Mage, Disarm Climb Into Derby Dozen Rankings

1. Forte  

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

Pedigree: Violence  —Queen Caroline , by Blame   

Breeder: South Gate Farm (KY)

Outquickened on the second turn in the April 1 Florida Derby (G1) and still fifth at the head of the stretch, last year's Eclipse Award-winning juvenile looked like he might lose for the first time since finishing fourth in the Sanford Stakes (G3) in July. But he reached down and found the necessary reserves to run down eventual runner-up Mage , who had blown past him with a sweeping wide move on the second turn. All credit to the champ for getting things done when his best was not coming easily. This was an effort that seemed a few lengths off his Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1)-winning performances, and yet still good enough to win a grade 1 by a length.

Watch: Angel of Empire, Forte Rally to Victory in Key Derby Preps

2. Tapit Trice  

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable/Todd Pletcher

Tapit  —Danzatrice , by Dunkirk  

Gainesway Thoroughbreds (KY)

On the same day that stablemate Forte delivered in the Florida Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher put this talented 3-year-old through his final workout leading up to the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1), a half-mile breeze at Palm Beach Downs in :49.57, tied for the second-fastest time at the distance that morning over the tiring surface there. Pletcher is hopeful that in the Blue Grass at Keeneland that this colt will break sharper and show more early engagement after flying home late to win the March 11 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Pletcher goes for his fourth Blue Grass, having last won it in 2015 with Carpe Diem  . 

3. Practical Move  

Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., and Roger Beasley/Tim Yakteen

Practical Joke  —Ack Naughty , by Afleet Alex  

Chad Brown and Head of Plains Partners (KY)

His April 2 workout for Saturday's Santa Anita Derby (G1) came amid a cluster of activity at Santa Anita Park, with this 3-year-old surrounded by four or five horses at one stage. He stalked inside, the kind of tactics the colt used successfully to win the 2022 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and San Felipe Stakes (G2) in his most recent start. Though he finished behind a couple of other rivals at the wire, completing five furlongs in 1:01 1/5, his exercise rider had him under a degree of restraint after appearing to peek down at his watch down the stretch. The 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby is shaping up to have a strong field, with Geaux Rocket Ride  and National Treasure  being two expected challengers. 

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Practical Move (Blue Cap) worked 5 Furlongs in 1:01.20 on April 2nd, 2023, for trainer @timyakteen. Practical Move is expected to make his next start in the Santa Anita Derby. pic.twitter.com/fF7riRK00C

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) April 2, 2023

4. Geaux Rocket Ride

Pin Oak Stud/Richard Mandella

Candy Ride  —Beyond Grace , by Uncle Mo   

OXO Equine (KY)

He was a bit keen when rated off a workmate early in a five-furlong breeze in :59 1/5 Sunday at Santa Anita before powering away from the other horse and galloping out with energy. This competitive colt gives the impression that he prefers to lead early, though as he showed when second in the San Felipe, he can also perform at a high level from just off the pace. He has move-forward potential in the Santa Anita Derby if the race draws less speed than the San Felipe, in which he was the runner-up in just his second start. 

5. Angel of Empire  

Albaugh Family Stables/Brad Cox

Classic Empire  —Armony's Angel , by To Honor and Serve 

Forgotten Land Investment and Black Diamond Equine (PA)

Perhaps due to his beginnings last year at Horseshoe Indianapolis or the rotating jockeys on his back over his career, he tends to fly under the betting public's radar to a degree for a Brad Cox trainee. He paid $11.40 to win the Arkansas Derby (G1) despite having won the Risen Star Stakes (G2) a start earlier. He stepped up his game Saturday, running a career-best 106 Equibase Speed Figure as he covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.68, the fastest time in the race since 2020.

6. Two Phil's   

Patricia's Hope and Phillip Sagan/Larry Rivelli

Hard Spun  —Mia Torri , by General Quarters

Phillip Sagan (KY)

His time in winning the March 25 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) was 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.03—not quite as quick as last year's 1:48.60 delivered by Tiz the Bomb but more than a second faster than the 1:50.22 posted by Like the King in 2021. Those three renewals have all come over the Tapeta surface that replaced Turfway Park's aging Polytrack. His sire, Hard Spun, won the Jeff Ruby on synthetic in 2007 when it was called the Lane's End Stakes, and would go on to run second in the Derby, third in the Preakness Stakes (G1), and fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1). This colt is also versatile, with the ability to handle dirt and synthetic tracks.

7. Kingsbarns 

Spendthrift Farm/Todd Pletcher

Uncle Mo—Lady Tapit , by Tapit 

Parks Investment Group (KY)

The Derby preps at Fair Grounds this winter were slow, including this colt's Louisiana Derby (G2), but the form from there has held up well when its participants have ventured elsewhere. Lecomte Stakes (G3) third-place finisher Confidence Game  won the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park; Lecomte runner-up and Risen Star Stakes (G3) show finisher Two Phil's won the Jeff Ruby Steaks; and Risen Star winner Angel of Empire just won the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. Though this colt had everything his way on the lead in rolling in the Louisiana Derby, his tactical speed creates good fortune. 

8. National Treasure 

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Tim Yakteen

Quality Road  —Treasure , by Medaglia d'Oro   

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds (KY)

His connections initially leaned toward sending him to the Blue Grass, but now it appears the Santa Anita Derby is more likely, Daily Racing Form reported. His breezes since missing the San Felipe with a sore foot have been excellent. After outworking Arkansas Derby third-place finisher Reincarnate  March 26, he left another workmate behind in drilling six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 on Sunday. Out of action since third in the Jan. 8 Sham Stakes (G3) and without any Kentucky Derby qualifying points, he needs to win Saturday to be assured of making the race. Perhaps he could gain entry with 40 qualifying points for second if there are defections in the lead-up to the Derby.

9. Verifying   

Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor/Brad Cox

Justify  —Diva Delite , by Repent  

Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm (KY)

Though he did not race in New Orleans this winter, it was his principal base for training. He breezed there up until his last move, when he zipped five furlongs in :59 2/5 March 31 at Keeneland. He runs there next in the Blue Grass. After a runner-up finish in the Champagne Stakes (G1) in October, he raced at Keeneland later in the fall, finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after a troubled start. A horse at his best when he can secure a forward, pace-pressing journey, he did not get a desirable trip when caught in traffic in the Rebel en route to a fourth-place finish.

10. Confidence Game  

Don't Tell My Wife Stables/Keith Desormeaux

Candy Ride  —Eblouissante , by Bernardini 

Summer Wind Equine (KY)

Trainer Keith Desormeaux said he wants the Rebel winner to have plenty in the tank for the Triple Crown, and this colt's participation in one of the final rounds of Derby preps is becoming increasingly unlikely. Desormeaux gave him a break from breezing after he won the Rebel, and as of April 4, his most recent breeze was March 25 at Fair Grounds. His Rebel was a fine effort, though others in the field had difficult trips. Those that were immediately behind him, runner-up Red Route One  and third-place Reincarnate, ran sixth and third, respectively, in the Arkansas Derby.

11. Mage  

OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH/Gustavo Delgado

Good Magic  —Puca , by Big Brown   

Grandview Equine (KY)

His talent and inexperience were on display in the Florida Derby, when he soared past much of the field on the second turn with a head-turning rally. His zip slowed down in the stretch, perhaps from playing catchup after a tardy start and losing ground with a wide trip, and Forte ran him down late. This was the second straight race in which Mage's break proved costly. The Florida Derby runner-up was similarly away slowly when fourth in the Fountain of Youth, also with a wide trip. He cannot afford to come away poorly in the Derby, when slow-starting horses are typically shuffled back in the 20-horse field.

12. Disarm 

Winchell Thoroughbreds/Steve Asmussen

Gun Runner  —Easy Tap , by Tapit 

Winchell Thoroughbreds (KY)

The Louisiana Derby runner-up squeaks past a few others for the final spot in the rankings, in part due to the aforementioned success of Fair Grounds horses running in graded stakes elsewhere in recent weeks. Though he did not win in New Orleans, he ran well in finishing 3 1/2 lengths behind Kingsbarns after being bottled up in traffic until the stretch in a slow-paced race. He was the only horse to gain ground on the winner down the lane—if only a little—in a race that unfolded favorably for frontrunning Kingsbarn.