The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Forbidden Kingdom and Messier top two in Derby Super Six
Got Derby fever yet?
I guarantee there are lots of owners and trainers who are checking their temperatures this morning, wondering if their excitement is warranted or if they’re just dreaming.
I’ve seen two colts this year that have impressed me, and they’re both based locally. Before you accuse me of a West Coast bias, however, name two 3-year-olds who have been more imposing than Messier and Forbidden Kingdom.
Messier, who not only dominated his foes in the Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 6 but did so in recordsetting fashion, is currently No. 1 in my Kentucky Derby Super Six.
Forbidden Kingdom sets the type of fractions that concern trainers, but instead of fading in the stretch, he just keeps running. The only question mark is if he can go a mile and a quarter, but isn’t that an issue all the Derby hopefuls face at this point?
As we approach the final major Kentucky Derby preps — the Louisiana Derby (March 26), Florida Derby (April 2), Arkansas Derby (April 2), Santa Anita Derby (April 9), Wood Memorial (April 9) and Blue Grass Stakes (April 9) – it’s time to break out our second installment of the Derby Super Six.
1. MESSIER » Trainer Bob Baffert, whose horses still are unable to earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points and will need favorable rulings in the courts to saddle a horse in this year’s race, confirmed recently that he’s pointing the son of Empire Maker to the Santa Anita Derby, thus setting up a showdown versus Forbidden Kingdom in the $750,000 Grade I race.
Perhaps more impressive than Messier’s 15-length margin of victory in the Robert B. Lewis was his time of 1:42.89 over a deep track that’s been yielding anything but speedy clockings this meet.
“That (final time) was a pretty serious time,” Baffert said. “When they go 42 (seconds) and change, that’s a really good one.”
2. FORBIDDEN KINGDOM » The question mark hovering over the American Pharoah colt before the Grade II San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 5 was whether he could go two turns. He passed that test with flying colors, winning by 5 ¾ lengths and running the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.98 after setting the pace with blazing fractions of 22.66, 45.90 and 1:10.46.
“I was a little nervous when I saw the 45 (seconds) on the board for the first half,” trainer Richard Mandella said afterward. “He just did what he likes to do.”
After the heartbreak of 2019 when Mandella and his late owner, Rick Porter, saw morning-line favorite Omaha Beach scratched only three days before the Derby, Mandella might get another shot with the talented Forbidden Kingdom.
3. MO DONEGAL » The son of Uncle Mo is headed to Aqueduct for the Wood Memorial after scratching out of the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park because of a temperature.
Mo Donegal finished a fast-closing third in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, his only start of the year to date, and figures to improve off that effort for trainer Todd Pletcher.
His only drawback? The Wood has not produced a Derby winner since Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000.
4. SMILE HAPPY » The son of Runhappy finished a troubled second behind Epicenter in the Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orelans in his 2022 debut. He’ll go next in either the Florida Derby or Blue Grass.
He’s already displayed a fondness for what can be a tricky main track at Churchill Downs, winning the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at the Twin Spires on Nov. 27.
5. SECRET OATH » Let’s drop the filly in here, just for fun. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has started four fillies in the Kentucky Derby, winning with Winning Colors in 1988, and he’s going to send out this daughter of Arrogate against the boys in the Arkansas Derby.
If she wins, or maybe with just a strong showing, she might head to Churchill Downs and take on the colts in the Derby on May 7.
“Her numbers suggest she won’t embarrass in the Arkansas Derby by any means,” Lukas told the Bloodhorse.
6. WHITE ABARRIO » The son of Race Day has won three of four, including a victory over Simplification and Mo Donegal in the Holy Bull.
The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained colt is scheduled use the Florida Derby as his final Derby prep.