Emmanuel Leads Three Additions to Derby Dozen

1. Rattle N Roll  

Owner/Trainer: Lucky Seven Stable/Kenny McPeek

Pedigree: Connect  —Jazz Tune , by Johannesburg  

Breeder: St Simon Place (KY)

Last year's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner now has two three-furlong works under his belt at 3, the most recent being a :35.67 move Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Kenny McPeek told Horse Racing Radio Network last week that this colt is likely to return in late February or early March, mentioning taking him to Tampa Bay Downs—which would mean the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 12. 

2. Zandon  

Jeff Drown/Chad Brown

Upstart  —Memories Prevail , by Creative Cause   

Brereton Jones (KY)

Trainer Chad Brown told BloodHorse the colt is likely for a Feb. 19 start at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2). Returning there gives this colt a second race at 1 1/8 miles, also over a long stretch. In his first attempt at 1 1/8 miles, this horse gamely battled in the Remsen Stakes (G2) to fall a nose short of Mo Donegal  at the finish. To these eyes, he warranted being elevated to first due to a late bump—though the stewards saw it differently and made no change. 

3. Smile Happy  

Lucky Seven Stable/Kenny McPeek

Runhappy  —Pleasant Smile , by Pleasant Tap 

Moreau Bloodstock International and White Bloodstock (KY)

Speaking to HRRN, McPeek called him a "freaky talented horse," an opinion shared by many who witnessed his two starts. He first opened eyes with a striking first-out maiden victory at Keeneland, which he followed with a romp in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. Loaded with talented 3-year-olds and understandably not wishing to run them together, McPeek has this one pointed to the Risen Star, which is shaping up as a slugfest of 3-year-old talent. 

Watch: Byron King Discusses Horses Joining the Derby Dozen This Week

4. Mo Donegal 

Donegal Racing/Todd Pletcher

Uncle Mo  —Callingmissbrown , by Pulpit  

Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables (KY)

Though he won the Remsen controversially—and likely should have been demoted to second for interference—his performance still received high marks. There was little pace in the race, and he showed a surprisingly quick burst leaving the second turn to dart from a stalking position to catch Zandon in early stretch. That followed a more workmanlike maiden win (albeit in fast time) in which he needed to come under an early drive before finding his stride in the lane; probable for the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 5 at Gulfstream.

5. Tiz the Bomb 

Phoenix Thoroughbred/Kenny McPeek

Hit It a Bomb  —Tiz the Key , by Tiznow  

Spendthrift Farm (KY)

The Holy Bull should be a barometer race, giving observers an indication of his class level on dirt. He obviously is a high-caliber colt on turf, as noted by two grass stakes wins and a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). He rolled on dirt last summer at Ellis Park, leading one to think he should be able to handle it without difficulty, but obviously doing so against maidens is far easier than against stakes foes; training promisingly on dirt.

6. Epicenter  

Winchell Thoroughbreds/Steve Asmussen

Not This Time  —Silent Candy , by Candy Ride   

Westwind Farms (KY)

This colt seemingly came out of his near-miss second in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds in good condition, breezing nine days later with an easy half-mile leg stretcher in :51. As noted in this space previously, he most caught the eye of those that ran in the Lecomte, showing determination after carving out fast fractions. Naturally speedy, he is not a need-the-lead type, however. He won pressing the pace in rolling in the Gun Runner Stakes this winter. 

7. Emmanuel   

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm/Todd Pletcher

More Than Ready  —Hard Cloth , by Hard Spun   

Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust (KY)

After a first-out score going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream, he passed a two-turn test racing a mile and 40 yards against first-level allowance optional claiming company Jan. 30 at Tampa Bay Downs. Able to get away with setting comfortable splits :25.03 and :49.88, he had plenty left to turn back an early stretch challenge from Glider  to pull away by 4 1/2 lengths; elevated his Equibase Speed Rating from a debut 92 to a second-out 98.  

8. Giant Game  

West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables/Dale Romans

Giant's Causeway —Game for More , by More Than Ready   

H. Allen Poindexter (KY)

This horse challenged with the best in the division when third in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) last fall at Del Mar, but that wasn't his only top performance of 2021. He also defeated eventual Lecomte winner Call Me Midnight  by three lengths in a maiden race at Keeneland; continues to post fast works at Gulfstream leading up to his 3-year-old unveiling, likely in the Holy Bull. 

9. Pappacap  

Rustlewood Farm/Mark Casse

Gun Runner  —Pappascat , by Scat Daddy  

Rustlewood Farm (FL)

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up currently tops the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, having 14 points along with Epicenter. Though yet to win going two turns, he has performed well to hit the board in all three routes, twice behind Corniche , the all-but-certain 2-year-old champion of 2021. He came up a little empty when returning in the Lecomte, perhaps in need of a race or a touch intimidated trying to rally up the fence.

10. Slow Down Andy  

Reddam Racing/Doug O'Neill

Nyquist  —Edwina E , by Square Eddie  

Reddam Racing (CA)

Trainer Doug O'Neill initially had the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner pointed toward the Jan. 29 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park before skipping it, with the trainer citing flight uncertainty from California. He told Daily Racing Form that the Risen Star is now on the colt's agenda. The Risen Star is the first of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) preps on an increased 50-20-10-5 scale; whoever wins is virtually guaranteed a Derby berth. 

11. Classic Causeway  

Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper/Brian Lynch

Giant's Causeway —Private World , by Thunder Gulch  

Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper Family Living Trust (KY)

With Corniche and Jack Christopher  still without published workouts as of Feb. 1 and with Corniche trained by Bob Baffert (suspended by Churchill Downs Inc.), making room for some new additions to the 'Dozen with horses farther along in their training. Classic Causeway showed promise at 2 with a debut score and then with a pair of stakes placings in graded routes; likely to race next in South Florida after a six-furlong work in 1:12 2/5 at Palm Meadows Training Center Jan. 26.

12. Barber Road   

WSS Racing/John Ortiz

Race Day —Encounter , by Southern Image  

Susan Forrester and Judy Curry (KY)

Though runner-up to Newgrange  in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes, he lands in the 'Dozen while the Bob Baffert-trained Newgrange does not—owing to CDI's suspension of Baffert. Barber Road was off a beat slowly and patiently handled early in the Southwest, resulting in him being much further off the pace than usual. Still, he came charging wide with a long, sustained rally; three times second in stakes.