Kentucky Derby contenders?

With 20 horses and still time, it's hard to pick just one horse, just yet....but I'm getting there...lol! However, at the moment, I have two horses that are my Top Choice(s) (others see below)-

I feel Eskendereya and/or Ice Box have a good chance to win the Derby...of course, anything can happen in a field of 20. I Look for Horses with good tactical speed and the ability to stalk, they have preference over pure speed or rally from way back types. Proven ability to handle bad traffic situations is also a plus in the Kentucky Derby. Ice Box meets all those. Ice Box - He broke his maiden in October at the Meadowlands, and then followed that up with an allowance win at Gulfstream in January. He made his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth (G2) on February 20, finishing 5th beaten 12 lengths, and then came back to win the Florida Derby (G1) on March 20 earning a career-best 99 Beyer.

Eskendereya - Won the Pilgrim (G3) at Belmont Park in October, and then was a distant 9th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. In his first start of 2010, he won a 1 mile allowance race at Gulfstream Park on January 7. He won the Fountain of Youth (G2) on February 20, earning a career-best 106 Beyer, following that up with a win in the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct on April 3.

Others contenders consider:

Reasons..the facts Speak for themselves-

~ Lookin At Lucky -An impressive 5 for 6 last year including the Best Pal (G2), Del Mar Futurity (G1), Norfolk (G1), and then the CashCall Futurity (G1) to close out his 2-year-old campaign. His only defeat was a second place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he still won the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-year-old Male. He shipped to Oaklawn Park to win the Rebel (G2) on March 13, earning a career-best 98 Beyer, then finished 3rd in a troubled trip in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

~ Sidney’s Candy - April 3, Grade I Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 Mile. Sidney's Candy duplicated his front-running win from the Grade II San Felipe.

The front end of the race is simple to recap. Sidney's Candy set fractions of :24.00, :48.50 and 1:12.33. From there, he just kept running and finished the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:48 flat, defeating a wide, closing Setsuko by 4 1/2 lengths.

~ Endosement - March 28, Grade III Sunland Derby, Sunland Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Endorsement was the first and only horse to challenge pacesetter--and strong favorite---Conveyance in the early going. At the top of the stretch, the challenge was over, and Endorsement ran off to win by three lengths.

~ Conveyance- is the type of horse that has a lot of speed, and looks like one of those horses who go to the lead and dare you to catch him. Conveyance was not far behind in the above race with Endorsement. The winner was timed in 1:48.46 after Conveyance set early fractions of :23.71, :48.04 and 1:11.91. Endorsement had grabbed the lead shortly before the furlong marker, at which point his time was 1:35.88.

Still studying past performances..there's a lot to consider yet..

Enjoy the race :)

HERE IS THE EXACT ORDER OF FINISH.

1. Eskenderya

2. Sidney`s Candy

3. Dublin

4. American Lion

5. Discreetly Mine

6. Lookin At Lucky

7. Super Saver

8. Noble`s Promise

9. Dean`s Kitten

10. Rule

11. Conveyance

12. Awesome Act

13. Interactif

14. Paddy O` Prado

15. Mission Impazible

16. Homeboy Kris

17. Icebox

18. Line Of David

19. Stately Wager

20. Endorsement

Awesome Act....Julian held this horse back 3/4 of the Wood's distance and he threw a shoe. He was expected to bounce and did....should move forward nicely in derby.

Rule.....slightly regressed in Florida and should do well with that effort going into Kentucky.

Nobles Promise....severe allergies in Arkansas as well as being cut in several places. Looks like hes doing much better and moving forward...should advance in Kentucky

Mission Impazible.....this horse more or less runs the same way every time....but the horse is maturing well and could certainly be sitting on a big performance.

This is my top 5 in order

1) Eskendereya-The horse to beat

2) Sidneys Candy-speediest horse in the race

3) Backtalk-Proven over the surface

4) Lookin at Lucky-top earner, and top trainer

5) Ice Box-Gritty and consistant