3. McCraken
Derby Points/Rank: 40 – 15th
Race Record: (5) 4-0-1
Earnings: $410,848
Breeding: Ghostzapper – Ivory Empress
Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Last Race: Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Finished 3rd
Analysis: Not good. When a maiden and a one-turn horse finish ahead of you, not good is the only words you can use to describe it. Here is the good news: the McCraken that we saw in the Blue Grass is not the real McCraken. That horse was obviously not fit enough for the race and probably got a lot out of the effort as far as fitness goes. Now, here is the bad news: it was not a confidence builder for anyone backing him; he looked below average in the race. He will need a serious bounce back in Kentucky.
