Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway’s Kentucky-bred Tapit Trice tops the field for the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Luis Saez, Tapit Trice is a winner of four straight heading into the Run for the Roses, including a dramatic win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and a hard-fought victory in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland last time out. Should he win the Derby, he will become the first Blue Grass winner to also annex the Derby since Strike the Gold in 1991. Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Tapit Trice was a $1.3 million Keeneland September Sale graduate.
Kentucky-bred Two Phil’s, winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks S. (G3) at Turfway Park in his most recent effort, is another leading contender. Trained by Larry Rivelli, Two Phil’s is owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC, Phillip Sagan, and Madaket Stables, and was bred in the Bluegrass by Sagan. A winner in four of eight lifetime starts, Two Phil’s, a son of Hard Spun, has banked $683,450.
Spendthrift Farm’s undefeated Kingsbarns is perfect in three lifetime starts, all of which have come this year at three. The son of Uncle Mo scored an impressive front-running victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his last start for Pletcher. An $800,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale graduate, Kingsbarns was bred in Kentucky by Parks Investment Group LLC.
Verifying just missed to Tapit Trice last time out in the Blue Grass Stakes, being denied by just a neck at the finish. Campaigned by Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor and trained by Brad Cox, Verifying is a son of Triple Crown winner Justify and the bay colt was a $775,000 Keeneland September Sale graduate.
Rounding out the Kentucky-bred contingent are Hit Show, Confidence Game, Reincarnate, Mage, Disarm, Jace’s Road, Sun Thunder, Raise Cain, Rocket Can, Cyclone Mischief, and King Russell.