Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

After the first week I added two horses to the 2012 Kentucky Derby list. There are now 12 horses until more contenders step on the track for the first time this year.

Updated Feb. 6

Algorithms (Bernardini) goes to the top of the list off his impressive win in the Holy Bull on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park. Train Todd Pletcher says next start will be in Fountain of Youth on Feb. 26 at Gulfstream.
Out of Bounds (Discreet Cat) won the Sham on Jan. 7 at Santa Anita and looks like distance will be no problem.
Mr. Bowling (Istan) won the Lecomte on Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds.
Union Rags (Dixie Union) will get no higher than here until he has his first race in 2012. His debut will be in the Fountain of Youth.
Hansen (Tapit) was second in the Holy Bull. We’ll have to wait to see if he was a victim of the Breeders’ Cup jinx; was too fresh coming off his layoff or he just can’t go long.
Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway) was third in the Breeders’ Cup. This is high enough for now.
I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley) won the Robert Lewis on Feb. 4 at Santa Anita. He went off at 43-1, but he was second in the Grade 2 Best Pal to Creative Cause. He also ran in the Hopeful on Sept. 5 at Saratoga where he was sixth. It was on a sloppy track, so he may not have liked that.
El Padrino (Tapit) won an allowance race on Jan. 29 and I was impressed. May run in Grade 3 Risen Star on Feb 25. at Fair Grounds
Alpha (Bernardini) won the Withers on Feb. 4 at Aqueduct. He’s on a two-race win streak having won the Count Fleet on Jan. 7. Gotham on March 3 could be next.
Sabercat (Bluegrass Cat) won the Delta Downs Jackpot, and he has to be here because he has $600,000 in graded earnings.
Gemologist (Tiznow) won the Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.
Battled Hardened (Giant’s Causeway) won the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 4 at Tampa Bay Downs. He is a maiden no more.