1. Sovereignty
Owner/Trainer: Godolphin/Bill Mott
Into Mischief —Crowned by Bernardini
Breeder: Godolphin (KY)
As promising as his future appears to be—this late-running colt rolled in the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense Stakes (G3) Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs over a field that included recent Southwest Stakes (G3) runner-up Sandman—his placement here is tenuous owing to the absence of a regular breeze schedule. After ending his 2-year-old season earlier than his counterparts, he has recorded just two published workouts at Payson Park as of Jan. 27, one on Dec. 24 and another on Jan. 15, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. If he can get into more of a steady workout routine, it will raise the confidence level. Alternatively, he could dip or fall from these rankings altogether without increased activity.
Watch: King Reviews Southwest, Previews Holy Bull, Lewis
2. Barnes
Owner/Trainer: Zedan Racing Stables/Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Into Mischief—All American Dream, by American Pharoah
Breeder: Jeff Drown and Don Rachel (KY)
In contrast to Sovereignty, he has twice worked about a week apart since winning his last race in the Jan. 4 San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, first with a solo half-mile there Jan. 20 in :48 3/5 and then a joint move in the same time with last-out maiden winner March of Time. The latter stayed just in front of him through the work and on the gallop-out, even with the Barnes' rider giving him a little encouragement after the wire. That breeze can be viewed on XBTV after a signup. A $3.2 million purchase and perfect in two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Barnes is loaded with ability, but he has yet to race beyond seven furlongs.
3. East Avenue
Owner/Trainer: Godolphin/Brendan Walsh
Medaglia d'Oro —Dance Music, by Ghostzapper
Breeder: Godolphin (KY)
Asked about this colt over the weekend, trainer Brendan Walsh seemed encouraged by how he has been training. Forced out of his front-running game after stumbling at the start in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, he gets an excuse for running a non-threatening ninth as the favorite. Observers know from his earlier form from 2024, when he won a maiden race at Ellis Park and the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, that he is a high-class prospect. Pointed to the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
4. Citizen Bull
Owner/Trainer: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Bob Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert
Into Mischief—No Joke, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Robert and Lawana Low (KY)
The champion 2-year-old male of 2024, when he won the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, kicks off his 3-year-old campaign Feb. 1 in the 1 1/16-mile Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita. With just five entrants, one of which, Valentine's Candy, appears badly outclassed, the race doesn't have depth bettors like to see, but all three of the Baffert trainees do appear of high quality. Stablemates Madaket Road and fellow Derby Dozen 3-year-old Rodriguez compete, as does the speedy graded stakes winner Clock Tower.
5. Chancer McPatrick
Flanagan Racing/Chad Brown
McKinzie —Bernadreamy, by Bernardini
Breeder: Rigney Racing (KY)
Post-Breeders' Cup surgery delayed a resumption of training, but he is back breezing, notching an easy three-furlong move in :39 at Payson Park Jan. 26. Trainer Chad Brown figures to amp up the colt's training in the coming weeks as he zeros in on giving the 2024 Champagne Stakes (G1) and Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner two preps before the Derby. Should all go well, the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and April 5 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland would be in his future as he looks to rebound from a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
6. Disco Time
Owner/Trainer: Juddmonte/Brad Cox
Not This Time —Dixie Chick, by Jump Start
Breeder: Juddmonte (KY)
To look simply at the clock after his victory in the Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds and see him timed in 1:47.07 would not do him justice. He had every right to lose when he was shuffled back and fanned wide nearing the stretch, yet he found a way to win in the slop. "I'm very pleased with the horse," jockey Florent Geroux said after Disco Time improved to 3-for-3. "I feel like I gave some ground to the runner-up (Built) who had a little bit of a better trip than mine, but my horse was able to overcome it. He proved he was the best horse today."
7. Journalism
Owner/Trainer: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, and Bob LaPenta/Michael McCarthy
Curlin —Mopotism, by Uncle Mo
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation (KY)
After falling off the work tab after reportedly getting sick, the 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner breezed Jan. 23 with a half-mile in 49 4/5 at Santa Anita. Working comfortably, he appeared responsive to his rider when asked to quicken a touch over the final furlong. Like most progeny of Curlin, he is at his best over a route. The Michael McCarthy trainee is now 2-for-2 since being stretched out since a debut third when sprinting. Co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners lists the March 1 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita as this colt's probable next start.
8. Sandman
Owner/Trainer: D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables/Mark Casse
Tapit —Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor
Breeder: Lothenbach Stables (KY)
Though this $1.2 million 2-year-old-in-training purchase lost the Jan. 25 Southwest Stakes, he is the 3-year-old who opened the most eyes with his performance. Breaking poorly and spotting the field multiple lengths, the Tapit colt recovered to threaten and finished second with a wide trip, beaten a length by frontrunning Speed King. A couple hours after the race, Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse posted a picture on X of Sandman's awkward exit from the starting gate and noted he is "extremely proud of him and excited about his future." He is not alone.
9. Coal Battle
Owner/Trainer: Norman Stables/Lonnie Briley
Coal Front—Wolfblade by Midshipman
Breeder: Hume Wornall and Jay Adcock (KY)
Already well regarded in his space, he was flattered when Speed King, whom he had beaten in the Remington Springboard Mile, handled a quality field in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. Throw in that Coal Battle subsequently won the Jan. 4 Smarty Jones Stakes and is 4-for-4 on dirt, and there is much to like about this hard-trying 3-year-old. Two post-Smarty Jones works appear to leave him on target for the Feb. 22 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn.
10. Speed King
Owner/Trainer: Triton Thoroughbred/Ron Moquett
Volatile —Athenian Beauty, by Corinthian
Breeder: Nancy C. Shuford (KY)
He cracks the Dozen after leading throughout in the $1 million Southwest Stakes. He had his way up top through the first turn, with favorites Patch Adams and Gaming nowhere near the lead after early trouble, but after that stage, American Promise turned up the heat and made him work. They opened up on those in pursuit, and while American Promise weakened from this exertion, Speed King kept going and had plenty left past the wire with a spirited gallop-out. Still, several Southwest rivals experienced troubled trips behind him, notably Sandman.
11. Rodriguez
Owner/Trainer: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Bob Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Bob Baffert
Authentic —Cayala, by Cherokee Run
Breeder: Kingswood Farm and David Egan (KY)
In turning heads in his maiden win, he zipped to the lead from his inside post and left the opposition seven lengths behind to complete a mile in 1:35.91 after putting away his pace pressure. Entered in Saturday's Robert B. Lewis, this time he is drawn in the middle of the five-horse field, with his frontrunning Breeders' Cup Juvenile-winning stablemate to his inside and the quick Clock Tower to his outside. Absent scratches, the Robert B. Lewis should provide a good barometer on his merits from both a pace and class standpoint.
12. Grande
Owner/Trainer: Repole Stable/Todd Pletcher
Curlin—Journey Home by War Front
Breeder: KatieRich Farms (KY)
There was plenty to like about that Jan. 11 debut victory at Gulfstream Park—overcoming a slow start and throwing down a very quick backstretch fraction going a mile —but he dips in the rankings due to inexperience and playing catchup with others from a seasoning perspective. He also has not breezed since his maiden win, which is not necessarily a surprise given how hard he ran in his unveiling. A two-turn, 1 1/16-mile race would seem logical as a next step for a colt with a very high ceiling.
