DERBY RADAR SCREEN

When Notonthesamepage streaked to an 8 1/4-length victory in last Saturday’s Spectacular Bid Stakes on opening day at Gulfstream Park, he also ran his way onto my weekly Kentucky Derby Top 10 list.

As he demonstrated last Saturday, Notonthesamepage is an extremely fast colt. He completed six furlongs in a scorching 1:08.48, just barely off Tiger’s track record of 1:08.46 established in 2006.

Owned by Sarah and Ken Ramsey and trained by Wesley Ward, Notonthesamepage earned a 115 Beyer Speed Figure. That is a very serious number for any horse at any track and at any distance.

Is Notonthesamepage best as a sprinter? Or will he also be a tiger going farther? As they say, time will tell. The Kentucky-bred son of Catienus is scheduled to make his next start in Gulfstream Park’s Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at one mile around one turn on Feb. 28.

The scintillating win in the Spectacular Bid by Notonthesamepage actually flatters the 3-year-old who currently tops my Kentucky Derby Top 10 list, Pioneerof the Nile. That’s because Pioneerof the Nile outran Notonthesamepage last year. When Notonthesamepage wound up 11th in the Grade I Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last Oct. 4, Pioneerof the Nile finished third.

Notonthesamepage replaces Haynesfield on my Top 10 list. Haynesfield took last Saturday’s Count Fleet Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct. While the New York-bred son of Speightstown showed that he is able to win from off the pace, it was not a visually impressive performance. It also left something to be desired from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint. Haynesfield earned only an 88, well down from his 101 when he won the Damon Runyon Stakes at the Big A on Dec. 7.

Here is this week’s Kentucky Derby Top 10 list:

1. Pioneerof the Nile
2. Old Fashioned
3. I Want Revenge
4. Chocolate Candy
5. Stardom Bound
6. Indygo Mountain
7. Square Eddie
8. Well Positioned
9. Hello Broadway
10. Notonthesamepage

Before taking a look at the other 3-year-olds on my radar screen for the 2009 Run for the Roses, keep in mind that I characterized Big Brown as “an intriguing Kentucky Derby dark horse” early in 2008. Here is what I wrote about him:

“Big Brown romped to an 11 1/4-length debut win at Saratoga on the turf last Sept. 3. Maybe he’s strictly a turf horse. Or maybe he also might do well on the dirt, a la Barbaro, who started off in turf races before making the successful transition to the dirt.”

Of course, Big Brown went on to become a star on the dirt and win the Kentucky Derby by 5 1/4 lengths despite breaking from post 20.

Here are the 3-year-olds currently on my radar screen for the 2009 Kentucky Derby:

AMERICAN DANCE. Todd Pletcher trains the A.P. Indy colt. Old Fashioned, winner of the Grade II Remsen Stakes on Nov. 29, is No. 2 on the Top 10 list. American Dance finished third in the Remsen, though Old Fashioned beat him by nearly 10 lengths. As a son of A.P. Indy, American Dance might get better as he gets older.

ATOMIC RAIN. After winning a maiden sprint at Monmouth Park on June 5, Atomic Rain didn’t race again until finishing second in the Remsen in late November. Trained by Kelly Breen, Atomic Rain is by Smart Strike, sire of 2007 (and possibly 2008) Horse of the Year Curlin.

AU MOON. When unveiled on Keeneland’s Polytrack on Oct. 15, Au Moon finished 10th. He then registered a 5 3/4-length maiden win in a 1 1/8-mile race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. David Carroll conditions the Kentucky-bred son of Malibu Moon. The Carroll-trained Denis of Cork finished third in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Au Moon is entered in this Saturday’s Grade II Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. He is 8-1 on the morning line.

BEETHOVEN. He came close to making my first Top 10 list last week. Beethoven won the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. The Kentucky-bred son of Sky Mesa is three for five. Beethoven is owned by John Oxley and trained by John Ward. They collaborated to win the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos.

BELIEVE IN HOPE. After his maiden win at first asking during the Del Mar meet, he finished fifth in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity. He did not have the best of trips in that Grade I event. Believe in Hope then gained strongly late and finished third in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes on Sept. 28 during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet. Midshipman, the Oak Leaf runner-up, subsequently took the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Ron Ellis trains Believe in Hope, a Kentucky-bred son of 1995 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch.

BIG DRAMA. As with Beethoven, Big Drama was under serious consideration for the initial Kentucky Derby Top 10 list of the year last week. He reeled off four straight victories at Calder before snagging the Grade III Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs on Dec. 5. The Florida-bred Montbrook colt, trained by David Fawkes, earned a strong Beyer Speed Figure (96) in the Delta Jackpot.

BREAK WATER EDISON. John Kimmel trains the Kentucky-bred son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid. Break Water Edison rallied to win Aqueduct’s Grade III Nashua Stakes at one mile on Nov. 2 while recording an excellent 99 Beyer Speed Figure. The runner-up was Hello Broadway, who is No. 9 on my Kentucky Derby Top 10 list. As for Break Water Edison, he is lurking just below my current Top 10. Gary West of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has Break Water Edison ranked No. 2, behind only Old Fashioned, on his Top 10 list for the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

BROTHER KEITH. This is an intriguing possible sleeper for the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Trainer Bobby Frankel reportedly really likes the Kentucky-bred Johar colt. Johar finished in a dead heat for first with High Chaparral in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles. So perhaps Brother Keith would be tough going 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May. In his only start to date, he won a 6 1/2-furlong race by 2 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs on Nov. 8. Sarah and Ken Ramsey, who own Brother Keith, also race Spectacular Bid Stakes winner Notonthesamepage.

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN. Named after Sammy Davis Jr.’s only No. 1 song, the Kentucky-bred Candy Ride colt won the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1. He then finished third as the 11-10 favorite in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at the Louisville track on Nov. 29. Capt. Candyman Can, trained by Ian Wilkes, lost that Grade II race by only a half-length.

CHARITABLE MAN. After romping to an 11 1/2-length maiden win (96 Beyer Speed Figure) when debuting at Saratoga, the Virginia-bred son of 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid took the Grade II Futurity at Belmont Park on Sept. 13 (93 Beyer). However, he was knocked out of the Breeders’ Cup due to a saucer fracture in his left shin, according to Daily Racing Form’s David Grening. “Hopefully, we’ll bring him back at the first of the year and he can make the Triple Crown trail one way or another,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said in Grening’s Oct. 7 story on Charitable Man’s injury.

CHECKLIST. The Kentucky-bred son of Gone West shows up on the radar screen following his four-length debut victory in a six-furlong race at Gulfstream Park last Saturday. He earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure. Todd Pletcher trains the colt. Checklist’s dam, Yearly Report, won three Grade II races (Santa Ynez Stakes, Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Delaware Oaks).

CRIBNOTE. I was on the air for HRTV when he won a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race by 13 1/2 lengths at Saratoga. I told viewers how that performance certainly impressed me. Cribnote then ran second in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes. However, some thought he would have won the Hopeful if he had not raced extremely wide while bearing out into the stretch. Cribnote then finished third in the Grade I Champagne Stakes. Rick Violette trains the New York-bred son of Read the Footnotes.

DANGER TO SOCIETY. When unveiled in a one-mile race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 19, the Kentucky-bred son of Harlan’s Holiday closed nicely from well off the pace to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He earned only a 79 Beyer Speed Figure, though. Still, this colt is dangerous, especially since he has a fine trainer in Ken McPeek, who saddled Harlan’s Holiday to finish seventh as the 6-1 favorite in the 2002 Kentucky Derby. McPeek also sent out Tejano Run to finish second to Thunder Gulch in the 1995 Run for the Roses.

DESERT PARTY. The Kentucky-bred son of Street Cry won the Grade II Saratoga Special before finishing sixth in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga. Now he is in Dubai. Street Cry also is the sire of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.

FITZMO. After finishing fourth when unveiled at Del Mar, the Kentucky-bred son of Seattle Fitz zipped six furlongs in 1:08.14 to win a maiden race by 1 1/4 lengths on Oct. 4 during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet. Adam Kitchingman trains the colt. Aaron Hesz, an astute handicapper, says Fitzmo is his Derby dark horse.

FRIESAN FIRE. I’m beginning to wonder about him. He’s been an underachiever so far. The Kentucky-bred son of A.P. Indy finished second as a 2-5 favorite in an allowance race at the Fair Grounds on Dec. 18. He’s entered in this Saturday’s Grade III Lecomte Stakes in New Orleans. A win there certainly would enhance Friesan Fire’s Derby stature. Friesan Fire is 5-1 on the Lecomte morning line. Indygo Mountain, No. 6 on my Top 10 list, is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Lecomte. Larry Jones conditions Friesan Fire. Jones trained Hard Spun, runner-up in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, and Eight Belles, second in the 2008 Run for the Roses.

GALLANT SON. The Kentucky-bred son of Malabar Gold won three stakes races at Emerald Downs last year, including the biggest race in the Pacific Northwest, the Gottstein Futurity, by six lengths. He then finished seventh in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Trained by Frank Lucarelli, Gallant Son certainly didn’t embarrass himself in the Breeders’ Cup, losing by only 3 1/2 lengths. He’s currently training at Golden Gate Fields.

GIANT OAK. I like him a lot. The Illinois-bred son of Giant’s Causeway finished second in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. He lost by just a half-length to Beethoven. Giant Oak ran a giant race in defeat because he rallied so wide into the stretch. Chris Block trains Giant Oak.

GRESHAM. After finishing fourth in the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky-bred gelded son of Seeking the Gold won a mile allowance affair there by a nose on Nov. 29. He overcame traffic trouble to win that allowance race. You like to see a youngster succeed despite adversity like that. James Baker trains Gresham.

IDOL MAKER. Watch out for him. He won when unveiled in a mile race at Belmont Park on Oct. 19, then ran fourth at 3-1 in the Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 29. Idol Maker, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a son of Empire Maker, the 2003 Kentucky Derby runner-up and Belmont Stakes winner who also is the sire of the 3-year-old who is No. 1 on my Top 10 list, Pioneerof the Nile.

IMPERIAL COUNCIL. He’s another Empire Maker colt. He also is someone who came very close to making my first Kentucky Derby Top 10 list of the year. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the Kentucky-bred colt finished second at first asking at Saratoga, then won a seven-furlong maiden contest by 2 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park on Oct. 4.

JOSE ARDAN. He has finished first in all three starts, but was disqualified and placed second for causing interference in the Grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity. The Illinois-bred Crypto Star gelding now is in Dubai.

LORD JUSTICE. I doubt he is even on anybody else’s radar screen. The only reason he is on mine is Randy Bradshaw told me this is a talented colt. Bradshaw came to that conclusion while training him at Adena Springs Farm in Florida before Lord Justice was sent to the racetrack and trainer Todd Pletcher. Lord Justice ran eighth when debuting at Saratoga, then won a maiden race in the mud at Philadelphia Park by 10 1/2 lengths on Oct. 19. In his final start at 2, the colt ran third as the favorite in an allowance race at Philly Park. Lord Justice had a sharp four-furlong workout in :48 at Palm Meadows in Florida last Saturday.

MAJORMOTIONPICTURE. The Kentucky-bred son of 2003 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day won gamely while debuting at Del Mar last Aug. 24 in his lone start to date. Majormotionpicture has received a lot of hype going into the current Santa Anita meet. Michael Machowsky trains the colt.

MIDSHIPMAN. Of course, he’s prominent on the radar screen after his 2-year-old campaign that quite likely will net an Eclipse Award. He won the Grade I Del Mar Futurity, ran second in the Grade I Norfolk Stakes, then took the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Kentucky-bred Unbridled’s Song colt is not on my Kentucky Derby Top 10 list because he’s been sent to Dubai.

MR. FANTASY. His debut in a six-furlong race at Aqueduct on Dec. 28 was eye-catching. He drew off in the stretch to win by 10 lengths. Kiaran McLaughlin trains the New York-bred son of E Dubai. Mr. Fantasy is a half-brother to Grade III Indiana Derby winner Tin Cup Chalice, who has won eight of 10 career starts.

OBLIGINGLY. The Kentucky-bred son of Officer ran seventh while debuting at Keeneland on Oct. 24. Ah, but that was on Keeneland’s Polytrack. When given the chance to show what he can do on the dirt, Obligingly obliged by posting an 11 1/2-length maiden win in a six-furlong race at Calder on Dec. 7. He earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in that maiden romp. Todd Pletcher trains the colt.

OYSTER CAT. The sixth at Del Mar on Aug. 17 has turned out to be one of the strongest maiden races of 2008. Midshipmen won, with Street Hero second, Oyster Cat third and Fitzmo fourth. Midshipmen went on to take the Grade I Del Mar Futurity and Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Street Hero subsequently won the Grade I Norfolk Stakes. Oyster Cat won a one-mile maiden race on the turf at the Fair Grounds on Dec. 20. Fitzmo was a fast maiden winner at the Oak Tree meet. Eoin Harty trained Oyster Cat for three races in Southern California. Sharon Ritter now is training the Kentucky-bred son of Tale of the Cat in Louisiana.

PAPA CLEM. Owned by Bo Hirsch, Papa Clem is named for Hirsch’s late father, Clement, who died in 2000. Clement Hirsch, who owned such stakes winners as Figonero, June Darling and Snow Sporting, began the Oak Tree Racing Association in 1969 with six partners. Papa Clem lost his first two races (both sprints), then won a one-mile maiden contest by a half-length at Santa Anita on Dec. 29 while earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. He has an appealing pedigree. Papa Clem is a son of Smart Strike (sire of Curlin) and Grade I Del Mar Debutante winner Miss Houdini. Gary Stute trains the colt. Gary’s father, Mel, saddled the favorite for the 1987 Kentucky Derby, Snow Chief, who finished 11th.

PATENA. The Kentucky-bred son of Seeking the Gold won the Display Stakes on Woodbine’s Polytrack at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 6. Josie Carroll trains the colt, who is entered in this Saturday’s Grade III Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Patena is 4-1 on the morning line in the Lecomte.

POINT ENCOUNTER. I actually had him on my first 2009 Kentucky Derby Top 10 list before taking him off at the last moment. I had been hearing about how good he is for a number of weeks prior to the start of the Santa Anita meet. Thus, I was surprised when he was 5-1 on the morning line for his debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita on opening day, Dec. 26. Backed down to 13-10 favoritism, Point Encounter won in front-running fashion in 1:14.81 after going six furlongs in a rapid 1:08.37. Carla Gaines conditions the Kentucky-bred son of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given (who finished fifth as the favorite in the 2001 Kentucky Derby). Gary West of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has Point Given at No. 5 on his Kentucky Derby Top 10 list.

PRINCE CHARMING. Wouldn’t it be a fairy-tale ending for a colt with this name to win the Kentucky Derby? He showed potential in a maiden win at Belmont Park on Sept. 27 before finishing sixth in the Grade III Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 2. Jimmy Jerkens trains the Kentucky-bred son of 2002 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vindication.

PROFESSOR Z. After a maiden win at Aqueduct on Nov. 7, he rolled to a 5 3/4-length triumph in an allowance/optional claiming race at a mile and 70 yards there on Dec. 7. The Kentucky-bred Grand Slam colt, trained by Steve Asmussen, posted a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in his Dec. 7 win, way up from the 71 in his maiden victory. Professor Z is to make his stakes debut this Saturday in the Grade III Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. He is 6-1 on the morning line.

QUALITY ROAD. In his only start so far, Quality Road won a maiden race at Aqueduct on Nov. 29. His margin of victory wasn’t big (2 3/4 lengths), but his Beyer Speed Figure was (101). Jimmy Jerkens conditions the Virginia-bred son of Elusive Quality. Elusive Quality is the sire of Smarty Jones, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2004.

ROYAL VINDICATION. He held his own in Aqueduct’s Grade III Nashua Stakes on Nov. 2, finishing third behind Break Water Edison and Hello Broadway. Royal Vindication earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure in the Nashua. It was his third straight race in which he recorded a Beyer in the 90s. It’s good to see that kind of Beyer consistency. A son of 2002 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Vindication, Royal Vindication won the Trapp Mountain Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 13. Stan Hough trains the colt.

SILVER CITY. I get the feeling he could make a lot of noise on the Kentucky Derby trail. A $700,000 auction purchase, Silver City races for Clarence Scharbauer Jr., who also owns Indygo Mountain. The Scharbauer family won the 1987 Kentucky Derby with Alysheba. Silver City won a maiden race on Keeneland’s Polytrack in his second career start, then raised eyebrows with a 4 1/2-length allowance victory in a 6 1/2-furlong race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. The colt recorded a 101 Beyer Speed Figure in that Churchill race for trainer Bret Calhoun.

STIMULUS PLAN. Can’t you picture a colt winning the roses with this name during a time when the nation’s economy is in such dire straits? The Kentucky-bred Jump Start colt closed strongly late when he finished third in the Grade III Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs on Dec. 5. He earned a nice Beyer Speed Figure (93) in that race. Stimulus Plan previously raced on Woodbine’s Polytrack. He won a maiden race there at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 12 before finishing third in the Grade III Grey Stakes. Mark Casse conditions the colt.

SUMMER’S EMPIRE. Here is another son of 2003 Kentucky-bred runner-up and Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker. Trained by Anthony Mitchell, Summer’s Empire put together a three-race winning streak at Hawthorne, culminating with a victory in the Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity on Dec. 13. However, his best Beyer Speed Figure thus far has been only an 82.

TERRAIN. He finished fourth in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile while losing by just 2 1/4 lengths. The Kentucky-bred Sky Mesa gelding, trained by Albert Stall Jr., then ran fifth as the 5-2 favorite in the Grade III Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs. It’s possible he did not like running under the lights and/or the sharper turns at Delta Downs.

TRINITY MAGIC. He ran worse than Terrain in the Grade III Delta Jackpot. Trinity Magic lost that race by 46 1/2 lengths. But, as in the case of Terrain, perhaps Trinity Magic did not like running under the lights and/or the sharper turns. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the New York-bred Performing Magic colt had won all three of his starts in New York prior to his Louisiana debacle.

UNO MAS. Another Steve Asmussen trainee, the Kentucky-bred son of 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Macho Uno won a maiden race at the Fair Grounds by 4 1/4 lengths on Nov. 15 (77 Beyer Speed Figure). That was followed by a 2 1/2-length allowance victory in a mile race there on Dec. 18 (82 Beyer). Uno Mas is 5-1 on the morning line for this Saturday’s Grade III Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

VINEYARD HAVEN. He posted Grade I victories in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park for trainer Bobby Frankel. After the Champagne, the Florida-bred son of Lido Palace was sold for a reported $12 million to Godolphin by owners Frankel, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre and Louis Lazzinnaro. Vineyard Haven, like Midshipman, is not on my Kentucky Derby Top 10 list because he’s been sent to Dubai.

WEST SIDE BERNIE. After winning the Grade III Kentucky Cup Juvenile on Turfway Park’s Polytrack on Sept. 27, the Kentucky-bred son of Bernstein finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride on Oct. 25. West Side Bernie then ran second in the Grade III Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs on Dec. 5 while earning a fine 94 Beyer Speed Figure. Kelly Breen trains the colt.

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