Critter Sitter's Blog: Ten Days to the Kentucky Derby

If there are no sudden doubts causing a scratch, or illnesses, or injuries, it looks like the field is set for the running of the Kentucky Derby on 4 May. The field is limited to the top 20 point qualifiers, and the listing below will be by quantity of points only. So far, jockeys for 18 of the entries have been named.
Of the top twenty, 19 are colts (Plus Que Parfait is a ridgling) and one gelding, Tax. Eighteen were bred in Kentucky, with Win Win Win a Florida-bred, and Master Fencer bred in Japan. Considering coat colors, there are 3 greys or roans, 8 chestnuts and 9 bays, dark bays, or browns. The 20 entries represent 18 different stallions, with 2 sons each sired by Candy Ride (ARG) and War Front. Besides the two sons of Candy Ride, who was bred in Argentina, there are two stallions from Japan represented, as well as one stallion from Great Britain. All of the dams, but one, are North American bred; War of Will's dam was bred in Ireland.
Following is the list of the top 20 entries for the Kentucky Derby: the entry's name, sire's name, dam's name, and dam's sire name. All horses will race on the dirt track, 10 furlongs (or 1 1/4 miles), carrying 126 pounds, the purse is guaranteed at $3 million. The post position draw for the 145th Kentucky Derby will take place at 11 a.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, 30 April.
1. Tacitus Tapit, out of Close Hatches, by First Defense
2. Omaha Beach War Front, out of Charming, by Seeking the Gold
3. Vekoma Candy Ride (ARG), out of Mona de Momma, by Speightstown
4. Plus Que Parfait Point of Entry, out of Belvedera, by Awesome Again
5. Roadster Quality Road, out of Ghost Dancing, by Silver Ghost
6. By My Standards Goldencents, out of A Jealous Woman, by Muqtarib
7. Maximum Security New Year's Day, out of Lil Indy, by Anasheed
8. Game Winner Candy Ride (ARG), out of Indyan Giving, by A P Indy
9. Code of Honor Noble Mission (GB), out of Reunited, by Dixie Union
10. Haikal Daaher, out of Sablah, by Distorted Humor
11. Improbable City Zip, out of Rare Event, by A P Indy
12. War of Will War Front, out of Visions of Clarity (IRE), by Sadler's Wells
13. Long Range Toddy Take Charge Indy, out of Pleasant Song, by Unbridled's Song
14. Tax Arch, out of Toll, by Giant's Causeway
15. Cutting Humor First Samurai, out of Pun, by Pulpit
16. Win Win Win Hat Trick (JPN), out of Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones
17. Country House Lookin At Lucky, out of Quake Lake, by War Chant
18. Gray Magician Graydar, out of Burg Berg, by Johannesburg
19. Spinoff Hardspun, out of Zaftig, by Gone West
20. Master Fencer (JPN) Just a Way (JPN), out of Sexy Zamurai, by Deputy Minister

Photos of five entries, posted in alphabetical order: