Kentucky Derby BRIS Speed Rating Report March 7: Gunnevera, J Boys Echo earn big numbers as favorites tumble

It was a tough weekend for favorites, with Irish War Cry and El Areeb relinquishing their status as top Kentucky Derby contenders via flops in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Gotham (G3), respectively. Gunnevera and J Boys Echo emerged from the carnage with smashing wins that netted commendable BRIS Speed ratings.

J Boys Echo received a 104 BRIS Speed figure in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham, the top number from a Road to the Kentucky Derby series race in 2017. Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Robby Albarado, the Mineshaft colt parlayed a perfect trip into a 3 ½-length victory on the Aqueduct inner track.

His BRIS Speed ratings have risen significantly since a maiden tally last October (79-84-93-104) but some class concerns remain for J Boys Echo. He will look to back up his Gotham performance in the final prep, most likely the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland on April 8.

Cloud Computing registered a 100 BRIS Speed rating finishing a clear second. He is up against it being an unraced juvenile, making only his second career attempt in the Gotham, but is eligible to keep developing for Chad Brown.

El Areeb earned a 91 figure finishing 11 lengths behind the winner as the 2-5 favorite. He was through by upper stretch but managed to save third due to the weak competition, and it’s difficult for me to envision him rebounding off the clunker.

Gunnevera was visually impressive defeating a well-regarded group of rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, rallying last-to-first under leading rider Javier Castellano to score going away by 5 ¾ lengths, and recorded a career-best 102 BRIS Speed rating.

A dual graded winner at age 2, the chestnut son of Dialed In has displayed fine progress at age 3 for conditioner Antonio Sano, opening 2017 with a troubled second in the February 4 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream. Gunnevera will try to keep moving forward in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on April 1.

Practical Joke loomed a threat while advancing into contention on the far turn but lacked the necessary finishing kick in a runner-up effort, winding up a half-length better than pacesetter Three Rules. Unraced since a third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), the multiple Grade 1 winner earned only a 95 BRIS Speed rating and must show more next time to establish himself as a viable win threat at Churchill Downs.

Irish War Cry appeared a little rank chasing the pace as the even-money choice and threw in the towel by the far turn, weakening to seventh, 21 ¾ lengths back. The Holy Bull winner received only a 76 Speed rating and, historically, Kentucky Derby winners never perform this badly in the next-to-last prep race.

Here are the top BRIS Speed ratings from Kentucky Derby qualifying races this year (90 or above, top four finish required):

Horse		Race (finish position)		BRIS Speed
J BOYS ECHO		Gotham (1st)		104
GORMLEY		Sham (1st)		102
GUNNEVERA		Fountain of Youth (1st)		102
IRISH WAR CRY		Holy Bull (1st)		102
AMERICAN ANTHEM		Sham (2nd)		102
ONE LINER		Southwest (1st)		101
CLOUD COMPUTING		Gotham (2nd)		100
EL AREEB		Jerome (1st)		100
EL AREEB		Withers (1st)		99
MCCRAKEN		Sam Davis (1st)		99
GIRVIN		Risen Star (1st)		98
UNCONTESTED		Smarty Jones (1st)		97
GUNNEVERA		Holy Bull (2nd)		97
PETROV		Southwest (2nd)		97
TAPWRIT		Sam Davis (2nd)		97
UNTRAPPED		Risen Star (2nd)		96
STATE OF HONOR		Sam Davis (3rd)		96
ROYAL MO		Robert Lewis (1st)		95
PRACTICAL JOKE		Fountain of Youth (2nd)		95
THREE RULES		Fountain of Youth (3rd)		95
WILD SHOT		Sam Davis (4th)		95
TRUE TIMBER		Withers (2nd)		94
GUEST SUITE		Lecomte (1st)		93
J BOYS ECHO		Withers (3rd)		93
LOCAL HERO		Risen Star (3rd)		93
GUEST SUITE		Risen Star (4th)		93
CLASSIC EMPIRE		Holy Bull (3rd)		92
IRAP		Robert Lewis (2nd)		91
PETROV		Smarty Jones (2nd)		91
UNTRAPPED		Lecomte (2nd)		91
EL AREEB		Gotham (3rd)		91
ACTION EVERYDAY		Gotham (4th)		91
ZAKAROFF		El Camino Real Derby (1st)		90
SHEER FLATTERY		Robert Lewis (3rd)		90