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
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 4 on Derby points leaderboard (55)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 5-1
2. Timberlake (Brad Cox, Cristian Torres)
Son of Into Mischief worked 4 furlongs in 48.40 on March 8 at the Fair Grounds … Rebel win indicates a promising campaign for an already well-seasoned colt …
Next start: Blue Grass. Keeneland, April 6.
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 1 on Derby points leaderboard (66)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 8-1
3. Dornoch (Danny Gargan, Luis Saez)
Fountain of Youth winner still on target for a final prep … Will likely face several other top contenders in Florida Derby, unlike the Fountain of Youth … Winner of three straight after two runner-up finishes to start career … Son of Good Magic also a full brother to 2023 Derby winner Mage …
Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 30.
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 2 on Derby points leaderboard (60)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 12-1.
4. Fierceness (Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez)
Son of City of Light worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.99 at Palm Beach Downs on March 8 in third breeze since disappointing third in Holy Bull on Feb. 3 … Won BC Juvenile on Nov. 3; voted Eclipse Award winner as champion 2-year-old male …
Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 30.
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 8 on Derby points leaderboard (36)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 12-1.
5. Track Phantom (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario)
Continues training well at the Fair Grounds for a final Derby prep in Louisiana … Lost by the narrowest of margins to Sierra Leone in Risen Star … Son of Quality Road owns wins in Gun Runner and Lecomte …
Next start: Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds, March 23 … No. 5 on Derby points leaderboard (55) … Derby future wager odds: 25-1.
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 5 on Derby points leaderboard (55)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 25-1
6. Deterministic (Christophe Clement, Joel Rosario)
Son of Liam’s Map remains among top contenders with Gotham win over 10 rivals on March 2 … Longtime trainer Clement, best known as one of the top turf conditioners, is looking at competing in his first Derby … 2-for-2 … a debut win on Aug. 12 at Saratoga followed by Gotham triumph nearly seven months later …
Next start: Wood Memorial, Aqueduct, April 6 … …
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 6 on Derby points leaderboard (50)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 20-1.
7. Domestic Product (Chad Brown, Tyler Gaffalione)
Narrow win in Tampa Bay Derby over No More Time in exciting four-horse battle to the wire … Son of Practical Joke gives Brown yet another contender as trainer seeks first Derby win …
Next start: Blue Grass, Keenland, April 6 or Wood Memorial (G2), April 6.
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 3 on Derby points leaderboard (60)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 30-1.
8. Hades (Joe Orseno, Paco Lopez)
After a “wow” workout – 5 furlongs in 1:00.34 at Gulfstream Park on March 10, Orseno is feeling confident this gelding (3-for-3) has what it takes to win a Classic … Upset of Fierceness in Holy Bull was standout effort, and skipping Fountain of Youth for one more prep hopefully works out well …
Next start: Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, March 30 … No. 16 on Derby points leaderboard (20) … Derby future wager odds: 30-1.
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 16 on Derby points leaderboard (20)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 30-1
9. Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi, Ryusei Sakai)
Saudi Derby winner set to pick up Derby qualifying points as likely favorite in UAE Derby in Dubai at the end of the month … Son of Real Steel is 4-for-4 after perfectly timed rally for a head win over Book’em Danno … Also ranks second on Japan road to Derby with win in Zen-Nippon Nasai Yushun in December …
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
Next start: UAE Derby, Meydan Racecourse, March 30 … No. 2 on Derby’s Japan leaderboard (20) … Derby future wager odds: 20-1.
Kentucky Derby Leader Board Position: No. 2 on Derby’s Japan leaderboard (20)
Kentucky Derby Future Odds: Derby future wager odds: 20-1
10. No More Time (Jose D’Angelo, Javier Castellano)
A gallant runner-up effort in the Tampa Bay Derby puts the son of Not This Time in the thick of Derby consideration … Sam F. Davis winner was nailed at the wire by Domestic Product in four-horse blanket finish thanks to a slow pace … D’Angelo says bargain-basement $40,000 colt will train up to Derby …
Next start: Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs, May 4 …. No. 7 on Derby points leaderboard (45) … Derby future wager odds: 50-1.
On the bubble: Tuscan Sky, Just a Touch, Mystik Dan
Note: With trainer Bob Baffert still banned by Churchill Downs Inc., none of his 3-year-olds can earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points, thus none are in our Derby Top 10. They include Imagination, Muth, and Nysos.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
