Scully's Derby Top 10

Mr. Z takes a precipitous drop out of my Kentucky Derby Top 10 list, acting like he was more interested in Oaklawn’s famous Corned Beef Sammy than finishing Monday’s Smarty Jones Stakes when bolting toward the grandstand with a clear lead.

Far Right wound up proving best in the Smarty Jones, rallying from far back to score by 1 3/4 lengths, and International Star captured last weekend’s other scoring race, Saturday’s Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds.

Neither horse ran very fast, though, earning BRIS Speed ratings of 92 and 94, respectively.

International Star is in prime position to make the Kentucky Derby field, boosting his point total to 22 (he also earned 10 winning the Grey and a point when fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club). This is the third year of the scoring system and the 20^th horse needed only 10 points to make the field in both 2013 and 2014.

Far Right improved his total to 12 points, earning two points for a troubled third in the Delta Jackpot last November.

I’m eagerly awaiting Saturday’s Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, the lone scoring event this weekend. There appears to be plenty of quality in the 10-horse field.

Holy Bull contenders Upstart (#6) and Frosted (#7) are both on my top 10 list, and Frammento, a maiden winner for Nick Zito, rates as an interesting longshot in his stakes debut.

The Kentucky Derby is 14 weeks from Saturday.

1. Dortmund – Unbeaten in three starts, including the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1), Bob Baffert trainee is close to his first start of 2015, working seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Wednesday.
2. Carpe Diem – Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up heads a deep contingent of Todd Pletcher Derby hopefuls. Giant’s Causeway colt returned to worktab with a three-furlong breeze last Saturday and is pointing for the February 21 Fountain of Youth (G2).
3. American Pharoah – Brilliant two-year-old champ missed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile due to injury but is back in light training for Baffert; waiting for his first work of 2015.
4. Texas Red – Earned a 101 BRIS Speed rating posting a smashing 6 ½-length score in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and is targeting in the February 7 Robert Lewis (G2) at Santa Anita.
5. Calculator – Exits a terrific win in the one-mile Sham; longer distances are the main question surrounding this talented prospect.
6. Upstart – Juvenile stakes winner concluded 2014 with a second in the Champagne (G1) and a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Flatter colt figures to keep improving with age.
7. Frosted – Remsen (G2) runner-up is by Tapit and his Grade 2-winning dam is a half-sister to champion Midshipman. Possesses tactical speed as well as a pedigree for classic distances.
8. El Kabeir – He’s on a roll for trainer John Terranova, winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in late November and the January 3 Jerome (G2). The February 28 Gotham (G3) and April 4 Wood Memorial (G1) are on his schedule.
9. Imperia – Made a nice transition from turf to dirt, recording a head second in the Kentucky Jockey Club, and Medaglia d’Oro colt is back working at Palm Meadows for Kiaran McLaughlin.
10. Firing Line – Liked the way he stretched out to two turns in the Los Alamitos Futurity, finishing a head second, and is expected to make his 2015 bow in the Lewis.

Photo Credit – Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography