Cindy's Horse Racing Website Index



2003 Kentucky Derby Contenders

Updated: 02/11/2003

It is still very early in the season, but here is a first run through of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby on May 3rd. Added Edge, the Canadian Champion 2-year-old, has already fallen to the wayside due to an injury sustained in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. Toccet was thought to be out with bad ankles, but they are improving quicker than expected so he is back on the trail for now. This list will definitely change a lot over the next 3 months leading up to the Derby, so check back for the latest updates. For those horses who have dropped off this list due to injury or a change in plans, check here. The latest drop-outs are Vindication and Powerful Touch, both due to injury.

Triple Crown quick links:


Champali

Trainer:   Greg Foley
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   2-12-2000
Pedigree:   Glitterman - Radioactivity by Dixieland Band
Dosage Profile:   13-3-6-0-0
Dosage Index/CD:   6.33   1.32
2002 Record:   4 starts 3-0-0 $125,874
Note:  Winning all the Turfway preps for the Spiral Stakes and won the Iroquois at Churchill last year. Still needs to be tested against the top contenders.

Composure

Trainer:   Bob Baffert
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   4-22-2000 (filly)
Pedigree:   Touch Gold - Party Cited by Alleged
Dosage Profile:   6-3-12-0-1
Dosage Index/CD:   2.14   0.59   DUAL QUALIFIER
2002 Record:  6 starts 2-3-0 $431,300
Note:  Second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and winner of the Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita in her first start of 2003. Baffert said she was definitely headed to the Derby and not the Oaks.

Domestic Dispute

Trainer:   Bob Baffert
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   3-28-2000
Pedigree:   Unbridled's Song - Majestical Moment by Magesterial
Dosage Profile:   3-4-8-1-2
Dosage Index/CD:   1.57   0.28
2002 Record:  6 starts 1-2-1 $134,320
Note:  Winner of the Santa Catalina Stakes in January.

Empire Maker

Trainer:   Bobby Frankel
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   4-27-2000
Pedigree:   Unbridled - Toussaud by El Gran Senor
Dosage Profile:   10-7-13-0-6
Dosage Index/CD:   1.88   0.42
2002 Record:  2 starts 1-0-1 $49,600
Note:  Third in the Remsen, this highly touted colt was second in his 3-year-old debut in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

Indy Dancer

Trainer:   Todd Pletcher
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   1-26-2000
Pedigree:   A.P. Indy - Dance With Grace by Mr. Prospector
Dosage Profile:   14-5-19-0-0
Dosage Index/CD:   3.00   0.87
2002 Record:  1 start 1-0-0 $27,600
Note:  Undefeated colt has yet to take on stakes company.

Kafwain

Trainer:   Bob Baffert
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   2-24-2000
Pedigree:   Cherokee Run - Swazi's Moment by Moment of Hope
Dosage Profile:   2-1-3-0-0
Dosage Index/CD:   3.00   0.83   DUAL QUALIFIER
2002 Record:  8 starts 3-2-1 $535,848
Note:  Finished second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Del Mar Futurity. Impressive winner of the San Vicente at Santa Anita in his first start for 2003.

Lone Star Sky

Trainer:   Tom Amoss
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   1-21-2000
Pedigree:   Storm Cat-Beware of the Cat by Caveat
Dosage Profile:   12-6-10-0-0
Dosage Index/CD:   4.60   1.07
2002 Record:  5 starts 3-2-0 $338,235
Note:  Winner of the Bashford Manor and Cradle Stakes flopped in the Breeders' Cup. Fizzled in his first start this year at the Fair Grounds so may drop off the trail before long.

Man Among Men

Trainer:   Gary Mandella
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   1-22-2000
Pedigree:   Gentlemen - La Favorita by Nikos
Dosage Profile:   2-0-7-3-0
Dosage Index/CD:   0.85   0.08
2002 Record:  4 starts 2-0-0 $74,040
Note:  A turf winner at age 2, he upset the heavily favored Empire Maker in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

Offlee Wild

Trainer:   T.V. Smith
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   4-5-2000
Pedigree:   Wild Again - Alvear by Seattle Slew
Dosage Profile:   12-5-16-0-1
Dosage Index/CD:   2.78   0.79
2002 Record:  3 starts 1-1-0 $35,785
Note:  Upset winner of the Holy Bull Stakes has a nice pedigree for the Derby, but was he a fluke or not?

Peace Rules

Trainer:   Bobby Frankel
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   4-26-2000
Pedigree:   Jules - Hold to Fashion by Hold Your Peace
Dosage Profile:   9-6-6-0-1
Dosage Index/CD:   4.50   1.0
2002 Record:  6 starts 3-3-1 $209,990
Note:  Has two stakes wins on the grass, but can he make the switch to dirt?

Robledo

Trainer:   Vladimir Cerin
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   3-19-2000
Pedigree:   Robannier - El Fox by Grey Dawn II
Dosage Profile:   8-5-11-2-4
Dosage Index/CD:   1.61   0.37
2002 Record:   4 starts 2-0-0 $60,720
Note:  Came off a terrible Santa Catalina to win the Turf Paradise Derby over favored Siberland.

Saintly Look

Trainer:   Dallas Stewart
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   3-21-2000
Pedigree:   Saint Ballado - Sensational Eyes by Roman Majesty
Dosage Profile:   5-2-16-4-3
Dosage Index/CD:   1.00   0.07
2002 Record:  4 starts 2-1-0 $78,285
Note:  Winner of the Sugar Bowl Stakes stretched out to win the Lecompte Stakes at the Fair Grounds so should proceed along the trail for now. One of the best looking dosage profiles of all the contenders so far.

Scrimshaw

Trainer:   D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   4-2-2000
Pedigree:   Gulch - Rogue Girl by Sham
Dosage Profile:   11-4-10-1-0
Dosage Index/CD:   3.33   0.96
2002 Record:  2 starts 2-0-0 $56,400
Note:  Took a bit of a step back when third in the Santa Catalina, but should improve next out.

Senor Swinger

Trainer:   Mickey Goldfine
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   4-16-2000
Pedigree:   El Prado - Smooth Swinger by Kris S.
Dosage Profile:   2-5-16-5-0
Dosage Index/CD:   1.15   0.14
2002 Record:   1 start 1-0-0 $15,600
Note:  Ran a nice allowance race to dead heat with the highly regarded Ten Cents a Shine, remaining undefeated in two starts.

Sky Mesa

Trainer:   John Ward
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   1-21-2000
Pedigree:   Pulpit - Caress, by Storm Cat
Dosage Profile:   7-2-9-2-0
Dosage Index/CD:   2.08   0.70   DUAL QUALIFIER
2002 Record:  3 starts 3-0-0 $416,576
Note:  Undefeated colt would have been the Breeders' Cup favorite if he hadn't gotten injured just before the races. Already working in Florida for his 2003 debut.

Ten Cents a Shine

Trainer:   Ken McPeek
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   1-24-2000
Pedigree:   Devil His Due - Aunt Mottz by Honey Jay
Dosage Profile:   11-1-9-1-0
Dosage Index/CD:   3.00   1.0
2002 Record:  2 starts 1-1-0 $66,080
Note:  Came from last to almost win in the Kentucky Jockey Club, although running quite green. Came from behind to finish in a dead heat for the win in a 1 1/16 mile allowance at Gulfstream for his first start of 2002.

Toccet

Trainer:   John Scanlan
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   5-2-2000
Pedigree:   Awesome Again - Cozzene's Angel by Cozzene
Dosage Profile:   4-2-8-0-0
Dosage Index/CD:   2.50   0.71   DUAL QUALIFIER
2002 Record:   8 starts 6-0-1 $755,610
Note:   Was thought to be on the shelf due to ankle problems, but supposedly they are getting better quicker than expected so he is back on the trail. Is this real or just a case Derby Fever? If he is right, he is a one of the top prospects.

Trust N Luck

Trainer:   Ralph Ziadie
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   4-20-2000
Pedigree:   Montbrook - Bold Burst by Dahar
Dosage Profile:   2-2-11-0-1
Dosage Index/CD:   1.46   0.25
2002 Record:  8 starts 4-2-0 $382,800
Note:  Has done very well in the Florida Stallion Stakes series, but has to step up to open company now. Nice dosage profile.

Whywhywhy

Trainer:   Patrick Biancone
Jockey:  
Foaling Date:   3-13-2000
Pedigree:   Mr. Greeley - Thorough Fair by Quiet American
Dosage Profile:   10-6-8-0-0
Dosage Index/CD:   5.00   1.08
2002 Record:   5 starts 3-1-0 $284,060
Note:  Multiple stakes winner stunk it up at the Breeders' Cup. Pedigree and dosage both indicate he could have some trouble stretching out to classic distances.

All photos ©2003 Cindy Pierson Dulay.

Kentucky Derby Drop-outs - horses who have dropped off this list due to injury or other reasons

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