Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

The 2012 Kentucky Derby list now stands at 18 with the performance of Daddy Nose Best and Lucky Chappy in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate. A nostril separated the top two. Drill gets added for his win in the San Vicente, but he’s a sprinter. American Act, second in the San Vicente, looks like a router.

Updated Feb. 19

Algorithms (Bernardini) goes to the top of the list off his impressive win in the Holy Bull on Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park.
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.
Thunder Moccasin (A.P Warrior) won the Hutcheson by six lengths on Feb. 11 at Gulfstream. Question is, How far does he want to run?
Hansen (Tapit) was second in the Holy Bull and 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. Next race will be the Gotham on March 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Creative Cause (Giant’s Causeway) was third in the San Vicente on Feb. 19. Looks like he had a little ring rust.
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.
Daddy Nose Best (Scat Daddy) won the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 18.
Lucky Chappy (High Chaparral – IRE) was second by a short nostril in the El Camino.
El Padrino (Tapit) won an allowance race on Jan. 29 and I was impressed.
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. Wood Memorial on March 3 could be next.
American Act (Quiet American) was impressive in his second-place finish in San Vicente.
Fed Biz (Giant’s Causeway) won a one-mile allowance on Feb. 9 at Santa Anita.
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.
Drill (Lawyer Ron) won the San Vicente, but he’s a sprinter.