Zenyatta John's 2013 Kentucky Derby Dozen List #2

OK,

It's time for list #2. There is two additions from the previous list plus some shuffling to explain as well. We have had a few more races that affected the Derby Dozen including the Grade 1 Cash Call at Hollywood Park and a maiden 8 1/2  furlong turf race at Gulfstream Park which left a very strong impression on me.

It's good to see my early listed opinions were justified in the Cash Call. Violence ran as I expected while trying two turns for the first time. Straight and strong through the lane drawing away from another impressive performer Fury Kapcori. Meanwhile, my #8 Oxbow raced forwardly, wide, and endured a truly awful trip while still holding 4th at a generous 60/1.

On December 1st, Gulfstream Park had a full field of 2 year old maidens racing in the 2nd race. Turning for home a colt swung out into contention and absolutely exploded finding another gear blowing this field away. Most impressive was his gallop out. The jockey had so much horse, it looked like a teddy bear sitting on top off a freight train as he galloped out as powerfully as I've seen any two year old in recent memory going two turns and a distance of ground. While it was on grass, he has continued to work on dirt at Payson Park giving me the feeling that the distance and two turns was what he needed to show an effort like that, not the grass. It's kinda like Barbaro 2.0 - his name is Bold Dance.

Which leads me too - ZJ's 2013 Kentucky Derby Dozen - #2 ~

1. NORMANDY INVASION - remains in the top spot, has yet to return to the worktab, but a freshening was expected after just missing victory in The Remsen Stakes.

2. FRAC DADDY - Mr McPeek said he will try and get three starts into him while in Florida. He's back on track but hasn't recorded a workout since the Kentucky Jockey Club.

3. VIOLENCE - rises to #3 after a winning effort in the Cash Call while winning around two turns for the first time. Each race has gotten more professional.

4. BOLD DANCE - (new) - debuts at #4 and only that low because he won his race on the turf, might have been #2 if his race was on dirt. This son of Pulpit is a half brother to Horse of the Year Saint Liam so distance and dirt may only help his chances of showing his best efforts. You've been warned.

5. UNCAPTURED - falls slightly due to recent activity of some of the others.

6. OVERANALYZE - Mr Repole is feeding him sugar cubes right now.

7. DELHOMME - keeping Pletcher's other 30 Derby hopefuls company.

8. OXBOW - was impressed with his Cash Call, hopefully gets a break before cranking back up.

9. NORUMBEGA - early season distance winner retains hope of being a good one.

10. FURY KAPCORI - (new) - ran his heart out finishing 2nd in the Cash Call. Son of Tiznow should only get better with time to develop and addition of distance.

11. DEWEY SQUARE - is back to work already for Mr Romans, looking forward to his prep races.

12. POWER BROKER - need to see another good race as the BC Juvenile race he raced in his last was a terrible race for most involved, was the 3rd slowest in history.

The Bullpen has a few additions as well. Little Distorted drops off the list as he may have run the fastest race of the 2 year old season, he has yet to race beyond sprint distances. Goldencents drops off as well. Added to the bullpen as new horses are the Bob Baffert maiden breaker Flashpoint, Z Big Apple, and the highly unlikely Derby starter Mentor Cane. Sky Captain was expected to show a big race, but may have needed one in his return.

Bullpen - Little Distorted, Goldencents, Mentor Cane, Flashback, Z Big Apple, He's Had Enough, Palace Malice, Orb, Sky Lantern, Sky Captain, Long River, Purple Egg, Tesseron, Linchpin, and War Academy.

There you go. Questions? Comments? Let them fly.