Forte, Tapit Trice Give Pletcher Two Punches in 'Dozen'

1. Forte  

Owner/Trainer: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/Todd Pletcher

Pedigree: Violence  —Queen Caroline , by Blame   

Breeder: South Gate Farm (KY)

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has gradually picked up the workout pace with last year's champion 2-year-old male, capped by a :50.61 half-mile move Feb. 4 from the colt at Palm Beach Downs. Look for Pletcher to get even more serious with the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner leading toward an intended return in the March 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Pletcher's prior champion juveniles missed the Kentucky Derby (G1) (Uncle Mo   and Shanghai Bobby ). The eight-time Eclipse Award-honored trainer is a two-time winner of the Run for the Roses, capturing it with Super Saver   in 2010 and with Always Dreaming   in 2017. 

2. Arabian Knight   

Zedan Racing Stables/Bob Baffert*

Uncle Mo  —Borealis Night , by Astrology  

Corser Thoroughbreds (KY)

Trainer Bob Baffert was in court in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 2-3, with his legal team requesting a preliminary injunction that could allow the Hall of Famer to participate in this year's Derby. Baffert is seeking legal relief given Churchill Downs Inc.'s ongoing ban of him from racing at its tracks through early July of this year and from his trainees earning qualifying points toward the May 6 Derby. Barring legal success for the trainer—look for the judge to make a ruling this month—this talented prospect would need to join another barn to qualify and start in the Derby. Arabian Knight is short on seasoning but not talent. By summer, Baffert feels this colt "is going to be ridiculous," which he said after his win the Jan. 28 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

3. Instant Coffee   

Gold Square/Brad Cox

Bolt d'Oro  —Follow No One , by Uncle Mo   

Sagamore Farm (KY)

The Jan. 21 Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has not worked since that race, suggesting he is likely to sit out the Feb. 18 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at the New Orleans oval. That is not altogether surprising, as Brad Cox typically spaces out the starts of his runners, and this 3-year-old already has 32 qualifying points for the Derby. His late-running style makes him a good fit for the long stretch at Fair Grounds, suggesting the March 25 Louisiana Derby (G2) there could prove his next target.

4. Faustin   

Michael Lund Petersen/Bob Baffert*

Curlin  — Hard Not to Like , by Hard Spun  

DATTT Farm (KY)

Runner-up to his crack sprinting stablemate Havnameltdown  in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) Jan. 29 at Santa Anita Park, he is likely to race around two turns next. By 2007-08 Horse of the Year Curlin   out of multiple grade 1-winning grass mare Hard Not to Like , he is bred for added distance. Baffert said of Faustin after the San Vicente, "Once he goes two turns, you'll see a big difference in him."

5. Verifying   

Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael B. Tabor/Brad Cox

Justify  —Diva Delite , by Repent  

Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm (KY)

Midnight Bisou 's little half brother turned heads with a fast first-level allowance optional claiming win at Oaklawn Jan. 14 in which he defeated Gun Pilot by 5 1/4 lengths. The latter returned last week to impressively win a similar race at the Arkansas track, flattering this colt's performance. Additionally, Verifying ran quickly in that Jan. 14 race, registering a 102 Equibase Speed Figure. The timing of the upcoming Risen Star Stakes suggests he is likely to make his next appearance at Fair Grounds.

6. National Treasure 

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert*

Quality Road  —Treasure , by Medaglia d'Oro   

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds (KY)

Though he let down his mutuel backers with a third at 3-5 odds in the Jan. 8 Sham Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, the Sham was a quick race, and seemingly quite legit. Runner-up Newgate  returned to win the Feb. 4 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) there. This one's trip was less than perfect, rated inside behind horses before angling out and running evenly down the lane. Most young horses will fare better with trips in the clear, avoiding dirt kickback. The Feb. 25 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park or the March 4 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita could be in the plans next.

7. Blazing Sevens  

Rodeo Creek Racing/Chad Brown

Good Magic  —Trophy Girl , by Warrior's Reward   

Tracy Farmer (KY)

He and Forte resumed breezing at the same time this year and have kept roughly the same weekly workout schedule over the past few weeks. This one was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Forte when fourth in the Juvenile, though a slow break left this one playing catchup from the start. He appeared to lose at least a couple of lengths with an awkward start. Then, having reached contention at the top of the lane, his rally evened out. A top-level winner at age 2 over Verifying in a sloppy Champagne Stakes (G1), though that race was only at a mile and around one turn.

Watch: Tapit Trice Joins Derby Dozen After Romping in Allowance

8. Tapit Trice  

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable/Todd Pletcher

Tapit  —Danzatrice , by Dunkirk  

Gainesway Thoroughbreds (KY)

Rocket Can won the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park, but this colt left the greatest impression on the Saturday program. Racing against first-level allowance optional claiming opposition, he stalked the pace and overwhelmed his stablemate Shesterkin  to win by eight lengths. Though the race was only a one-turn mile, the reach displayed in this one's stride gives the impression that he should not only handle two turns but move up under such a scenario and with further distance for Pletcher.

9. Victory Formation  

Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations/Brad Cox

Tapwrit  —Smart N Soft , by Smart Strike 

Gainesway Thoroughbreds (KY)

He and Verifying look like Cox's most likely prospects for the Risen Star Stakes, though the trainer's bench is so deep that he could shuffle his lineup without fuss. If Victory Formation runs in the Risen Star, the race will represent both a class and distance test for the speedy colt. In improving to 3-for-3 in the Jan. 1 Smarty Jones Stakes, he raced down the short stretch used in mile races at Oaklawn. The Risen Star is 1 1/8 miles and will represent by far his toughest challenge. 

10. Curly Jack  

Michael McLoughlin/Tom Amoss

Good Magic—Connie and Michael , by Roman Ruler  

Betz/J. Betz/Burns/Camaquiki/C.Kidder/et al (KY)

Trainer Tom Amoss gave him a quick five-furlong drill in :59 4/5 Feb. 2 at Fair Grounds to prepare the colt for a return in the Risen Star. Although not as fast as others based on speed figures, he has kept good company in races such as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), from which a number of colts have exited to perform at a high level. He also had considerable traffic problems in the Nov. 28 Kentucky Jockey Club when bottled up for much of the race. 

11. Hejazi  

Zedan Racing Stables/Bob Baffert*

Bernardini —G Note , by Medaglia d'Oro 

Chester & Mary R. Broman (NY)

He sizzled 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.58 in graduating from the maiden ranks Jan. 8 at Santa Anita, earning a 105 Equibase Speed Rating. The runner-up, Worcester , subsequently ran third, beaten two lengths, in a swift running of the Robert B. Lewis, though that race had just four entries and was relatively unaccomplished. So this one's stock dips a bit. A $3.55 million purchase as a 2-year-old, Hejazi still must prove himself going longer, having finished a distant third in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah Stakes (G1) last fall in his lone route.

12. Reincarnate 

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert*

Good Magic—Allanah , by Scat Daddy

Woods Edge Farm (KY)

Coming off a sharp five-furlong workout in :59 2/5 at Santa Anita Feb. 5 and with his form flattered by next-out Robert B. Lewis Stakes success from Newgate, whom he defeated in the Sham, he moves into the 'Dozen'— beating out Newgate, Cave Rock  (yet to work), Practical Move , Dubyuhnell , Rocket Can  (slow time in winning the Holy Bull-G3), and others. Reincarnate was not as quick to develop as others in this lineup but has rattled off two victories in a row, showing speed, staying power, and grit in fending off Newgate by a neck in the Sham.

* Author's note: Although Baffert is barred by Churchill Downs Inc. from competing at its tracks through mid-2023 and having his horses earn Derby points this year after a series of medication positives, some of his leading trainees are included in the Derby Dozen given that they could qualify after transfers into other stables. Baffert is awaiting a ruling from a judge after requesting a preliminary injunction that could allow him to participate.