In the run-up to the 150th Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4, usracing.com continues with our weekly Derby Top 10 contenders.
No betting, no worries when it comes to trying to sort out the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby (G1), now just about seven weeks away.
The $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) produced two 3-year-olds, Domestic Product and No More Time, who we consider worthy of joining the latest usracing.com Derby Top 10.
Our weekly Top 10 is everchanging as Derby Day approaches, the competition becomes tougher, and the anxiety to qualify for the 20-horse field is super intense.
Kentucky Derby Contenders Top 10: Domestic Product, No More Time Move In
The top 6 remain the same as last week, led by Sierra Leone, Timberlake, and Dornoch.
Domestic Spending – Photo Courtesy of Joe Labozzeta
Domestic Product edged No More Time by a neck in a four-horse blanket finish in a race delayed by more than 30 minutes to a tote issue plus a slow pace that set up for a thrilling finish.
Domestic Product moves in at No. 7; No More Time at No. 10.
Both trainers believe the delay and slow pace will be helpful to their horses moving forward.
“I think he got a lot of good experience,” Domestic Product’s trainer Chad Brown told drf.com. “He rated behind horses, he took some steady bumping from the third-place finisher (Grand Mo the First), he persevered and shrugged that horse off to get in between horses and get his nose down. I’m very, very pleased with the amount of experience he gained and some additional conditioning.”
D’Angelo said since No More Time is on the smaller side he could benefit from two months between races. “I think it’s better for the horse to go straight there and not run in between,’’ he told drf.com. “So many things can happen in between. It’s not the final decision, but to me, it sounds like a plan right now.”
And finally, Locked, who was our No. 1 contender for weeks, is no longer on the Derby trail after it was revealed last week that he had a slight left knee injury.
Derby qualifying points move to the highest level for the next eight preps – 100-50-25-15-10 for the top five finishers. There are no preps this weekend; the next two are March 23, the Louisiana Derby (G2) and the Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3).
Churchill Downs announced on Tuesday the odds to open Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby future wager; Sierra Leone is the 5-1 favorite; the pool closes on Sunday.
The latest US Racing Kentucky Derby Contenders Top 10
1. Sierra Leone (Chad Brown, Tyler Gaffalione)
Back-to-back works of 4 furlongs in 49.00 on March 2 and March 9 at Payson Park … Risen Star win is the standout performance of all Derby contenders – so far … Son of Gun Runner has won 2-of-3 – ran second by a nose to Dornoch in Remsen …
Next start: Blue Grass, Keeneland, April 6
Forever Young (JPN) and Sakai win the G3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby, King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Mathea Kelley-Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, Feb. 24, 2024