By: T.R. Slyder, TRSlyder@yahoo.com
Bob Ross Steve Haskins is at it again. He ranks his top ten horses in an article published today. He has my boy Quality Road as third, which is understandable. For the neophytes, the first name (using #1 I Want Revenge as an example) is the horse's name, followed by his trainer- Jeff Mullins in this case. The next names probably won't mean much to you, but would to a big horse racing afficionado, it's the name of his sire (or dad), followed by his dam (i.e. mom), in this case it's Stephen Got Even and Meguial, respectively. The last horse listed, Roy here, is the horses' maternal grandfather.
Steve Haskin's Derby Dozen
Updated: April 7th
1.I Want Revenge Jeff Mullins; Stephen Got Even—Meguial, by Roy
Is there anything this horse can't do? His remarkable victory in the Wood had Aqueduct abuzz and stamped him as something special. His five-eighths come-home time in :59 4/5 and last eighth in :12 flat into a strong headwind was sensational, especially considering all the trouble he had and having to stop his run and alter course.
TR says: True enough But like I've always said- it's easier to beat horses that totally suck.
2. Pioneerof the Nile Bob Baffert; Empire Maker—Star of Goshen, by Lord At War
This winning machine just goes out there race after race and gets the job done even with having to run counterproductive to his best running style. He can adapt to any pace scenario and is so smooth and light on his feet he's a joy to watch. It would be a surprise if he didn't handle the dirt just as well or better, but he still has to go out and do it.
TR Says: I can't endorse this horse at the #2. He's talented, but he's only Haskins' #2 based on the assumption that he handles dirt very, very well (i.e. as well as he does synthetic). I'd rather base my second pic on a past record, than future optimism. We just don't know how he'll handle it. Great horses don't love every surface. Curlin lost on the grass last year. It can happen.
3. Quality Road Jimmy Jerkens; Elusive Quality—Kobla, by Strawberry Road
He makes up the Big 3 who for now will vie for favoritism in the Derby. He no doubt has the potential to be a superstar. Physically, he is an imposing specimen. The only thing separating him from the top two is that he's demonstrated only one running style, which is to be on or near the lead, but boy is he fast. He's dealing with a quarter crack issue that in itself shouldn't hamper him, but if it causes him to miss a work then he may have a problem.
TR Says: Can't fault Steve here. I still like this guy to win the Derby, but I can understand the logic behind others being more favored. I don't mind his early on-the-pace style, as very few Derby winners come from more than 4 lengths back from the leader at any time in the race. However, I'm not thrilled about the crack in his hoof.
4. Dunkirk Todd Pletcher; Unbridled’s Song—Secret Status, by A.P. Indy
Saturday was a big day for him, as the three stakes winners and two of the runners-up were already ahead of him on the earnings list. This keeps him at either No. 17 or 18. He needs similar results next week. The feeling here is that he'll get in and will be extremely dangerous. I'm still not crazy about the three starts, but he is so gifted he just may be able to overcome that, just as Big Brown did last year. Come to think of it, make that the Big 4.
5. Chocolate Candy Jerry Hollendorfer; Candy Ride—Crownette, by Seattle Slew
This is my Derby dark horse. I listed all the things he has going for him in various columns and how well the Santa Anita Derby shaped for him. It was a perfect prep, and with that race under him he should now be ready to peak on Derby Day. This definitely is a horse to watch.
TR Says: I haven't seen much of this horse. But when Steve says stuff like this, you should listen. It's not unlike when in the song Fatty Girl Ludacris says, "N*&ga, shut yo' ass up when you hear a pimp talk."
6.Friesan Fire Larry Jones, A.P. Indy—Bollinger, by Dehere
We know he's extremely talented, but he'll have to be an exceptional horse to win the Derby off a seven-week layoff and never having run farther than 1 1/16 miles. If he pulls it off, you can officially toss the history books.
TR Says: I haven't seen anyone rank this guy lower than third or fourth. Gutsy call by Steve, but he makes a very good point that no one else has made regarding his distance. A lot of columnists were awed by his talent and overlooked that.
7.Desert Party Saeed bin Suroor, Street Cry—Sage Cat, by Tabasco Cat
I still have to stick with him. There are major questions about him returning home after some four months in Dubai, but there are enough positives to take out of his UAE Derby defeat to suggest he could be a legitimate contender. He needs to get back here and start training at Churchill Downs. He'll also need a new jockey.
8.Old Fashioned Larry Jones, Unbridled’s Song—Collect Call, by Meadowlake
There is going to be plenty of pace pressure in the Arkansas Derby and he has to settle and relax off the pace and kick in down the stretch. He can certainly be excused for his last race, and he should be much tougher this time. With the Rebel under him, he is capable of anything on Saturday. He's tight and fit and there shouldn't be any excuses.
Did you notice that he's Dunkirk's half-brother? He was the Derby favorite a month or so ago, then got beaten by a longshot (who is the #9 horse on this list), and others have surpassed him for favoritism. He still has the same amount of talent, just threw in a clunker in his last race.
9.Win Willy McLean Robertson, Monarchos—City Fair, by Carson City
Right now, this is my longshot special. Unless the Rebel was a fluke, he is going to be a major factor in the Arkansas Derby, and it would come as no surprise if he runs another bang-up race. There's a lot to like about this colt, and if he does duplicate his effort in the Rebel, people better start taking him seriously.
You might be interested to know that his dad won the KY Derby in (I think) 2001. I was at that Derby. The most memorable part of that day for me was when I purchased my first pair of molester sunglasses in a KY gas station on the way to Churchill Downs. That really started it all for me.
10.Hold Me Back Bill Mott, Giant’s Causeway—Restraint, by Unbridled’s Song
If I had a No. 2 longshot special it would be him, despite his one bad race on dirt. He just was so visually impressive in the Lane's end Stakes the feeling here is that he's grown up physically and is a much better horse now. We won't know for sure about him regardless of what he does in the Blue Grass, but the unknown factor will keep his odds pretty high in the Derby.
He is technically, the uncle of Dunkirk. Although, I think Dunkirk must have over 100 uncles at this point, some of which are younger than him.
11.Musket Man Derek Ryan; Yonaguska--Fortuesque, by Fortunate Prospect
He's improving with every race, has won at four different tracks, and has now turned in back-to-back big efforts in graded stakes, both over surfaces that can get a little quirky. He's already defied his pedigree by winning impressively going 1 1/8 miles. He hasn't met horses of this quality, but anyone would love to have him in their barn.
That is some Haskins altruism at its finest. He doesn't tell you that the 3 of the 4 tracks are total dog tracks (Philadelphia Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Hawthorne) and his win at Belmont was a maiden race in October. That doesn't mean this horse stinks, but takes a bit of the luster off of his 4-track Tour of Awesomenss. 12.West Side Bernie Kelly Breen, Bernstein—Time Honored, by Gilded Time
He bounced back off his Lane's End debacle with a big second in the Wood Memorial against the Derby Future Wager favorite. A mile and a quarter against these horses is still a tall order, but he has the right running style and he's earned his chance to try.
Steve Haskins, ladies and gentleman. He'll be here up until the Derby. Don't forget to tip your waitress.
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