Pyro is the second best Kentucky Derby cream risen to the top after War Pass's defeat in the Tampa Bay Derby. All pollsters list him No.1 this week. It is not by another's defeat alone, however, that the Steve Asmussen trained colt has captured Run for the Roses favoritism.
Pyro has electrified the racing public, and won the pollsters's hearts with his own gutsy and heart-pumping victories in the early season. His run away win in the Risen Star Stakes was aptly timed, and his rush from last to first to the wire in the Louisiana Derby proved his mettle.
Here's the latest from the national mindsets:
The Blood-Horse writer Steve Haskin has his Derby Dozen like this:
No. 1 --- Pyro --- the Pulpit colt trained by Steve Asmussen
- Denis of Cork --- Harlan's Holiday --- David Carrol
- Cool Coal Man --- Mineshaft --- Nick Zito
- Elysium Fields --- El Prado --- Barclay Tagg
- Colonel John --- Tiznow --- Eoin Harty
- El Gato Malo --- El Corredor --- Craig Dollase
- Court Vision --- Gulch --- Bill Mott
- Georgie Boy --- Tribal Rule --- Kathy Walsh
- Fierce Wind --- Dixie Union --- Zito
- Visionaire --- Grand Slam --- Michael Matz
- Hey Byrn --- Put It Back --- Eddie Plesa
- Atoned --- Repent --- Todd Pletcher
Internet horse racing writer Greg Melikov prefers to keep War Pass along for the ride. He sees it as:
No. 1 --- Pyro
- War Pass --- Cherokee Run --- Zito
- Visionaire
- Cool Coal Man
- Big Truck --- Hook and Ladder --- Tagg
- Georgie Boy
- Elysium Fields, or Court Vision
- Colonel John, or El Gato Malo
- Fierce Wind, or Smooth Air, or Denis of Cork
- Big Brown
Two colts who have gained the most in the last month are Georgie Boy and Liberty Bull, a Holy Bull son trained by Tom Amoss, who has won twice. Sierra Sunset, by way of the Rebel Stakes, also captured some Derby attention. Here are the thoughts of USA Today's Tom Pedulla:
No. 1 --- Pyro
- Cool Coal Man
- Elysium Fields
- Denis of Cork
- Court Vision
- Big Truck
- Atoned
- Georgie Boy
- War Pass
- Sierra Sunset --- Bertrando --- Jeff Bonde
- Fierce Wind
- Blackberry Road --- Gone West --- Carrol
While Steve Asmussen keeps tabs on his Derby boy, Pyro, he will be in Dubai looking to the Dubai World Cup Classic to be run at Nad al Sheba Racecourse, Saturday, March 29. There, his Curlin , American Horse of the Year (2007), will face the best the world has to offer.
The best Asmussen has to offer looks very convincing.
BarbaraAnne Helberg - Barbara Anne Helberg, Supporter of Better Lives for Animals and Clean, Spirited, Competitive Sports
