’ll handle kick-back in his face should he fail at assuming the lead on the dirt. Look for Premier Pegasus’s next start to come in the San Vincente Stakes this February at Santa Anita.
Tapizar
Trainer Steve Asmussen’s best shot at the Kentucky Derby so far is with a bay son of Tapit named Tapizar. After finally breaking his maiden by 10 ½ lengths in a nightcap at Churchill Downs last November, Tapizar leapt onto the Derby trail with an emphatic victory in the Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. His previous races before showed flashes of great potential, and that leaves us to speculate there is still a lot to be seen from this late-blooming colt. Look for him to continue on the California trail with his next start coming in the Robert B. Lewis, with the Santa Anita Derby being the ultimate goal before making the trip back to Kentucky in May.
The outcome of the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes, which runs this Sunday, will mint another graded stakes winner worth taking a look at. Don’t miss Florida’s kick-off to the Road to the Roses, as well as all the action in the Sunshine Millions, this weekend. Next week, I’ll continue to run down the list of fresh faces we should all keep an eye on from the Class of 2011.