#field season feeling. the storm rolls in. slow dread and then understanding.

[swallowtailed]

hxh 85:

:(

[greyias]

FIC: The Waiting Game

Title: The Waiting Game Fandom: SWTOR Pairing: Theron Shan/f!Jedi Knight Rating: T Genre: Angsty angst angst Synopsis: The worst part about all of this was the waiting. Theron hated standing on the sidelines as everyone else risked their lives. He needed something to do. Anything to keep him distracted from his own thoughts. Spoilers: So many spoilers. For the end of Onslaught and its epilogue, for 6.1/“The Task at Hand” and for the upcoming storyline in 6.2. Warnings: Considering what’s going on in the world right now, I’m tagging this as “Covid19 related”, as parts of this may be uncomfortably familiar with the current state of events. There’s also a lot about Theron and his very fraught and complicated relationship with Satele in this. So if you’re not a fan of her, or you just think she’s the worst, you should probably skip this. Because I love her and their very complicated dynamic.

Crossposted to AO3

The crash was loud enough to hear from the senior staff meeting room.

It pulled Theron from the datapad he’d gotten lost in, and had him poking his head out the door into the hallway. He managed to just catch sight of Scourge’s dark armor disappearing around the corner as the Sith stormed off. Not that Theron hadn’t gotten used to Sith temper tantrums since coming to live on Odessen, but it still was enough to pique his curiosity.

Stepping out further into the hallway, he could just make out both Kira and his wife talking solemnly at the door that Scourge had stalked away from. Whatever the conversation was, both Jedi were clearly concerned. Grey gave the little astromech at her side an affectionate pat on the head, before she looked up, squinting down the hall until she caught sight of him. They were all far enough away where Theron couldn’t see their expressions clearly or even eavesdrop on what they were talking about, but the tense postures let him know that something was amiss.

As he walked up, he could see the remains of the crates that had splintered upon impact with the wall, and the rows of cracked monitors ringing the room. He quirked an eyebrow as he looked back at both Jedi. “You guys felt like redecorating? Not sure that ‘Warzone Nouveau’ is going to catch on as an aesthetic.”

Kira shot him a look, but he couldn’t quite decipher what it meant. Maybe she didn’t find his joke funny. Of course, he’d gotten that look a lot. Things had been a little awkward since she and Scourge formally joined the Alliance, but Theron hadn’t been able to figure out if they were just having a difficult time adjusting or if something else was going on.

He was saved from pondering on that further by his wife gently laying her hand on his arm. “Let’s take a walk.”

A familiar feeling of dread settled in his gut, and he swallowed before fixing a smile in place. Even if he had a feeling what this was about, he could pretend for a few moments more. They were quiet as they made their way to the elevator, and were about halfway down when he finally decided to break the silence.

“So, are we walking to any particular place?”

“I thought a stroll in the woods might be nice.”

“Are we going on an adventure?” His humor was a little forced, but he was trying for normalcy here. It’d been a while since they had that. About as long as since Kira and Scourge arrived on Odessen.

“Not the same type of adventure as the last time,” she said, a lilt of amusement tinging her voice.

“Pity.” Even if they were alone in the elevator, his voice was just a murmur as he leaned in closer.

He wasn’t really planning on doing anything inappropriate, was just angling on getting a reaction out of her, but the lift’s doors opened up onto the crowded walkway before he could push it any further. He let out a frustrated sigh and straightened up before anyone saw and got any ideas. The last thing he needed was to start rumors about improprieties in the lifts. Not that he really cared about the rumors about himself, but he’d already caused Grey enough trouble with his undercover stint. He didn’t need to give people more reasons to whisper about them.

Even if they were married.

They ambled on out, towards the cantina. He was trying to act casual, normal even, but Grey hadn’t said anything about what that conversation with Kira was about. Or why Scourge felt the need to redecorate the room quite so violently. But Theron had an idea anyway. Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face, because her hand found his and intertwined their fingers together.

When Theron had gone undercover, Grey had still been wearing the armor from her time before her carbonite sleep. Sometimes he’d wondered if she had worn the giant pauldrons, embroidered cape, and heavy gauntlets as some sort of armor against all the change in her life. But since his return, she’d adopted a new outfit. A much simpler garb, a deep blue tunic that was very Jedi in fashion. As silly as it sounded, it felt like some sort of evolution — like she was somehow more comfortable in her skin and her role in a way that she hadn’t been before. 

He liked it though, from the way the color of blue set off her eyes, to how the long trailing scarves on the tunic liked to pick up the wind when they stepped outside. The change from the heavy gauntlets to fingerless gloves was also a benefit, and especially nice in moments like these, as he was able to feel the warmth of her fingertips against his.

Of course, he’d also changed things up a little too. The long gray overcoat had long been discarded — the charred hole in the back where he’d been stabbed wasn’t a keepsake he wanted to hold onto. While he hadn’t abandoned his old style completely—his old, faithful red and black jacket was definitely still around—Theron had felt the need to integrate a little bit more variety into his style. Like the lighter coat he was wearing now, with a set of fingerless gloves of his own.

They were a little more comfortable to wear when he was just working around the base, and the tactile feedback of his bare hands was nice. He was of course referring to the fingers intertwined with his. For a few moments at least, the soft reassuring pressure and warmth of her touch chased away the anxiety welling up in the pit of his stomach. Although he supposed the gloves helped with the coding too, and his endless research with the HoloNet and beyond.

The sight of the two of them walking hand-in-hand didn’t raise too many eyebrows at this point. There had been a time where he’d tried to strictly keep the personal side of their relationship behind closed doors — but that had gone out the window a long, long time ago. At this point, Theron was pretty sure that the only person who scoffed at the public displays of affection was Lana, and that was just habit. Well, and maybe Grey’s older brother would make a comment or two about how disgusting and saccharine they were. But the jerk was probably just trying to get a rise out either of them with that sort of thing, because he got bored easily. It was like having a large, very old and very loud toddler as a brother-in-law. Sometimes Theron was thankful that he was an only child.

For now though, he and Grey were content to walk in companionable silence, meandering through the cantina, and out into the woods. It was springtime on Odessen, and it was a nice day. The variations in the season on the planet was still something that Theron was adjusting to, even years later.  If he had to pick a favorite, though, it would be spring. The fields beyond the military hangar would fill with these beautiful white flowers, and the sight of them brought to mind his homecoming from Nathema. The frequent rains kept the air humid, especially out here in the forest where there was less sunlight filtering through the canopy to speed up the evaporation. It made the ground smell fresh and new — and it reminded him of life.

These days, he really liked that reminder.

The temperature was still just cool enough where wearing a jacket outside wasn’t uncomfortable and gave him an excuse to draw his wife in a little closer under the guise of sharing warmth. She leaned into the embrace, and was happy to just walk along in ambling steps for a few more moments and let this quiet moment of peace linger. 

Then she let out a sigh, long and wearied, and it told him that whatever she was about to say next wasn’t going to be good news. But he’d already suspected that from Scourge’s temper tantrum.

“The quarantine has failed.” Her voice was quiet, ringing with an air of defeat she let show where no one but him could see.

His blood froze in his veins, his own steps slowing to a halt. “What do you mean ‘failed’?”

“The transport with Satele—where the infected were being contained—it’s not responding to our signals, and there was no sign of it at the next scheduled stop.”

That certainly explained the Sithly destruction. Theron couldn’t even blame Scourge, as a thousand conflicted feelings began to well up within himself. For the past few weeks, he’d been trying his best to keep them tied up. Like he was rolling every single thread of worry and anger and anxiety around each other, like it was some nervous ball of string. He wouldn’t let it unwind, he couldn’t. But the news picked at the fraying edge near the end, and if Theron wasn’t careful it could unspool into a mess that he’d have no hope of cleaning up.

The breath he blew out was long, whistling past clenched teeth. He needed to say something, because Grey was staring at him in the way she always did. Full of concern and warmth and understanding — and he loved being on the receiving end of that but also hated it because it just picked at that loose thread more. Her fingers shifted in his, holding him just a little tighter, and he let out another breath, giving her hand a squeeze in return. He swallowed, forcing the rising lump in his throat to go back down where it belonged, and managed to seize that thread of unease before it snagged on something and undid the tattered fabric of his composure.

He was fine. He just needed to focus. That was all. Preferably on the problem at hand.

So that’s what he did. “What’s our next step?”

“Right now Teeseven is heading out with an escort and as many probe droids we can spare. They can scan and sort through the data faster than we can.”

“And there’s no chance of them getting infected,” Theron pointed out sourly.

“That too,” she added with a sigh. “It’s just safer this way.”

She was right. Of course she was. The droids could do the job faster than anyone, cybernetics or no. He just hated being on the sidelines. Doing nothing.

“Do we know… how the ship disappeared?” He hated the hesitation in his voice, in the question itself. Hated the emotion in betrayed, even if he was sharing it with the safest person in the galaxy.

“No.” She gave his hand another squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

He’d had a nightmare last night. Where that ship of the damned had landed in some busy spaceport. Some place like Kuat. Or Nar Shaddaa. Or even Coruscant. And as the passengers of the transport walked out among the unsuspecting, all of the hapless victims fell into line one by one. And at the front of the crowd was someone that looked remarkably like his mother — but was definitely not her. The woman with Satele’s face had sightless, unseeing eyes that glowed with a malevolence. When she spoke, it was not the soft, calm measured tones he’d come to know, but with a deep chilling voice of a long vanquished ghost that Theron had first heard back on Yavin. Then the woman that was not his mother had turned on the unseen watcher and attacked.

Theron had awoken with a start. A fine sheen of sweat soaking through the thin sheet covering him. Somehow he hadn’t made enough noise to stir the woman sleeping next to him, still cocooned in all of the blankets and comforters on the bed. It had taken him a few moments to reorient in the darkness of their bedroom, let the familiar stone walls ground him back in reality. To remind himself that the dream had just been that. He hadn’t wanted to wake his wife to talk about the nightmare, even if he’d lain awake for a long time afterwards. Trying to shake the images from his head.

If someone were to ask him, Theron would tell them that he didn’t believe in ill omens. The timing of the dream with today’s news was just a coincidence. Or it was the product of a stressed mind trying to cope. His subconscious just trying to get him to pay attention to the things he kept pushing to the back of his mind during his waking hours.

In the light of day, he could see more clearly what was wrong with the dream. The last time the ship was seen, everyone on it was in a comatose state. Trapped in both a nightmarish slumber and stasis. The only thing amiss before today was the Force rumblings from Kira and Scourge that some thing was joining the consciousnesses of the infected together. His subconscious had just morphed that into something familiar — something a lot like Ziost. Another thing he didn’t like to think about.

There were a lot of things he didn’t like to think about. Too many mistakes and unpleasant things in his past to dwell on — and getting through the day right now sometimes felt like walking a very winding and narrow path to keep his thoughts focused and productive. Rather than take one of the branching paths into speculation about what was waiting for them when the ship was found.

As much as he tried to stay focused though, his mind still strayed. And he thought about Satele. A lot. He’d thought he’d excised that particular bad habit a long time ago. When he was growing up, he and Ngani Zho had talked about his mother, of course. Zho had never kept her a secret from Theron, and had told his young charge about his favorite student. For the longest time, Theron had this image built up in his head of this perfect, heroic Jedi that he’d someday meet. If he just tried hard enough, focused enough, and applied himself enough, he’d finally be able to wield the Force, and he’d have a chance of meeting the fabled woman that Zho talked about.

Even when both he and Zho had still been foolish enough to think that Theron had a chance at becoming a Jedi, they had never talked about mother and son ever being able to have that type of relationship. It would have been against those strict detachment edicts, as would have Satele taking her flesh and blood on as a Padawan. Even if the Force had deigned to grant him the ability to wield it like the rest of Revan’s bloodline, he probably would have had someone else train him. Maybe someone like Gnost-Dural. But if Theron was being honest with himself, not something he did often, in some of his more carefree moments as a child he’d imagined the two of them fighting side-by-side with lightsabers in hand.

He’d tried to scatter those stupid, childish notions away when he’d left Haashimut. Along with the selfish, immature longing for his mythical heroic mother to come save the teenage runaway when the shadows grew too dark during the night. He told himself that at thirteen he was too old to be wanting his mommy, especially since he’d never even met her. He reminded himself at fourteen too. By fifteen, he’d just about beaten that feeling away with bitterness. And at sixteen, he’d just learned to forget he’d ever even had the want to begin with.

Theron was approaching forty years old now. He was married and mostly happy with his life. There was still a small part of him, a part of him that he liked to pretend didn’t exist — to pretend had never existed — that still wanted his mother. Maybe not the one that he had, but that mythical, heroic figure of his childhood musings. Perhaps it was human nature, he thought, to crave the security and comfort provided by a parent.

A long time ago, before Ziost and Zakuul, before he’d even met the woman at his side, Satele had told her son that she would always be there for him if he needed her. All he had to do was ask. That same part of him he liked to pretend didn’t exist panicked at the thought that he might not have that anymore.

They’d never had a chance at a normal relationship. Not when Theron had been a young boy, dreaming of being that idealized Jedi like his mother before him. Definitely not as a bitter teenager out to prove that the galaxy was wrong about him. Nor even as adults, when they were working towards a common cause. Outside of a professional capacity, almost all of their conversations devolved into arguments — and since Theron was being honest with himself at the moment — a lot, though not all, of those had been started by him. Clinging to that old bitter feeling because the alternative meant opening himself up to being that scared, vulnerable kid again.

But not everything had been bad. They were precious few, but he did have a few pleasant memories with Satele. Most of them had been after Yavin, but before the Ziost incident. 

Mostly he remembers taking afternoon tea on Coruscanti terraces, a pleasant breeze teasing the air. He and Satele would take a break between the endless debriefs on the Revanite incident. Even during these moments of downtime, Satele would sit straight, posture perfectly poised as if she’d forgotten how to relax. Theron would sprawl back in his chair, kicking his feet up onto the table just to see if he could get a reaction out of her. Maybe get her to lecture him on proper decorum. He’d been careful not to kick any of the serving ware, just act like a bit of an uncouth ass.

She hadn’t lectured him though, just let a small smile quirk at the corner of her mouth. As if his attempt to rile her was both transparent and amusing. She would ask him politely about work, careful to keep the subject on something he was comfortable with. As if just the act of having this time together was enough for her, even if they never said anything of substance. 

It was funny. He hadn’t realized how much he’d actually enjoyed those quiet moments. At the time he’d just been focused on how awkward it was, trying to navigate the weirdness that was getting to know this stranger who was somehow not so strange. Now when he looked back on it, the awkwardness had faded, and the good stood out more. Time had a funny way of distorting things.

Theron didn’t know what he wanted at the end of all of this. He wasn’t sure if he and Satele could ever really have those quiet moments out on a Coruscant terrace now. Hell, he wasn’t sure if they’d be able to maintain a civil conversation. All he knew, as that when he was faced with the prospect of it, it crystalized in his mind clearly — he didn’t want his mother to die. She would one day, he knew that, by old age if nothing else. But he just wasn’t ready for that eventuality yet — even if they didn’t talk or hug or do any of the things normal families did. 

He was just not ready to live in a world where he didn’t have the opportunity to… do something different. And he didn’t want the last things expressed between them to be anger and bitterness. He didn’t want her to leave life thinking that he hated her. Because he didn’t. He just… just…

Without even realizing it, Theron started walking again. His pace brisk as if he could somehow escape the place that his mind had taken him to. Grey’s grip around him tightened but she kept in step with him, despite the fact that his legs were much longer than his and she was practically jogging to keep in stride. She was just there, a quiet, comforting presence at his side. Willing to wait on him to be ready to talk, always so patient and understanding.

He didn’t say anything yet, but slowed his steps a little so she didn’t have to try so hard to keep up even as he lifted his eyes up to the canopy. Counting the branches above as a way to think about something else.

Several years ago, this was the path that Grey had disappeared on when she had tried and failed to get intel from Valkorion for a mission. Where that ghost had stranded her out in the wilds. Where had Satele had found her, taken care of her — brought her to the ship that the former Jedi Grand Master had called home. Grey had eventually told him about all of what had happened, including all of the belongings and keepsakes that had been stowed away. Including some old toys Theron had when he was a child — and a locket with a picture of him after he’d joined the SIS. For a woman who had based so much of her life on not clinging to attachments, Satele apparently had quite a lot of things she was attached to. 

He still hadn’t figured that part out. Most people wouldn’t hoard the past possessions of children they didn’t want. Nor steal holos from sealed government files to have a memento of their long-lost son. There was a part of him that wanted to see Satele again so he could demand why she had those. The rational part of him knew it would be a stupid question, because there was really only one logical explanation.

Honestly, he wasn’t sure if hearing her say it aloud would make it better or worse. Hearing his mother actually tell him in words that she cared for him — maybe even loved him — would it make it easier or harder to accept whatever her fate was?

And beyond everything to do with Satele, and all of his stupidly complicated family drama, there was the woman at his side. His wife, his partner. One of the few people who was immune to the sickness that had overtaken his mother. The one who supposedly could walk into the heart of the contagion without fear of infection. Theron should have all the faith in the galaxy that she would save the day. Because she had never let him down, not once since they’d met. 

Yet the question still hovered. What if? What if she’s not immune? What if whatever had taken over Satele and all those following her took Grey too? 

Theron couldn’t lose his wife. He just couldn’t.

He knew that he would lose some unquantifiable part of his life if his mother died, even if he didn’t understand what that would look like until it happened. But he knew what his life would be like without the woman at his side. He’d already lived through that hell for nearly five years. He knew the emptiness of waking up each morning alone. Of the anger and impotent rage that never went away. Of the grief that bled away the brighter, happier moments. How even sleep wasn’t an escape, because then the day would just start over the moment he woke up.

It was why he’d so willingly thrown himself into danger when someone was conspiring to kill her. Better him than her, he’d thought. It was both a selfless and selfish desire. Keep her safe from harm — save himself from the pain again.

When he looked down from the canopy, it took him a moment to realize how far they’d walked. He blinked, breathed, and tried to reorient himself. Reminded himself to not pick at that thread of anxiety and what ifs. To not look too far beyond this moment. The future wasn’t guaranteed, only the present.

“Is there anything that I can do?” he finally asked, deciding not to ruminate on how long they’d probably been walking in silence.

“Right now, the safest thing to do is let Teeseven do his work.”

“So all we can do is wait?”

“It could be a few days. Or weeks. Or months. I can’t give you any certainties.” She let out a sigh. “I know it’s not ideal.”

Of course it wasn’t. Theron wasn’t good at waiting. For all his childhood training, all of the meditation techniques and special education that Zho had given him, he’d never quite been able to cure Theron of his natural impatience. His drive to just do. It was probably written somewhere in his SIS personnel file, hell, Lana had probably scribbled it in every single margin of his Alliance personnel file too. “Impatient.” ”Impulsive.” “Keep away from trains.”

Theron hated standing on the sidelines as everyone else risked their lives. Or in this case, as a bunch of droids did the searching for him. He needed something to do. Anything to keep him distracted from his own thoughts.

He hated this.

The waiting was killing him. Part of him wanted this to just be over. See where the cards fell and then let life get back to normal. He was also dreading the end of the waiting. The moment it ended, it meant that the danger arrived. Whatever this infection was building towards, something in his life was going to change. He could lose his mother. He could lose his wife. He could lose them both.

So the waiting was a blessing. And it was a curse. And right now, it was all he had. All he could do was focus on the present, even as the future came barreling towards them.

“You know, we’re already in the woods,” he said.

“We are.”

“What do you say we get lost here for a while…” Theron let his voice drop low, and watched as a little warmth raced into Grey’s cheeks. “We could have us another adventure.”

She snuggled in closer, laying her head on his shoulder. The proximity lit up a fire in his gut, and for a few moments, it knocked away that fraying thread of unease. In this moment, it was just the two of them.

“You know, I think that sounds like a good way to spend our time.”

And so they walked on, hand in hand. Still waiting. Together.

[silly-fox-in-sox]

The 2017 Kentucky Derby Field! 

1. Lookin At Lee 20-1

Lookin At Lucky x Langara Lass (Langfuhr) KY S Asumssen / C Lanerie 2-2-2 (9) $452,795

Lookin At Lee hasn’t won since August of his 2yo season, but has hit the board enough times to make it into the Derby Field. He’s the sort of horse who likes to lay far, far back and make one big run - so hopefully he can handle the dreaded 1 hole by breaking slow and laying back. He ran a decent second to Classic Empire in the G3 Iroquois in his only start over an off track.

Pedigree Note: His half-sister Battlefield was G1 placed on dirt and a stakes winner on turf.

2. Thunder Snow 20-1

Helmet (AUS) x Eastern Joy (GB) IRE S Bin Suroor / C Soumillon 4-2-0 (8) $1,627,541

Thunder Snow is the big, globe-trotting horse; when he enters the Derby gate, it will be the 4th country and 3rd continent he’s raced in. The colt has been classy from the start, running solidly in G2 Company in England on the grass and undefeated over dirt in his two starts in Dubai. He comes into this race as the only colt who’s run (and won) over 1 1/8 miles thanks to his very strong win in the G2 UAE Derby.

Pedigree Note: He’s a half-brother to stakes winner Always Smile & G2 winner Ihtimal. Their dam Eastern Joy is a half-sister to G1 winner West Wind

3. Fast and Accurate 50-1

Hansn x It’s Heidi’s Dance (Green Dancer) PA M Maker / C Hill 3-1-0 (6) $340,362

Fast And Accurate was a late supplemental entry to the Derby after he earned his way in with a win in the 50pt, G3 Spiral. This will only be his 2nd start on natural dirt, which he hasn’t raced over since running 5th against maidens at Parx. As a 3yo he’s been undefeated in both of his starts and is riding a 3 race win streak. His owner has made it clear the plan for him is to gun for the lead and try to hold it.

Pedigree Note: His dam is a half-sister to G3 winner Bwana Bull, G2 winner Bwana Charlie, & G2 winner My Pal Charlie

4. Untrapped 30-1

Trappe Shot x Exit Three (Giant’s Causeway) KY S Asmussen / R Santana Jr. 1-3-1 (6) $259,658

Untrapped hasn’t won since last November, but he’s held is own alright on the Derby trail. He finished 2nd to Guest Suite in the G3 Lecomte, and 2nd to Girvin in the G2 Risen Star before his people decided to leave the Fair Grounds and give Oaklawn a shot. In Arkansas he was 3rd behind Malagacy in the G2 Rebel and off the board in the G1 Arkansas Derby. He took to the mud well enough in his only try on an off-surface.

Pedigree Note: His dam is an un-raced granddaughter of Yarn. Yarn is a full-sister to Preach, the dam of Pulpit (Tapit’s sire) and the dam of G1 winner Minardi, G2 winner and important sire Tale of the Cat, Myth - the dam of champion Johannesburg,

5. Always Dreaming 5-1

Bodemeister x Above Perfection (In Excess) KY T Pletcher / J Velazquez 3-1-1 (5) $648,900

I wouldn’t be surprised if Always Dreaming ends up the favorite by post time. His score in the G1 Florida Derby was both among the fastest and most visually impressive of the big final preps. He’s also rolling into the Derby undefeated since turning 3 and moving into Pletcher’s barn.

Pedigree Note: He’s a half-brother to G1 winner & G3 stakes producer Hot Dixie Chick. Their dam Above Perfection was G1 placed.

6. State of Honor 30-1

To Honor and Serve x State Cup (Elusive Quality) ON M Casse / J Lezcano 1-4-2 (10) $382,548

State of Honor is tied with the maiden Sonneteer for the most pre-Derby start with 10 races under his belt. The handsome colt has been on the board in 7 of those races, but struggled to make it to the winners’ circle. He’s also had the unfortunate habit of refusing to settle early in his races, which makes me a little nervous for his chances in the 20 horse calvary charge. If he’s learned to settle he has a solid chance to make some noise in here.

Pedigree Note: His dam State Cup is a half-sister to G2 winner St Averil and his grand dam Avie’s Fancy was a G2 winner

7. Girvin 15-1

Tale of Ekati x Catch the Moon (Malibu Moon) KY J Sharp / M Smith 3-1-0 (4) $874,400

The Louisiana based colt was defeated only once in his short career, and that was on grass. He’s done nothing but run consistently well and swept the big Louisiana preps to be the top point earner of the year. It’s worth noting, that since the points system was implemented, each year’s top points earner has gone on to wear the roses, but at the same time the G2 Louisiana Derby hasn’t produced a Derby winner since Grindstone back in 1996. Word is that Girvin is also having some physical issues and has been swimming more than working lately.

Pedigree Note: His only sibling is G3 winner Cocked and Loaded

8. Hence 15-1

Street Boss x Floating Island (A.P. Indy) KY S Asmussent / F Geroux 2-1-1 (6) $462,601

The bright red colt has quickly gone from my favorite under-the-radar longshot to wise guy horse after the horses he dominated in the G3 Sunland Derby have come back to make serious noise in graded stakes. Hence hasn’t been a particularly consistent colt, throwing some occasional bombs. He did break his maiden in the slop, so if it’s as rainy as they say it will be Hence should be happy.

Pedigree Note: His dam is a half-sister to Canadian champion broodmare Pico Teneriffe - the dam of Canadian champion Marchfield

9. Irap 20-1

Tiznow x Silken Cat ( Storm Cat) KY D O’neill / M Gutierrez 1-3-1 (8) $772,600

Irap took his sweet, sweet time breaking his maiden. Even though he didn’t seem to understand what winning was, he still showed some class - finishing second to Conquest Mo Money in the Mine That Bird Derby, 2nd in the G3 Robert B Lewis, and 2nd in the G1 Los Al Futurity. Breaking his maiden with a gritty - if slow - win in the G1 Blue Grass was quite the shocker. Funny note - most of his worst finishes were when competing against maidens.

Pedigree Note: He’s a half-brother to G1 BC Sprint champ & important sire Speightstown.

10. Gunnevera 15-1

Dialed In x Unbridled Rage (Unbridled’s Song) KY A Sano / J Castellano 4-2-1 (9) $1,170,200

Gunnevera has been one of the most consistent horses on the Derby trail. His only off the board finishes came when he was a 2yo and didn’t get a particularly good trip, but he still put in his run each time. He’s been a dependable performer in the Florida prep series, running solid seconds in the G2 Holy Bull & G1 Florida Derby and getting a runaway win in the G2 Fountain of Youth. If he gets the hot pace setup he loves, Gunnevera is a serious threat.  

Pedigree Note: You don’t often see Graustark as close as the 3rd generation anymore, but he’s Gunnevera’s grand dams’ damsire (say that 3-times fast)

11. Battle of Midway 30-1

Smart Strike x Rigoletta (Concerto) KY J Hollendorfer / F Pratt 2-1-1 (4) $290,000

He’s a late-comer to the Derby trail. Battle of Midway is up against he Apollo curse since he didn’t make his first start until the end of January. On the plus-side, he’s improved with each race, and seems to appreciate the extra distance he’s gotten each time. His 2nd place finish in the Santa Anita Derby was particularly impressive after he was the only speed left standing at the end.

Pedigree Note: His dam Rigoletta was a G1 winner and he has no line-breeding in his first 5 generations.

12. Sonneteer  50-1

Midnight Lute x Ours (Half Ours) KY D O’neill / M Gutierrez 0-4-2 (10) $284,445

Tied with State of Honor as the most experienced horse in the field, this inky colt also goes to post as the only maiden in the field. If he wins, he’ll be only the 4th horse to get his first win in the Kentucky Derby, joining Buchanan(1884), Sir Barton (1919), & Brokers Tip(1933). Granted, maidens don’t contend the Derby very often, with only 10 trying since 1937, including Trojan Nation last year. Word is Sonneteer looks gorgeous on the track at Churchill.

Pedigree Note: He’s by my favorite son of Real Quiet and his grand dam is Classy Mirage, a multipe G1 winning sprinter. His dam is a half-sister to G1 winner Dublin.

13. J Boys Echo  20-1

Mineshaft x Letgomyecho (Menifee) D Romans / L Saez 2-1-1 (6) $349,600

J Boys Echo has been another perplexing runner this year. One moment he’s doing a runaway train impression in the G3 Gotham, and the next he’s struggling to finish 4th behind a maiden in the G1 Blue Grass. If he puts his best hoof forward he’s plenty good enough to win the Derby - but which horse will show up on Saturday?

Pedigree Note: He’s a half brother to G3 Unbridled Outlaw and their dam Letgomyecho was a G2 winner.

14. Classic Empire 4-1

Pioneerof the Nile x Sambuca Classica (Cat Thief) KY M Casse / J Leparoux 5-0-1 (7) $2,120,220

The “Bad Boy” champion is going to give his people whiter hair than Baffert by the time this is done. When Classic Empire decides to put his mind to business and run, he’s been unstoppable - winning the G3 Bashford Manner, G1 Breeders’ Futurity, G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and G1 Arkansas Derby. He’s won by open lengths, in a dog fight, on the mud, on a dry track, sprinting 4 1/2 f and routing 1 1/8 miles. When Classic Empire doesn’t feel agreeable, he throws his jockey (G1 Hopeful Debacle), refuses to train, and wastes all his energy throwing fits before the race (G2 Holy Bull). If he can bring his A game, we might see something really special.

Pedigree Note: His half-brother Anytime Magic is a stakes winning sprinter

15. McCraken 5-1

Ghostzapper x Ivory Empress (Seeking the Gold) KY I Wilkes / B Hernandez Jr. 4-0-1 (5) $410,848

McCraken looked like a monster in the making at the start of the year. He was an undefeated winner of the G2 KY JC at Churchill Downs and looked every bit a Derby winner in his 3yo bow - a measured win in the Sam F Davis. But then lady luck intervened and a minor physical issue derailed his Derby trail plans. He got it back together in time for the G1 Blue Grass, but couldn’t catch a maiden and was outrun by Practical Joke. He has a lot of class to fall back on, and should move forward off his disappointing Blue Grass.

Pedigree Note: His half-brother is a G3-placed turf miler. His grand dam Madame Pandit was G1 placed and the dam of G1 winning turf mare Mea Domina

16. Tapwrit 20-1

Tapit x Appealing Zophie (Successful Appeal) KY T Pletcher / J Ortiz 3-1-0 (6) $343,902

Here’s another colt that looked seriously special early on the Derby trail. He’s a gorgeous grey who looks every bit the $1.2 million spent to buy him. After breaking his maiden in second asking, he pulled away from Master Plan - the future G2 UAE Derby 3rd-place finisher - and was a fast closing second to McCraken in the G3 Sam F Davis. With McCraken out of the way, he exploded in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby. But then the G1 Blue Grass happened and he threw in a total clunker. The Blue Grass has been quite the undoing for several hot horses.

Pedigree Note: His dam Appealing Zophie won the G1 Spinaway at 2 and the G3 Silverbulletday at 3

17. Irish War Cry 6-1

Curlin x Irish Sovereign (Polish Numbers) NJ G Motion / R Maragh 4-0-0 (5) $699,460

The big son of Curlin is yet another horse who had to make a comeback from an inexplicably lousy race. He too was an undefeated, stakes winning 2yo who transitioned beautifully into his 3yo season. He looked like a future monster when he ran off with the G2 Holy Bull in his first start of the year, but then he didn’t pick up a hoof in the G2 Fountain of Youth. He got his redemption in the G2 Wood Memorial - winning with a strong speed figure and making quite the visual impression. As a son of Curlin, I bet he loves the rain

Pedigree Note: Curlin has had good luck as a sire of classic winners, with Palace Malice and Exaggerator. He has a lot of stamina in his pedigree.

18. Gormley 15-1

Malibu Moon x Race to Urga (Bernstein) KY J Shirreffs / V Espinoza 4-0-0 (6) $920,000

Gormley was a very classy 2yo who, like so many this year, has had consistency issues. His win in the G1 Front Runner was solid but he followed up with a total clunker in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His 3yo debut was a very impressive, hard fought win in the Sham, but followed up by a blah non-effort in the G2 San Felipe. Most recently he pulled past Battle of Midway to win the G1 Santa Anita Derby in a slow time. He looks like the best of the California horses, and the West Coast has been killin’ it lately on Derby day. Also, if it rains - watch out. His best race was run over some rare So-Cal slop.

Pedigree Note: His dam Race to Urga is a stakes winner on grass and his grand dam Miss Mambo was G1 placed on the grass in France.

19. Practical Joke 20-1

Into Mischief x Halo Humor (Distorted Humor) KY C Brown / J Rosario 3-2-1 (6) $1,015,800

Next to Classic Empire, Practical Joke has the classiest 2yo record to fall back on. He won both the big NY G1 races for 2yo colts - the G1 Hopeful and the G1 Champaign. His 3rd place finish in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was a solid effort to finish out his year. This year he’s struggled to get a win, but hasn’t had a bad effort. His seconds in the G2 Fountain of Youth and the G1 Blue Grass were solid enough. A lot of people question his ability to get 1 1/4 miles based on his pedigree.

Pedigree Note: His only inbreeding is to Halo (5x5), but his close-up family is pretty speed heavy.

20. Patch 30-1

Union Rags x Windyindy (A.P. Indy) KY T Pletcher / T Gaffalione 1-2-0 (3) $230,020

The one-eyed wonder is the talk of social media. He’s the most lightly raced colt of the bunch with just 3 starts and will be fighting Apollo’s curse since he didn’t debut until mid January. Patch has impressed, breaking his maiden with a big speed figure at Gulfstream, then finishing a good second in the G2 Louisiana Derby. A lot of Derby history is up against Patch, but he’ll be a definite fan-favorite on Derby day.

Pedigree Note: He’s a half-brother to G2 winner Tiz Windy.

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AE 1 Royal Mo 20-1 AE 2 Master Plan 50-1