The Road to the Kentucky Derby Points Update - April 26, 2016

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Kentucky Derby Points Update

OffTrackBetting.com - The Kentucky Derby is less than two weeks away - all of the preps have been completed and the top 20 are basically set for the most famous race on North American soil. But just like Cupid, there may be a potential entry that drops out of the Run for the Roses leaving one, maybe two of the next highest point getters on the Road to the Kentucky Derby drawing the start.

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With that in mind let's take a look at the top 20 point earners as it stands now and the probable field for the 2016 Kentucky Derby.

Gun Runner - 151 points | Steve Asmussen trained colt is currently listed at 15-1 odds. He has five career starts with four wins - two straight ahead of the Derby - last time out in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 26 and the Risen Star Stakes February 2 - both results at Fair Grounds. His only blemish came before those results - a fourth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November. Gun Runner hasn't been touched in his last two starts and seems to be peeking at just the right time.

Nyquist - 130 points | Eclipse Award for 2-year-old-male is currently the morning line favorite at 7-2. He won three Grade 1 races in 2015 - the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the FrontRunner at Santa Anita and the Del Mar Futurity to go along with the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes. Nyquist has two starts in 2016 and they produced two more very impressive wins - by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita February 15 and the Grade 1 Florida Derby April 2. He has now won all seven starts and will be the one to catch.

Exaggerator - 126 points | Keith Desormeaux trained colt has four wins, two runner-ups and a third place finish in eight career starts and is listed as the 8-1 morning line second choice right now. He won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 9 after an OK third behind Danzing Candy and Mor Spirit in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes March 12. He also had a runner-up finish behind undefeated Eclipse Champion Nyquist in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes February 15, a terrific win in the Grade 3 $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot November 21, a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, a respectable second in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October and a nice win in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in August.

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Outwork - 120 points | Todd Pletcher trained colt has four career starts with three wins and a second place finish - he is currently listed at 15-1 odds. Last time out was a great win in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 9 which followed a respectable second behind stablemate Destin in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 12.

Brody's Cause - 114 points | has three wins and a third place finish so far in five career starts and is 15-1 to win the Derby. Last time out was career best effort - a win in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 9 after a career worst effort - a seventh as favorite in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby March 12. He's also had a third as favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Nyquist and Swipe and a terrific win in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.

Creator - 110 points | Steve Asmussen trained colt has placed in seven of eight career starts - two wins, four seconds and a third place finish and is currently listed at 12-1. Last time out was a win in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 16 which followed a third in his stakes debut - the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes March 19 - both results at Oaklawn Park. Creator was mighty impressive last time out and is firmly on the radar.

Lani - 100 points | Japanese bred Mikio Matsunaga trained colt won the Group 2 UAE Derby at Meydan March 26 and is 30-1 to win the Run for the Roses. UAE Derby winners usually have a tough time in this race but off a career-defining win Lani could surprise.

Mor Spirit - 84 points | Bob Baffert trained Ringling has seven career starts with three wins and four second place finishes - consecutive seconds ahead of this - behind Exaggerator last time out in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 9 and behind Danzing Candy in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on that track March 12. He also posted terrific wins in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes February 6 and in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity and had a respectable second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs November 28.

Mohaymen - 80 points | Kiaran McLaughlin trained colt finished second in Eclipse Awards voting behind Nyquist for two year old males - he is listed at 10-1 odds at this point. He started his career with five straight wins including by an impressive 2 1/4 length in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes February 27, by 3 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes January 30 , the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes November 28 and the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes November 4 but didn't look great last time out when he finished fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby April 2- a bit of a concern ahead of this race. Mohaymen had been a favorite to win it all before his uncharacteristic effort last time out.

Danzing Candy - 60 points | Clifford Sise trained colt has three wins in five career starts and is currently 20-1 to win the Derby. He had a two length score over Mor Spirit among others in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, an impressive 5 3/4 length gate-to-wire Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track February 4 and a maiden score December 26. Danzing Candy recorded a career-worst effort last time out however - a fourth place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby April 9.

Destin - 51 points | has five career starts for Todd Pletcher with three wins and a second place finish and is currently 12-1 on the Derby line. He won the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby last time out March 12 and the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes February 13 by 2 1/4 lengths .He also posted a fourth in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds January 16. Destin has been good so far and on the heels of two straight graded stakes scores should be a confident entry.

Suddenbreakingnews - 50 points | Donnie Von Hemel trained gelding has placed in seven of eight career starts - three wins and four runner-up finishes - he is listed at 20-1. Last time out was a respectable second in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 16 which followed his only off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Rebel Stakes and a career-highlight win in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes February 15 - all three results at Oaklawn Park.

Oscar Nominated - 50 points | Michael Maker trained colt has three wins and two second place finishes in seven career starts and is 30-1 to win the Derby. He won the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park and also won the minor Black Gold Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds February 27.

Shagaf - 50 points | Chad Brown trained colt has four career starts and three wins. He currently sits at 30-1 odds to win the Kentucky Derby. He enters off a somewhat disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial April 9 however which followed a good win in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct March 5.

Whitmore - 44 points | Ron Moquett trained gelding has placed in five of six career starts - two wins, two seconds and a third place finish and is 30-1 right now to win the Derby. He will be looking for his first stakes win having finished third last time out in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby April 16, second in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes March 19 and second in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes February 15.

Tom's Ready - 44 points | Dallas Stewart trained colt has just one win in nine career starts to go along with four runner-up finishes - he is the longest shot in the field so far - 50-1. Last time out was a second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 26 after a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes February 20 and a second in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes in January - all at Fair Grounds.

My Man Sam - 40 points | Chad Brown trained colt has a win and two second place finishes in four career starts - he is 20-1 on the early-Derby line. He made his stakes debut last time out and finished second in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland April 9 - good enough to have him on the Derby starting grid.

Majesto - 40 points | Gustavo Delgado trained colt has placed in five of six career starts ahead of this weekend - a win, two seconds and two third place finishes. He is 30-1 right now. He made his graded stakes debut last time out and finished a respectable second behind Nyquist in the Grade 1 Florida Derby April 2.

Trojan Nation - 40 points | Peter Gallagher trained colt has yet to post victory in his career but does have a runner-up finish and three thirds place in six starts - he is the co-longest shot in the field at 50-1. He enters off a good second in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 9 - his only really big race to date.

Mo Tom - 32 points | Tom Amoss trained colt has three wins and three third place finishes in seven career starts and is 20-1 for the Kentucky Derby. He won the minor Street Sense Stakes in November and went to on to a good win in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Fair Grounds in January and a third in the Grade 2 Risen Start Stakes February 20 also on that track. Last time out was a bit of a step back however - a fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds March 26.

If there is one of the top 20 that drop out in the next couple of weeks there are three ready to take their place. They are as follows:

  • Fellowships 32 points
  • Adventist - 32 points
  • Laoban - 32 points