Ky Jockey Club (G2)

The Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) usually produces a couple of
two-year-olds to keep an eye on for the Kentucky Derby (G1) since
they are both run over the main track at Churchill Downs. The 78th
running features a competitive field of nine traveling 8 1/2
furlongs around two turns and we’re going to go with a couple of
longshots to upset the apple cart.

The rapidly improving RUSH BAY (Cozzene) stalked the pace from
the outside, took the lead turning for home, then drew off to a
widening 6 3/4-length victory going 1 1/16 miles over this track
last out. The Tom Amoss-trained colt finished his final sixteenth
in :6 2/5 and defeated a maiden field that included Breeders’
Futurity (G1) runner-up Patriot Act (A.P. Indy), who finished a
non-threatening fifth. Rush Bay is nicely drawn near the inside
for a ground-saving trip and should offer good value.

DRUM MAJOR (Dynaformer) broke his maiden on the lawn and then
finished a good third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the grassy nine-furlong
Pilgrim S. over good ground at Belmont Park. In his first start
on dirt, the George Weaver-trained colt pressed from the outside,
took the lead on the far turn, then finished a game second
against first-level allowance foes going 1 1/16 miles over this
track last out. He has the look of a useful sleeper.

Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. (G3) runner-up MAGNA GRADUATE (Honor
Grades) rolled to a comfortable front-running score going 1 1/16
miles against first-level allowance foes over this track in his
first start for trainer Pat Byrne last out. He should be a
forward player under Pat Day.

GREATER GOOD (Intidab), the last-to-first winner of the
Kentucky Cup Juvenile (G3), exits a good third-place effort in
the one-mile Iroquois S. (G3). He is a logical contender.

Multiple stakes winner B.B. BEST (Yes It’s True) comes off a
front-running victory in the lucrative 1 1/16-mile In Reality
division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder. He figures to
force the early issue in his Kentucky debut. STORM SURGE (Storm
Cat), who exits a near front-running score in the seven-furlong
Lone Star Juvenile S. on the Breeders’ Cup undercard, will likely
add to the early pace. He could go forth at underlaid odds in his
two-turn bow.

Two-time winner SOCIAL PROBATION (Jules), who finished an even
second in the Iroquois, is a useful sort who must overcome the
outside post position in order to factor. WILD DESERT (Wild Rush)
goes turf-to-dirt for trainer Kenny McPeek, who claims this colt
is training well for this event. He has some upset potential and
is worth a second look at large odds. HIGHGROVE (Forestry) broke
his maiden at Keeneland then forced the early pace before fading
in the Iroquois. The Nick Zito trainee needs a form reversal.