By Richard Rosenblatt

Coach Richard Mandella – Picture courtesy of AP Picture / Gregory Bull

He’s a Corridor of Famer, and one of the well-respected trainers within the enterprise — ever. Fairly profitable over the previous 30 years or so, too, primarily in southern California.

Each on occasion, although, Richard Mandella has a 3-year-old that rounds into kind on the highway to the Kentucky Derby (G1).

In 2019, Omaha Seaside might have been his finest, profitable the Insurgent Stakes (G2), the Arkansas Derby (G1), and changing into the darling of Derby week in addition to the 4-1 morning-line favourite.

Three days earlier than the race, Mandella needed to scratch Omaha Seaside resulting from an entrapped epiglottis (a respiration problem). It was a tragic morning when Mandella broke the information, someway managing to retain his dry wit.

“I’ve finished this for 45 years,” he instructed the Louisville Courier-Journal. “So, I’ve seen the film and starred in it. You understand, that’s a part of coaching horses. However I had a pleasant message from Arthur Hancock yesterday and he stated, ‘Richard, (Charlie) Whittingham was 73 when he received his first one.’ So, who am I to suppose I ought to be doing this now?”

After Forbidden Kingdom demolished his rivals in profitable the San Felipe Stakes (G2) by 5 ¾ lengths on Saturday (March 5), Mandella now trains the No. 1 contender on this week’s usracing.com Kentucky Derby High 10.

“I’m due,’’ he stated on Sunday (March 6) when requested about his Derby historical past.

Traditional Causeway shook off all challenges on the result in win the Sam F. Davis Stakes. Picture curtesy of SV Images

Mandella additionally stated he was stunned how simply Forbidden Kingdom received, and now that he’s collected 50 Derby-qualifying factors, the son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah clinched his spot within the Derby on Could 7.

Mandella stated the subsequent cease for his colt is the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9. In his 48^th yr as a coach, Mandella has saddled six Derby starters – his finest end was fifth with Soul of the Matter in 1994, his final Derby was 18 years in the past, when Motion This Day ran sixth, and Minister Eric 16^th.

Perhaps he’s due.

The one Derby prep on Saturday (March 12) is the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), with qualifying factors of 50-20-10-5 to the primary 4 finishers. Traditional Causeway, winner of the Sam F. Davis (G3), is the doubtless favourite for coach Brian Lynch, with Main Basic and Shipsational among the many high challengers.

Dropping out of our new High 10 are Rattle N Roll (sixth within the Fountain of Youth) and D. Wayne Lukas’ filly Secret Oath (a little bit of uncertainty concerning a Derby run). New this week are Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification and Gotham (G3) winner Morello.

Right here’s the Derby High 10

Observe: Derby future wager odds listed as of Feb. 13; BUSR odds are present as of March 7.

Forbidden Kingdom 2022 San Vicente – Photocourtesy of Evers / Eclipse Sportswire

1 Forbidden Kingdom (Richard Mandella, Juan Hernandez)

A stunning 5 ¾-length gate-to-wire San Felipe win strikes this son of American Pharoah into the highest spot … Gained San Vicente at 7 furlongs, and now has a win at 1 1/16 miles … Derby qualifying factors: 50 … Subsequent begin: Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 9 … Derby future wager odds: 5-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1.

2 Epicenter (Steve Asmussen, Joel Rosario)

Risen Star winner labored 5 furlongs in 59.60 on the Honest Grounds on March 7, quickest of 21 on the distance … No cause to drop him to No. 2, however oved the way in which Forbidden Kingdom was let unfastened to indicate his expertise … Derby qualifying factors: 64 … Subsequent begin: Louisiana Derby, Honest Grounds, March 26 … Derby future wager odds: 8-1 … BUSR odds: 12-1 

3 Simplification (Antonio Sano, Jose Ortiz)

Simplification – Picture courtesy of Ryan Thompson

Not troublesome to incorporate him excessive on the listing after his thrilling run to victory within the Fountain of Youth towards a troublesome discipline … Ran second to White Abarrio within the Holy Bull (G3) o

n Feb. 5 …  Proprietor: Tami Bobo … Breeding: Not This Time-Merely Confection, by Twirling Sweet …  Derby qualifying factors: 50 … Subsequent begin: … Florida Derby, Gulfstream, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 12-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1

4 Mo Donegal (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz, Jr.)

Scratched from Fountain of Youth with slight fever, however don’t actually suppose house owners needed to run on this spot, plus he drew exterior put up 12 … A quick-closing third within the Holy Bull (G3) and a win within the Remsen (G2) in December make him a powerful Derby prospect. Derby qualifying factors: 12 … Subsequent begin: Wooden Memorial, Aqueduct, April 29 … Derby future wager odds: 12-1 … BUSR odds: 22-1

5 Traditional Causeway (Brian Lynch, Irad Ortiz, Jr.)

Sam F. Davis winner set for giant take a look at this weekend … labored 5 furlongs in 59.95 at Palm Meadows on March 5 (2^nd of 30 on the distance) … Derby qualifying factors: 16 … Subsequent begin: Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday … Derby future wager odds: 16-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1

Ethereal Street breaks his maiden at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 29, 2022. Pho to courtesy of Coady Images

6 Ethereal Street (D. Wayne Lukas, Luis Contreras)

Labored 5 furlongs in 1:01.4 at Oaklawn on March 6 (7^th of 14 on the distance) … Plans are to maneuver ahead by means of Arkansas on the highway to the Derby … Derby qualifying factors: 20 … Subsequent begin: Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 15-1 (mutuel discipline) … BUSR odds: 16-1.

7 Smile Pleased (Kenny McPeek, Corey Lanerie)

Labored 4 furlongs in 49.02 at Gulfstream (33^rd of 76 on the distance) … Runner-up in Risen Star to Epicenter … Derby qualifying factors: 30 … Subsequent begin: Florida Derby, Gulfstream, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 6-1 … BUSR odds: 16-1

8 Messier (Bob Baffert, John Velazquez)

Robust to say what’s subsequent for a colt that may be rated a lot increased if not for Baffert’s suspension by Churchill Downs … Horse has finished nothing mistaken: received Robert B. Lewis by 13 lengths … Labored 4 furlongs in 48.60 at Santa Anita on March 7, 13^th of 40 on the distance … Derby qualifying factors: 0 … Subsequent begin … Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, April 9 … Derby future wager odds: 2-1 (mutuel discipline) … BUSR odds: 12-1

9 Morello (Steve Asmussen, Jose Lezcano)

Morello – Picture courtesy of Chelsea Durand

Regardless of being bumped at begin from put up 9, he nonetheless stalked leaders and received 1-mile Gotham by 4 ½ lengths … Query now could be whether or not he can stretch out to get 1 ¼ mile Derby distance … $250,000 buy on the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale final Could … Proprietor: David Lyon’s Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing … Breeding: Traditional Empire-Cease The Marriage ceremony, by Congrats … … Derby qualifying factors: 50 … Subsequent begin: Wooden Memorial, Aqueduct, April 9 …. Derby future wager odds: 10-1 (mutuel discipline) … BUSR odds: 16-1

10 White Abarrio (Saffie Joseph, Jr., Tyler Gaffalione)

Holy Bull winner coaching up for yet one more prep earlier than Derby … Labored 4 furlongs in a blazing 47.12 at Gulfstream on March 6 (2^nd of 125 on the distance) … Derby qualifying factors: 12 … Subsequent begin: … Florida Derby, Gulfstream, April 2 … Derby future wager odds: 15-1 … BUSR odds: 20-1

Through the years whereas working at The Related Press, Wealthy Rosenblatt grew to become a well-recognized identify to legions of the horse racing followers and trade insiders together with his award-winning articles on horse racing and his tales from the backstretch.

Along with being an astute observer of sports activities, Rosenblatt is the co-author of The All-American Chili Cookbook. His work has been seen in nearly each publication on the earth, together with The New York Instances, The Washington Put up and Time Journal.