This year’s Kentucky Derby looks like another good handicapping challenge. I’ve watched all of the prep-races and have narrowed the field down to my top selections. Todd Pletcher has 3 and Brad Cox has 4 entries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other trainers that have horses with over 100 Derby prep points are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will be Ramone Vazquez’s 2nd appearance in the Derby riding Practical Move. Tim Yakteen also has Reincarnate ridden by John Velazquez who has 3 previous Derby victories. Out of these three groups my top 4 horses would be: Forte, Tapit Trice, Angel of Empire, and Practical Move. I would also consider using horses in exotic wagers with Derby experienced jockeys: Kingsbarns, Reincarnate, Verifying, Mage, and Disarm. It would be a great story if Jareth Loveberry wins in his first Derby riding Two Phil’s, but I think that might be too much to ask. The other wildcard in the race is the horse from Japan, Derma Sotogake. Jockey Lemaire returns for the second year in a row after piloting Japan\u2019s Crown Pride to a 13th-place finish in 2022. I expect that he will improve his finishing position this time around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n