Tapwrit joins Scully’s Kentucky Derby top 10

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is charging forward and James Scully is fired up with his Kentucky Derby Report. Scully breaks down the action each week before listing his top 20 for the Kentucky Derby.

We’re paring it down even more, taking the top 10 from Scully’s Report and throwing in tidbits from notes and/or connections’ quotes when available.

This week’s top 10 hasn’t changed much from the February 22 Report. McCraken, Irish War Cry, El Areeb and American Anthem have all retained their spots.

Iliad, on the other hand, has joined the top five en route to the March 11 San Felipe (G2). The bay ridgling romped by 3 1/2 lengths in his sophomore debut in the San Vicente (G2) on February 12.

Mo Town dropped out of the top 10 following a dismal fifth-placing in the Risen Star (G2) to open his three-year-old campaign. That left room for Tapwrit to advance, and the Sam F. Davis (G3) runner-up now sits in 10th.

1. MCCRAKEN – Minor ankle injury will force him to bypass Tampa Bay Derby, how long it takes him to return to worktab is key
   1. Sire – Ghostzapper
   2. Trainer – Ian Wilkes
   3. Race Record – 4-4-0-0
   4. :48.90 breezing 4f at Palm Meadows Training Center on 2/27/2017
   5. Wilkes told Thoroughbred Daily News – “He’s got a slight strain in his ankle. He X-rayed clean, but I don’t want to come back and work him next week (ahead of the Tampa Bay Derby). I would rather skip that race and take care of the horse.”

2. IRISH WAR CRY – Holy Bull winner puts perfect record on line in Saturday’s Fountain of Youth
   1. Sire – Curlin
   2. Trainer – Graham Motion
   3. Race Record – 3-3-0-0
   4. 1:01.65 breezing 5f at Palm Meadows Training Center on 2/25/2017
   5. Motion – “He is a really good workhorse, but I do think he can be a little lazy when he clears another horse like that. I always work him in company. I don’t think I’ve ever worked him on his own before. That would be a novelty, if I had to.”

3. EL AREEB – Towers over nine rivals in Saturday’s Gotham
   1. Sire – Exchange Rate
   2. Trainer – Cathal Lynch
   3. Race Record – 6-4-1-0
   4. 1:00.80 breezing 5f at Laurel Park on 2/26/2017
   5. Lynch – “The horse is going to take us there, we're not going to take the horse to the (Kentucky) Derby. We're not going to force anything. If it happens, we'll be delighted to go. We're not going to put any more pressure on the horse, he's carrying enough weight already.”

4. AMERICAN ANTHEM – Baffert has tabbed Sham (G3) runner-up for March 18 Rebel
   1. Sire – Bodemeister
   2. Trainer – Bob Baffert
   3. Race Record – 2-1-1-0
   4. :58.80 handily 5f at Santa Anita Park on 2/26/2017

5. ILIAD – Convincing San Vicente winner to stretch out in March 11 San Felipe
   1. Sire – Ghostzapper
   2. Trainer – Doug O’Neill
   3. Race Record – 3-2-0-0
   4. :50.20 handily 4f at Santa Anita Park on 2/24/2017
   5. O’Neill – “He’s a really nice horse, he has a lot of class.”

6. MASTERY – Unbeaten 2yo G1 winner readying for San Felipe return
   1. Sire – Candy Ride
   2. Trainer – Bob Baffert
   3. Race Record – 3-3-0-0
   4. 1:15 handily 6f at Santa Anita Park on 2/27/2017

7. CLASSIC EMPIRE – May have him too low but will feel better about his chances when he posts first workout since January
   1. Sire – Pioneerof the Nile
   2. Trainer – Mark Casse
   3. Race Record – 6-4-0-1
   4. 1:03.90 breezing 5f at Palm Meadows Training Center on 1/28/2017

8. GORMLEY – 2yo G1 winner rebounded from disappointing BC Juvenile effort with game Sham score
   1. Sire – Malibu Moon
   2. Trainer – John Shirreffs
   3. Race Record – 4-3-0-0
   4. 1:11.00 handily 6f at Santa Anita Park on 2/27/2017
   5. Jockey Victor Espinoza – “He does things so easy; you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

9. PRACTICAL JOKE – Returns in Fountain of Youth and Chad Brown is looking to play a serious role in Triple Crown
   1. Sire – Into Mischief
   2. Trainer – Chad Brown
   3. Race Record – 4-3-0-1
   4. :48.00 breezing 4f at Palm Meadows Training Center on 2/26/2017
   5. Brown – “He has done really well with the time off. We just backed off him a little bit and let him grow up some. He was always an outstanding looking horse, but he has gotten bigger and stronger. I’m so impressed with him. His works have been great. He’s really enjoying being down here.”

10. TAPWRIT – Exits runner-up in Sam F. Davis and Tapit colt appears to be coming on for Pletcher
    1. Sire – Tapit
    2. Trainer – Todd Pletcher
    3. Race Record – 4-2-1-0
    4. :47.80 breezing 4f at Palm Beach Downs on 2/25/2017
    5. Pletcher – “He’s improving all the time.”

Tapwrit photo courtesy of Leslie Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography