The Top 10 Contenders List (6 through 10) as of April 18th 2011

Here is our list of the top contenders 6 -10

To Honor and Serve – He certainly has not been living up to expectations as a three year old. He was one of the most talked about horses as a two year old, taking both the G2 Remsen and G2 Nashua Stakes in impressive fashion. He most recently finished a lackluster third in the Florida Derby to Dialed In, beaten 6 ¾ lengths. He is still very talented and if he can round back into form by the time the Kentucky Derby rolls around, he might have a shot.

Jaycito – He is a Grade 1 winner of the Del Mar Futurity last year but was outrun in the G2 San Felipe by Premier Pegasus, who is now off the Derby trail. He was expected to start in the Santa Anita Derby but was sidelined due to a foot problem. He will now make his next start in the G2 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. He will have the advantage of running over a synthetic surface, just as he did in winning the Del Mar Futurity, but even if he wins, he will be a bit of a mystery going to Louisville since he will have to transition to natural dirt.

Shackleford – He ran the race of his life in the Florida Derby, and he is still not that high on many Derby lists, presumably because he was such a long shot in that race, that many are not convinced he can repeat it. But seeing is believing, and he hung tough with Dialed In, beaten by a narrow margin. Given how much he improved in his last race, for all we know he may be on an upward curve that hasn’t reached its peak yet, and might be even better in the Derby at Churchill Downs.

Animal Kingdom – He won the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes on March 26th drawing away by two lengths. One drawback to him is that he has never tried the regular dirt. He has raced on synthetic surfaces and the turf, which as anyone who has followed racing knows, is very different than the surface he will encounter at Churchill Downs, where he will make his next start. Still, he seemed to be striding nicely toward the finish and he should be able to get the 1-¼ mile distance.

Sway Away - Many have given up on him after his poor showing in the G2 Rebel to The Factor who dominated that race. But don’t forget, in their prior meeting in the 7-furlong San Vicente stakes at Santa Anita, Sway Away closed four lengths on The Factor in the final 1/8 of a mile, and was a close second choice to him in the Rebel. He did steady into the first turn which may have cost him a few lengths and after adjusting for that trouble, he might’ve been right there with the second and third place finishers. We think he still has a lot of talent and he hopes to redeem himself.