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2005 Kentucky Derby Preview
1) Afleet Alex is the most consistent colt of the lot. He has now finished first or second in 8 or his 9 lifetime starts, with a lung infection causing his only poor effort, in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. While he is the most consistent, he is has the least pedigree power (Northern Afleet, out of a Hawkster mare) of these seven contenders on his side, including his east coast trainer, Tim Ritchey, who is far less know then the rest in this group. Don't give up on him just yet, Ritchey is a solid trainer and his colt will enter the Kentucky Derby off an 8-length win in the $1 million dollar Arkansas Derby and missed winning the Breeder's Cup Juvenile last November by less than a length!

2) Bandini has shown the ability to relax and rate off the leaders, which is an essential quality when racing at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, in his past two races. The last was a sensational 6-length victory in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. That race was full of possible Derby contenders, including High Limit, Sun King and Consolidator and Bandini has now won 3 of 5 career starts. He has already won twice at 1 1/8 miles and this son of Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr. Prosprector), is out of a Dixieland Band mare and will have no questions about getting the distance. New York based trainer Todd Pletcher paid a hefty $500,000 for this colt and has a true contender in his barn.

3) Bellamy Road shocked some of the public when he romped by 17-lengths in the Wood Memorial on April 9, but he won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park by 15-lengths in his previous start! In fact, he has now won 4 of 5 career starts, and has been a true stakes caliber animal since he began his career. After breaking his maiden in his debut while never being asked to run, he immediately won a stake in his next start. Sure, some may knock that performance since it was at River Downs in Ohio, but he defeated a quality field that day, including Scipion, a multiple stakes winner that has since won the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Distance won't be a problem for this son of Concerto (Chief's Crown) who's female side hails from the Vice Regent line through his Dam's father, Deputed Testamony. He'll be the likely Derby favorite as he'll head to Kentucky with a 120 Beyer speed figure under his belt and trainer Nick Zito in his corner.

4) Blues and Royals was purchased by the Godolphin racing stable for $400,000 at the Keeneland sale and immediately began his racing career in Great Britain, and then Dubai. That alone makes the Florida bred son of Honour and Glory (Relaunch) the least recognizable name to the public. Just like Bandini, he is also out of a Dixieland Band mare and bred to run all day. While I don't agree with his connections only racing him once as a 3-year-old before running in the Kentucky Derby, his only race of 2005 was extremely impressive. Returning from a 6-month layoff, he added blinkers and raced on a dirt surface for the first time in his short four race career, only to defeat a 12 horse Grade-2 field by a stunning 12-lengths! His pedigree suggests that he'll be better on the dirt then the turf, and that dirt debut may have proved it. While he may not be ready to win the Derby off of just one prep race, this colt will knock heads with the best of his generation.

5) Greeley's Galaxy has now won four consecutive races after capturing the Illinois Derby by 9-lengths while earning a Beyer speed figure of 106. This son of Mr. Greeley (Gone West), out of an Ascot Knight mare might have the best endurance pedigree of this group, and is peaking at just the right time as he's been prepping under the radar out at Santa Anita in California. He defeated solid fields while breaking his maiden and first allowance condition at Santa Anita. While the public may consider him a notch below the top Derby prospects, we really don't know how good he is since no horse has been within 3 1/2 -lengths of him since his debut!

6) High Fly has done just about everything asked of him to this point, including winning 5 of his 6 career races, but is considered trainer Nick Zito's "other" horse! This Kentucky bred son of Atticus (Nureyev) has never left the confines of the Florida circuit, but made his mark there, taking names while capturing the Aventura Stakes, the Fountain of Youth, and the Florida Derby. While he doesn't own some of those gaudy Beyer speed figures as some of his foes, he has also never earned less than a 94 Beyer speed figure in his six race career!

7) High Limit won his first three consecutive races in hand, but those victories came at lesser circuits such as Delaware Park. Before his third victory he was switched over to the barn of trainer Bobby Frankel and immediately went wire-to-wire while earning a 105 Beyer speed figure in route to capturing the Louisiana Derby. He lead every step of the way that day at the Fairgrounds, a track known for its extremely long stretch drive, which makes that performance even more interesting to industry insiders. He'll enter the Kentucky Derby off his first loss, in the Blue Grass, but you can be sure that trainer Bobby Frankel knew that was just a prep, with the Churchill Downs Winner's Circle being the real target.

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