Derby Dozen: Mandaloun and Proxy Join the Mix

1. Essential Quality 

Trainer/Owner: Brad Cox/Godolphin

Pedigree: Tapit —Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality

Breeder: Godolphin (KY)

With severe winter weather canceling racing at Oaklawn Park over Presidents Day weekend, the Southwest Stakes (G3) has been postponed, delaying his return. With fellow dual grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) winner Keepmeinmind also expected there, last year's 2-year-old champ could get a stiff test in his unveiling at 3.

2. Fire At Will 

Mike Maker/Three Diamonds Farm

Declaration of War—Flirt, by Kitten's Joy 

Troy Rankin (KY)

His seasonal debut in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27 should provide quick evidence if he is Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) material. Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T) winner won his only dirt start last year in the off-the-turf With Anticipation Stakes vs. a depleted, suspect group, though over a seven-furlong trip, shorter than his best.

3. Life Is Good 

Bob Baffert/China Horse Club and WinStar Farm

Into Mischief —Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor 

Gary and Mary West Stable (KY)

Six of the last nine Derby winners were stabled during the winter in Southern California, and he seems the current cream of the 3-year-old crop out west, having just defeated next-out Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) winner Medina Spirt in the Sham Stakes (G3). Pointed toward the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 6 at Santa Anita Park.

4. Mandaloun

Brad Cox/Juddmonte Farms

Into Mischief—Brooch, by Empire Maker

Juddmonte Farms (KY)

The addition of blinkers was instrumental in victory in the Feb. 13 Risen Star Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). Instead of jockey Florent Geroux's having to drive him into contention, he took the rider there. Already a graded winner at 1 1/8 miles in the Risen Star and with impeccable bloodlines, he vaults into the 'Dozen, part of trainer Brad Cox's stellar group of 3-year-olds that rivals that of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

5. Greatest Honour

Shug McGaughey/Courtlandt Farms

Tapit—Tiffany's Honour, by Street Cry

Courtlandt Farm (KY)

Stylishly took the Jan. 30 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) to win his second race at Gulfstream this winter. Eventual Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner and Derby runner-up Tiz the Law  won the Holy Bull in 2020, but the last Holy Bull winner to win the Run for the Roses was Barbaro in 2006. This colt was urged more than 4-year-old workmate Creed (two-for-three lifetime) in a four-furlong breeze in :50 3/5 at Payson Park Feb. 13.

6. Medina Spirit

Bob Baffert/Zedan Racing Stables 

Protonico —Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed

Gail Rice (FL)

Baffert's six Derby wins have understandably led owners to flood his stable with expensive prospects—so this $35,000 2-year-old purchase is a throwback. The Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) winner conjures a flashback to Real Quiet, a $17,000 buy that in 1998 gave Baffert his second Derby. He posted a half-mile breeze at Santa Anita in :49 Feb. 14, suggesting he came out of the Lewis in fine fettle.

7. Caddo River

Brad Cox/Shortleaf Stable 

Hard Spun —Pangburn, by Congrats 

Shortleaf Stable (KY)

With $1 million on the line in the Rebel Stakes, his next-out competition figures to be much better than the group he thumped by more than 10 lengths in the Jan. 22 Smarty Jones Stakes. After working Feb. 5 at Oaklawn, he came back with another drill Feb. 14—though this time at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to avoid missing training due to freezing conditions in Arkansas.

8. Concert Tour

Bob Baffert/Gary and Mary West 

Street Sense —Purse Strings, by Tapit 

Gary and Mary West Stables (KY)

Though he ran quickly relative to the tiring nature of the Santa Anita main track in winning the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2), more demanding class tests are ahead. All five San Vicente starters were eligible to a first-level allowance, and the top-three finishers only had started once previously. Sire Street Sense won the Derby in 2007, suggesting this colt should route.

9. The Great One

Doug O'Neill/ERJ Racing, Train Wreck Al Racing Stables, Niall Brennan, Tom Fritz, and William Straus 

Nyquist —Little Ms Protocol, by El Corredor

Coteau Grove Farms (LA)

Following his 14-length maiden victory in a mile race Jan. 23 at Santa Anita, he returned with breezes Feb. 6 and Feb. 13. He seems on an upward trajectory, and he needs to be. Two starts ago while racing as a maiden in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), he had the race nearly won, only to get tagged on the wire by Spielberg, a colt subsequently fourth in the Lewis.

10. Jackie's Warrior 

Steve Asmussen/Kirk and Judy Robison 

Maclean's Music —Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred

J & J Stables (KY)

Though Maclean's Music sired 2017 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Cloud Computing , most of his other stakes runners have excelled around one turn (i.e. Complexity , Classic Rock, Drain the Clock, and Share the Upside). If the Southwest draws a short field, that might give this speedy colt a pace advantage—the opposite of what occurred in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) last fall when he chased blistering splits and ran fourth.

11. Keepmeinmind

Robertino Diodoro/Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith

Laoban —Inclination, by Victory Gallop

Southern Equine Stables (KY)

His connections opted to pass the Risen Star with him to await the Southwest. That is not altogether a surprise given that he has trained at Oaklawn through the winter. He acts like a colt that should relish the Derby trip of 1 1/4 miles, but his lack of early speed could place this grade 2 winner in a challenging position against a potential short lineup in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest.

12. Proxy

Michael Stidham/Godolphin

Tapit—Panty Raid, by Include 

Godolphin (KY)

Coming off runner-up finishes in the Risen Star and Lecomte Stakes (G3), he grabs the former 'Dozen position of the talented Highly Motivated, who might not be a 1 1/4-mile type. This horse has made all five of his starts in two-turn routes, and his fine pedigree suggests further upside. He ran spotty in the Risen Star—gaining position, dropping back, then threatening again. Blinkers could be in his future.