Derby Dozen: The Final Lineup

1. Tiz the Law 

Trainer/Owner: Barclay Tagg/Sackatoga Stable

Pedigree: Constitution —Tizfiz, by Tiznow 

Breeder: Twin Creeks Farm (NY)

Jockey Manny Franco feels his mount has progressed since last fall’s Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs when the colt was upset, running third as the favorite with an inside trip over a sloppy track. "He's a different horse now. He's very mature and he's improving race-by-race," the rider said. His connections feel he is better when on the outside and racing in the clear, suggesting his Derby draw in post 17 is a positive.

2. Honor A. P.

John Shirreffs/C R K Stable

Honor Code —Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush

George Krikorian (KY)

Rider Mike Smith was happy with the Honor Code ridgling's "rhythm work" Aug. 29 at Del Mar, in which he described him as "floating" in covering seven furlongs in 1:27 1/5, faster than the rider had anticipated. "He did that so easy and galloped out with so much energy, all on his own," said Smith. An uncertainty is how this 3-year-old will handle a new environment in Kentucky.

3. Authentic 

Bob Baffert/Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing

Into Mischief —Flawless, by Mr. Greeley

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds (KY)

Five days after a mile workout Aug. 25, he returned with a six-furlong move in 1:12 2/5 at Del Mar Aug. 30. The shorter turnaround between drills was caused by the mile workout's being delayed a day. No worries, trainer five-time Derby winner Bob Baffert believes. A greater concern is the Derby distance. His final furlong in winning the 1 1/8-mile TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) was :13.23.

4. Ny Traffic

Saffie Joseph Jr./John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman

Cross Traffic —Mamie Reilly, by Graeme Hall

Brian Culnan (NY)

Paco Lopez, who rode him to finish second in the July 18 Haskell and May 23 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, returns in the irons. Though he has yet to win on him, he has ridden him to two close seconds behind high-class colts. Besides a nose loss to Authentic in the Haskell, the unbeaten Maxfield defeated him by just a length in the Matt Winn.

5. King Guillermo

Juan Avila/Victoria's Ranch

Uncle Mo —Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band

Carhue Investments, Grouseridge, and Marengo Investments (KY)

He doesn't possess the powerful body of other colts, but he is an efficient mover and eagerly trains. Even though his final Derby workout was slow, a half-mile in :52 1/5, he was under a hold; would have been faster had he been given more rein. Fitness should not be questioned, despite the four-month layoff.

6. Max Player

Steve Asmussen/George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds

Honor Code—Fools in Love, by Not For Love

K & G Stables (KY)

This colt has been energetic in his gallops and in works beneath the Twin Spires. After a speedy five-furlongs in :59 3/5 Aug. 24, he came back with a routine half-mile in :49 4/5 Aug. 31. Steve Asmussen, who took over his training from Linda Rice after the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), calls him "an exciting horse in that he appears he gets the distance very well."

7. Thousand Words

Bob Baffert/Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm

Pioneerof the Nile—Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy

Hardacre Farm (FL)

Although many view his Shared Belief Stakes upset over Honor A. P. as a sign of regression from the latter, speed figures tell another story. Thousand Words ran a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, Honor A. P. a 102. Though this colt is out of the sprinter Pomeroys Pistol, his sire was a router. The runner-up behind Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, he sired 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah .

8. Sole Volante

Patrick Biancone/Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone, and Limelight Stables

Karakontie —Light Blow, by Kingmambo

Flaxman Holdings (KY)

He arrived at Churchill Downs Aug. 30 after vanning overnight from Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida. Trainer Patrick Biancone has breezed him exclusively on turf since his sixth-place finish in the June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1). That change-up and a summer freshening could result in a return to the form he showed in winning the Feb. 8 Sam. F. Davis Stakes (G3).

9. Enforceable

Mark Casse/John Oxley

Tapit —Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union

Clearsky Farms (KY)

Although others worked faster this past weekend, few looked better. He covered a half-mile over a drying-out Churchill track Aug. 29 in :49 3/5 without encouragement. After falling out of the 'Dozen' last week, the Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner returns after Caracaro, Dr Post, and Shirl's Speight were removed from consideration. He should stay the trip. Progeny of Tapit often improve with age and seasoning.

10. Storm the Court

Peter Eurton/David Bernsen, Exline-Border Racing, Dan Hudock, and Susanna Wilson

Court Vision —My Tejana Storm, by Tejano Run

Stepping Stone Farm (KY)

His presence in the Derby will mark the sixth straight year the juvenile champion has been in the race. They're 2-for-5 since 2015. American Pharoah and Nyquist  won in 2015-16, respectively. Classic Empire  ran fourth in 2017, Good Magic  was second in 2018, and Game Winner was elevated to fifth last year. This colt, one of many pace-pressing types in the Derby, is 0-for-5 this year.

11. Attachment Rate

Dale Romans/Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister

Hard Spun —Aristra, by Afleet Alex

Mr. & Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III (KY)

Though just 1-for-8, he is on the rise. His speed figures have steadily improved, topped by a 95 Beyer when second in the Aug. 9 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby. Art Collector drew off in the final furlong, but this colt was 5 1/4 lengths clear of Necker Island, another Derby hopeful. This came despite an unfavorable draw that left him four wide early and three wide on the second turn.

12. South Bend

Bill Mott/Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch, and Pantofel Stable

Algorithms —Sandra’s Rose, by Old Trieste

Highclere (KY)

Although he was an 11th-hour entrant Sept. 1, the final colt to join the Derby mix, he is not without a chance of at least rallying for a share. Bought privately by his current owners after a promising runner-up finish in the Ohio Derby (G3), he ran a sneaky-good 97 Beyer when fourth in the Travers Stakes, just two lengths behind third-place Max Player. This late-running colt has also twice won at Churchill Downs on fast surfaces.