Kentucky Derby Comments By Brock Sheridan Photos by Coady and Chelsea Durand #1 Known Agenda, 6-1 Drawing the inside post is his biggest problem. He won the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park in his last start, and an allowance race, also at Gulfstream, before that on Feb. 26 and is trained by two-time Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher (Always Dreaming, 2017 and Super Saver, 2010). The Florida Derby has produced more Ken- tucky Derby winners than any other prep race (24) and six Kentucky Derby winners since 2000. Third in the Rem- sen (G2) won by Brooklyn Strong at Aqueduct on Dec. 5 and fifth in the Sam Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 6, Known Agenda looks to be a “getting good at the right time” horse with the addition of blinkers for his last two races. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is a plus, even among the world’s best and post one. Known Agenda #2 Like the King, 50-1 Won the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park in his last race and his first career victory was on turf, so rac- ing on dirt for him is a question mark. In two starts on dirt, he was second in his career debut in July and third against allowance horses at Keeneland in October. Although this is the first Derby starter for trainer Wesley Ward, he has a reputation for his horses performing well on a world stage. Like the King #3 Brooklyn Strong, 50-1 Was the last to qualify for the Kentucky Derby as he made the field over the weekend when others were with- drawn. Won the Remsen Stakes (G2) in New York on Dec. 5 then finished fifth in the Resorts World Casino Wood Memorial (G2) on April 3. Also won the minor Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park in October but will have to show improvement to be competitive with some of the best in the Derby. Brooklyn Strong #4 Keepmeinmind, 50-1 One of two horses in the Kentucky Derby field with a stakes victory and the only one with a graded stakes win over the Churchill Downs surface having won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club there Nov. 28. Has been dull in two races this year with a sixth in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn and fifth, beaten more than 16 lengths by Essential Quality and Highly Motivated, in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland on April 10. The first Derby starter for mid-west high percentage trainer Robertino Diodoro and will need to correct his habit of breaking from the starting gate slow to be in the hunt here. Keepmeinmind #5 Sainthood, 50-1 Was second to Like the King in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on a synthetic track in his last race on March 27 off of a maiden score at Fair Grounds on Feb. 13 in his second career start. Has the benefit of being one of four Derby starters from the Todd Pletcher barn and reports say his morning works have been notably good. Lacks experience at this level and will be a big surprise if he improves enough to win the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Corey Lanerie has been a top rider at Churchill for years so he knows the course and should be an asset. Sainthood Continued on next page Kentucky Derby Comments By Brock Sheridan Photos by Coady #6 O Besos, 20-1 Closed with a rush to finish third in the Louisiana Derby (G2), two lengths behind winner Hot Rod Charlie and just a head behind Midnight Bourbon. He is the son of 2013 Kentucky Derby-winner Orb and his dam, Snuggs and Kisses, was a stakes-winner around two turns so distance is not a question. In fact, distance may work in his favor as he likes to come with a late run. However, he may have same challenges in Kentucky Derby as he did when fourth in the Risen Star (G2) when he was forced to go five-wide in the second turn. The post should help him avoid that problem on the first turn as he will likely be eased into a comfortable, no-rush strategy early in the race. He also has shown improvement in each of five career starts so he is one to con- sider for a those seeking a longshot. O Besos #7 Mandaloun, 15-1 Mysteriously threw a clunker in his last race as the 6-5 favorite when sixth behind Derby contenders Hot Rod Charlie and Midnight Bourbon, who were first and second respectively in the Louisiana Derby (G2). He won the Risen Star (G2) two starts back, defeating Midnight Bourbon in third, but was third as the odds-on favorite in the Lecomte won by that one the race before on Jan. 16. An inconsistent type who could surprise in the Ken- tucky Derby with one of his top performances. Mandaloun #8 Florida-bred Medina Spirit, 15-1 This Florida-bred is the lone starter this year trained by Hall of Fame and six-time Kentucky Derby trainer Bob Baffert. This one-time $1,000 yearling won the Robert B. Lewis (G3) stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 30 in a gutsy performance defeating third-place finisher and Kentucky Derby foe Hot Rod Charlie by a neck. He was then second in the San Felipe (G2) to Baffert super star Life is Good—who was sidelined with a minor injury—be- fore finishing second as the favorite to Kentucky Derby entrant Rock Your World in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his last race. Ironically, Florida-bred Silver Charm took the same pattern into the 1997 Kentucky Derby (2nd in both San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby) and gave Baffert his first win in the Run for the Roses. A Baffert horse at 15-1 deserves wagering consideration. Florida-bred Medina Spirit #9 Hot Rod Charlie, 8-1 Will try to give trainer Doug O’Neill his third Kentucky Derby victory from just six starters after saddling winners I’ll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016. Hot Rod Charlie won the Louisiana Derby (G2) while leading from gate to wire showing he has the speed to position himself well early in the crowded Kentucky Derby. He was also third in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita won by Derby foe Medina Spirit on Jan. 30 but it was a tena- cious effort as he lost only by a neck. He was also second to Essential Quality in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in November, so he has shown to be on par with the Derby favorite. Hot Rod Charlie Trained#10 Midnight by Hall of Fame Bourbon, trainer Steve 20-1Asmussen and comes into the Kentucky Derby after finishing second to Hot Rod Charlie in the Louisiana Derby (G2). The most consistent performer in all three Derby prep races in Louisiana having won the Lecomte (G3) on Jan. 16 and finishing second to Derby rival Mandaloun in the Risen Star on Feb. 13 before the La. Derby second. Never worse than third in seven career races but the Lecomte is his only victory in stakes company. Sire Tiznow won the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice, once at Churchill, so he should like the distance. Continued on next page Midnight Bourbon Kentucky Derby Comments By Brock Sheridan Photos by Coady #11 Dynamic One, 20-1 Caught at the wire by longshot and fellow Kentucky Derby-contender Bourbonic in the Resorts World Casino Wood Memorial (G2) in his last race on April 3. One of four Kentucky Derby entrants trained by two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher and he has looked good in morning works. The Wood was also his first start after winning his first career race in his fourth try so experience is a question. However, his sire, Union Rags, won the Belmont so he should like the distance despite being caught late in the Wood. Dynamic One #12 Helium, 50-1 The lightly-raced winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), which he won after a five-month layoff. He is undefeated in three starts and would have had more, but the pandemic canceled racing at his base at Woodbine last year—hence the long layoff. He has looked good in morning works at Churchill from the barn of lifetime Ocala resident Mark Casse, who has expressed high level of confidence in this horse since the Tampa Bay victory. He’s had a long time between Tampa Bay Derby win on March 6 and the Kentucky Derby, but his last race showed he can perform well when fresh. Speed figures don’t measure up, but Casse notes five-wide trip off long layoff in Tampa Bay Derby off-sets those marginal numbers. Helium #13 Hidden Stash, 50-1 Was a well beaten fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in his last race on April 3 and second to Helium in the Tampa Bay Derby. Has never won a stakes-race but does have a victory at Churchill Downs, win- ning a first level optional claiming allowance there in his last start as a juvenile in November. His best races have been well below the standards of this Kentucky Derby field and will be a big surprise if he gets close. Hidden Stash #14, Essential Quality 2-1 He is undefeated in five starts and is the morning line favorite at 2-1. He was pushed hard by Derby con- tender Highly Motivated in winning the Toyota Blue Grass (G2), so wondering if that effort may have taken a bit of the polish off.