Derby Dozen: The Next Dozen contenders for the Run for the Roses

These 3-year-olds weren’t outstanding enough to make it into our Derby Dozen, but they could eventually become contenders in the Run for the Roses:

Awesome Speed

Owner: Colts Neck Stables

Trainer: Alan Goldberg

Bloodline: Dark bay colt by Awesome Again-Speedy Escape, by Aptitude

Career record: Four starts, 3-0-0, $143,860

The lowdown: Won one mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 2. Likely for Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 27

Cherry Wine

Owners: William Pacella and Frank Jones Jr.

Trainer: Dale Romans

Bloodline: Gray/roan colt by Paddy O’Prado-C.S. Royce, by Unbridled’s Song

Career record: Six starts, 2-1-1, $73,878

The lowdown: Handily rallied to win a 1  1/16-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 9. Not wanting to do too much too soon, Romans opted to skip the Holy Bull with this one and wait for the Grade II Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27

Collected

Owner: Speedway Stables

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Bloodline: Chestnut colt by City Zip-Helena Bay, by Johannesburg

Career record: Three starts, 2-1-0, $111,200

The lowdown: Won Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 9. Heads to Oaklawn for Monday’s Grade III Southwest Stakes.

Conquest Big E

Owner: Conquest Stables

Trainer: Mark Casse

Bloodline: Gray/roan colt by Tapit-Seeinsbelieven, by Carson City

Career record: Five starts, 2-1-0, $92,765

The lowdown: Got overheated in the aftermath of his lackluster fourth-place finish in the Grade II Holy Bull Stakes. Has to step up in the Grade III Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 5 to remain on the Derby trail.

Danzing Candy

Owners: Halo Farms, Jim and Diane Bashor

Trainer: Clifford Sise Jr.

Bloodline: Dark bay colt by Twirling Candy-Talkin and Singing, by Songandaprayer

Career record: Three starts, 2-0-0, $68,650

The lowdown: Aired out his foes by 5¾ lengths going one mile at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 4. The Grade II San Felipe on March 12 will be his class test.

Flexibility

Owners: Klaravich Stables, Inc. and William Lawrence

Trainer: Chad Brown

Bloodline: Bay colt by Bluegrass Cat-Santa Vindi, by Vindication

Career record: Five starts, 2-2-0, $268,500

The lowdown: Ran a disappointing fourth as the favorite in the Grade III Withers but showed promise before that in winning the Grade III Jerome Stakes and running second to Mohaymen in the Remsen and Nashua Stakes.

Gun Runner

Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Bloodline: Chestnut colt by Candy Ride-Quiet Giant, by Giant’s Causeway

Career record: Three starts, 2-0-0, $66,920

The lowdown: Didn’t care for the sloppy surface while running fourth in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Gets a shot at redemption in Grade II Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 20

Destin

Owner: Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Bloodline: Gray/roan colt by Giant’s Causeway-Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer

Career record: Four starts, 2-1-0, $180,700

The lowdown: Full brother to Grade I winner Creative Cause finished up very well to win the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 13

Shagaf

Owner: Shadwell Stable

Trainer: Chad Brown

Bloodline: Bay colt by Bernardini-Muhaawara, by Unbridled’s Song

Career record: Two starts, 2-0-0, $58,800

The lowdown: Was unchallenged in the lane in winning a one-mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29.

Sunny Ridge

Owner: Dennis Drazin

Trainer: Jason Servis

Bloodline: Gray/roan gelding by Holy Bull-Lignum Vitae, by Songandaprayer

Career record: Six starts, 3-2-0, $524,752

The lowdown: Posted a game victory in the Grade III Withers Stakes on Jan. 30 but his connections are being realistic and not catching Derby Fever just yet.

Synchrony

Owner: Pin Oak Stable

Trainer: Donnie Von Hemel

Bloodline: Chestnut colt by Tapit-Brownie Points, by Forest Wildcat

Career record: Four starts, 2-1-1 $90,440

The lowdown: Third-place finisher in the Smarty Jones Stakes returns in the Grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday.

Tom’s Ready

Owner: G M B Racing

Trainer: Dallas Stewart

Bloodline: Dark bay colt by More Than Ready-Goodbye Stranger, by Broad Brush

Career record: Seven starts, 1-3-0 $108,220

The lowdown: Runner-up in the Grade III Lecomte Stakes may be a cut below, but Dallas Stewart has become the master of getting overlooked horses to hit the board in the classics.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 10:19 PM with the headline "Derby Dozen: The Next Dozen contenders for the Run for the Roses."