Top Ten Derby Horses Vary

B-H Writer Haskin, Associated Press, Agree on War Pass and Pyro

© BarbaraAnne Helberg

Mar 12, 2008

With the first Saturday in May two months away, the Kentucky Derby lineup is yet to be determined, but it is clear that various Thoroughbred writers agree on War Pass and Pyro as the looming 1-2 punch set to battle at Churchill Downs in the annual Run for the Roses. War Pass has performed like an unbeatable, and he gets the Derby No.1 nod from everyone even though there is a very short list of Juvenile champions who returned in their three-year-old seasons to win the Kentucky Derby, as did Street Sense in 2007.

There will be other worthy opponents for this powerful duo, of course, and there may be a surprise, or two, as is fitting for the luscious occasion. Many historic upsets have stirred the blood of onlookers at Churchill. Giacomo's 2005 triumph at 50-1 odds ranks as the biggest upset in recent years, and one of the greatest of all time.

Ratings for this year's crop of three-year-old prospects changes week to week as prep races are run for better, or for worse by the top contenders. Here's a peek at who made The Blood-Horse magazine's most recent Derby Dozen, as named by esteemed Thoroughbred writer Steve Haskin:

1. War Pass --- sire, Cherokee Run --- trainer, Nick Zito --- probable jockey --- Cornelio Velasquez
2. Pyro --- Pulpit --- Steve Asmussen --- Shaun Bridgmohan
3. Denis of Cork --- Harlan's Holiday --- David Carrol --- Robby Albarado
4. Colonel John --- Tiznow --- Eoin Harty --- Garrett Gomez
5. El Gato Malo --- El Corredor --- Craig Dollase --- David Flores
6. Court Vision --- Gulch --- Bill Mott --- Julien Leparoux
7. Tale of Ekati --- Tale of the Cat --- Barclay Tagg --- Eibar Coa (Edgar Prado ?)
8. Cool Coal Man --- Mineshaft --- Zito --- Kent Desormeaux
9. Elysium Fields --- El Prado --- Tagg --- (?)
10. Georgie Boy --- Tribal Rule --- Kathy Walsh --- (Rafael Bejarano ?)
11. Fierce Wind --- Dixie Union --- Zito --- (Velasquez ?)
12. Blackberry Road --- Gone West --- Carrol --- (?)

Associated Press writers like the Top Ten this way:

1. War Pass
2. Pyro
3. Majestic Warrior --- A.P. Indy --- Mott --- Gomez?
4. Tale of Ekati
5. Cool Coal Man
6. Colonel John
7. Denis of Cork
8. El Gato Malo
9. Court Vision
10. Georgie Boy

Circumstances and performances will likey continue to shake things up in the Derby predictions in the next two months. As the Run for the Roses draws nearer, which choices will hold up?

Print Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds