BloodHorse associate editor Byron King presents his latest Derby Dozen with a look at his leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 1.

Last Saturday, Candy Man Rocket and Risk Taking earned 10 qualifying points apiece toward Derby 147 with wins in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, respectively. This upcoming holiday weekend hosts three qualifying preps: the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds and the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, both on Saturday, Feb. 13; and the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday, Presidents’ Day, Feb. 15.

Check out America's Best Racing's Triple Crown page to keep up to date with stories and statistics on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

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1. Essential Quality

Nyquist  and American Pharoah  were the last champion juvenile males to win the Run for the Roses, doing so in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Since then, the best finish of four other champions was a second from Good Magic  in 2018. None of those four won their 3-year-old debuts – a trend this colt will look to reverse Feb. 15 in the Southwest Stakes.

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2. Fire At Will

Though most stakes progeny of Fire At Will’s sire Declaration of War are turf horses (Gufo, Decorated Invader), one of his colts, Silver Prospector, took the 2019 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and last year's Southwest, both on dirt. Fire At Will could return in the Feb. 27 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, a race that should shed light on his legitimacy against elite 3-year-old dirt horses.

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3. Life Is Good

After a couple of easy half-mile workouts Jan. 27 and Feb. 1, he was cut loose in a breeze Feb. 8 at Santa Anita Park, smoking six furlongs in 1:12 – without any urging. This front-runner can be keen at times, which explains why trainer Bob Baffert often works him without company. Aside from leaving the starting gate, he has yet to trail in two races, including a victory over Medina Spirit in the Jan. 2 Sham Stakes. He has so many similarities to 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic  at this early stage in his 3-year-old season.

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4. Greatest Honour

Like Orb , the 2013 Kentucky Derby winner for trainer Shug McGaughey, this colt has shown improvement around two turns and in Florida, recently capturing the Holy Bull Stakes. Orb took the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby leading up to the Kentucky Derby, and more races at Gulfstream Park under consideration for this McGaughey-trained colt.

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5. Medina Spirit

He stayed 1 1/16 miles Jan. 30 in narrowly winning the fast-paced Robert B. Lewis Stakes over a demanding, drying-out track at Santa Anita and galloped out with energy. Sire Protonico was successful as far as 1 1/8 miles, but never won a Grade 1. His second to Life Is Good in the Sham was dynamite, but he dips a spot in the ranks upon reflection of the slow Lewis time and the resulting 97 Equibase Speed Figure.

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6. Caddo River

Besides winning the Jan. 22 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn by 10 ¼ lengths, he also handily won a maiden race at Churchill Downs last fall. Before then he twice finished in front of Greatest Honour when they were second and third, respectively, in a pair of seven-furlong maiden races in New York, so every race indicates quality. The March 13 Rebel Stakes  at Oaklawn is on deck.

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7. Concert Tour

He climbs a spot after wearing down his comebacking stablemate Freedom Fighter by a half-length Feb. 6 in the San Vicente Stakes. His pedigree suggests he should route, being by a Derby winner and with his dam twice a runner-up at 1 1/16 miles. He conjures images of Nadal, who won the Rebel and a division of the Arkansas Derby last year for trainer Bob Baffert.

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8. Senor Buscador

This colt has caught the eye with two last-to-first scores at Remington Park against modest competition. Cowan, second by 5 ¾ lengths, to this colt in the Dec. 18 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes, is the best opponent he's faced, and Caddo River left Cowan 10 ¼ lengths behind in the Smarty Jones. He gets a test of quality Feb. 13 in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford at Fair Grounds.

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9. The Great One

Doug O'Neill trains this son of Nyquist, who gave the trainer his second Kentucky Derby victory in 2016 after first winning it in 2012 with I'll Have Another. Nyquist’s youngsters are runners, just as he was. His daughter, Vequist, is the champion 2-year-old filly of 2020, and this colt's prospects are bright following a Los Alamitos Futurity placing and a 14-length maiden victory Jan. 23 at Santa Anita.

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10. Jackie's Warrior

Should horseplayers entirely forgive his fade to fourth in the fast-paced TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Aftercare Alliance last fall? Results from two other pace players from the race suggest not. Juvenile speedsters Dreamer's Disease and Likeable were both unplaced next out at odds of 3-5 and 2.70-1, respectively. A showdown with Essential Quality looms in the Southwest.

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11. Keepmeinmind

He was entered in the Risen Star, giving his connections another option besides the Southwest at Oaklawn, a track where he has been working through the winter. The Southwest, with dual Grade 1 winners Essential Quality and Jackie's Warrior expected, figures to have the shorter field, conditions that can sometimes be unfavorable for a late-runner, as he is. Also, Monday temperatures at Oaklawn may not rise above freezing. A race choice is expected midweek. UPDATE: On Feb. 10, trainer Robertino Diodoro said that Keepmeinmind would scratch from the Risen Star and instead target the rescheduled Southwest Stakes on Feb. 20 for his seasonal debut.

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12. Highly Motivated

Talent is not the question with this colt, who sizzled 6 ½ furlongs in a track-record 1:14.99 Nov. 6 at Keeneland, his co-longest race in three starts. Distance is the great unknown. He could be a sprinting Into Mischief type like Covfefe, or more in the mold of Authentic, with speed and stamina. The one-mile Gotham Stakes March 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack is targeted.