Horses, storylines to watch ahead of the 148th Kentucky Derby

At this point, the 3-year-olds preparing to race in the 148^th Kentucky Derby on May 7 seem to be talented and evenly matched. There will not be an overwhelming favorite when the gates open. Although none have yet proven to be fast enough to draw comparisons to some of the best to win the Derby, there’s definitely some potential.

What does stick out is some of the individual storylines to all the connections that make this Derby highly interesting. For instance:

• Steve Asmussen is the best active trainer to have never won the Derby. This could finally be the year for the Hall of Famer as he trains the probable favorite, Epicenter.

• Tiaba could accomplish the unthinkable, winning the Derby in only his third lifetime race.

• Saffie Joseph, he of the bushy ponytail and Barbadian accent, could establish himself as one of the best trainers in the country.

• The Japanese have started to make a big impact on racing worldwide. Winning the Derby is next on the list and Crown Pride is this year’s contender.

• Chad Brown could finally shed the label of being just a trainer of excellent grass horses.

• Gun Runner, a former horse of the year but a Derby also ran, could establish himself as one of the best sires in the world with three of his offspring scheduled to run.

• Trainer Bob Baffert, winner of six Kentucky Derbies, is suspended so he’s not involved. It’s like the NBA without LeBron James.

There’s all that and more but first, FrontPageBets looks at the leading contenders.

Epicenter

This is the Asmussen trainee who should be the favorite because he’s won four of his six starts and was impressive in winning the Louisiana Derby. In Louisiana he showed the type of style -- not scrambling to get an early lead yet not too far back -- that will help him in the Derby. His speed figure is among the best, too.

Taiba

There’s a lot going on here. He’s only raced twice and won both impressively with excellent speed figures. His owner insisted on running in the Santa Anita Derby even though his trainer, Tim Yakeen, advised against it. Maybe it’s because he paid $1.7 million for this son of Gun Runner.

He was previously trained by Baffert but Yakeen took over because Baffert is banned from racing at Churchill Downs and was also suspended by Kentucky racing officials. That suspension is being honored nationwide so Yakeen, a former assistant trainer for Baffert based in Southern California, finds himself in a spot he’s never been before ... the Triple Crown spotlight.

The owner, Amr Zedan, also owned last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit who was disqualified after the horse tested positive for a substance that’s banned on race day that resulted in Baffert’s suspension.

You might also keep in mind that five of the last 10 Kentucky Derby winners raced in the Santa Anita Derby.  

White Abarrio

Trained by Joseph, who has become one of the best trainers in Florida but is now looking to make a national impact. Abarrio has won four of five starts including the Florida Derby.

His speed figures are lacking and gamblers have tended to overlook him. If you like him, you’ll get a good price.

Cyberknife

He seemed to have found himself in his last two races including an impressive-looking victory in the Arkansas Derby. In Arkansas, he showed an eye-catching spurt that carried him to a lead he never relinquished. Despite the pleasing visual, his speed figure wasn’t as fast as some of the other contenders.

Zandon

Trainer Chad Brown has been speaking highly of this colt for a while. The horse rewarded him by rallying from last to win the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland with a decent speed figure. That was his first victory in a stakes race. Keep in mind his rallying style could easily be comprised in the 20-horse Derby field.

Mo Donegal

His victory in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct looked a lot like Zendon’s in the Blue Grass. The two are seemingly equals as Mo got the better of Zendon by a nose in last year’s Remsen Stakes.

Mo Donegal finished third in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream and that has proved to be a key race. The winners of the Florida Derby (White Abarrio), Fountain of Youth (Simplification) and Jeff Ruby Steaks (Tiz the Bomb), and the Wood competed that day.

Others to watch

One can’t overlook some horses that did not fare well in the most recent preps.

Morello was the betting favorite in the Wood but hit the starting gate as he moved sideways when the door opened. He was never involved but he's capable of reversing that form if he gets out of the gate smoothly in Kentucky.

Smile Happy was the favorite in the Blue Grass but finished second. He was also second to Epicenter in the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Trainer Ken McPeek said the horse was not 100% ready, adding that he wanted a fresh horse for the Derby and the Preakness. 

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