Study Guide: 2023 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes

Nov 29, 2023 J. Keeler Johnson

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues on Saturday with the running of the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Down, a 1 1/16-mile qualifier worth 10-5-3-2-1 points to the top five finishers.

Eight horses have entered the Kentucky Jockey Club, which has produced a long list of Kentucky Derby starters including 2010 Derby hero Super Saver. Let’s meet the contenders:

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Awesome Road

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables and Donegal Racing
Breeder: Claiborne Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning his debut at Ellis Park.
Total Earnings: $48,100

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Orate
Color: Bay

Awesome Road misfired in his first Road to the Kentucky Derby foray, finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1). But he’d previously shown excellent tactical speed when winning his debut sprinting six furlongs at Ellis Park, beating future Bob Hope (G3) runner-up Stronghold by 2 3/4 lengths. Hot trainer Brad Cox is showing confidence bringing Awesome Road right back in another Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier, so don’t be surprised if Awesome Road bounces back with a winning run.

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Honor Marie

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Ribble Farms
Breeder: Royce Pulliam
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in a Churchill Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $77,720

Sire: Honor Code
Dam: Dame Marie
Color: Bay

Honor Marie unleashed a big stretch rally to win his debut sprinting six furlongs at Churchill Downs, but he was subsequently beaten four lengths when second in a seven-furlong $100,000 allowance optional claimer over the same track. Honor Marie has talent, but may need another step forward to beat this caliber of competition.

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Real Men Violin

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 3
Show: 1

Owner: Tilted Shamrock Stables
Breeder: Newtown Anner Stud
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (92) when breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $138,775

Sire: Mendelssohn
Dam: Meg Fitz
Color: Chestnut

Real Men Violin ran well without winning in his first four starts and then broke through with a half-length triumph in a one-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. That victory produced a 92 Brisnet Speed rating that tops the Kentucky Jockey Club field, so don’t count Real Men Violin out of win contention for trainer Kenny McPeek, who has won this race twice in the last five years.

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Dancing Groom

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Alexandres
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $118,380

Sire: Vino Rosso
Dam: Snow Dancer
Color: Chestnut

A five-length maiden winner racing one mile at Saratoga, Dancing Groom joined the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a third-place finish in the Champagne (G1). Although he was beaten 10 1/2 lengths, the Champagne was a fast race on paper, so Dancing Groom received a respectable 89 Brisnet Speed rating even in defeat. As a son of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Vino Rosso out of a mare by Preakness (G1) winner Bernardini, Dancing Groom is bred to improve with distance and maturity, so he still has upside and is eligible to factor in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

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Nomos

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Wertheimer and Frere
Breeder: Wertheimer et Frere
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing fourth in the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $46,125

Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Westit
Color: Bay

Turf campaigner Nomos romped in his debut at Monmouth Park, winning by four lengths, but faltered against tougher competition when fourth in the With Anticipation (G3) and 12th in the Bourbon (G2). His Brisnet Speed ratings look light against the Kentucky Jockey Club field, but perhaps switching to dirt can trigger improvement.

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Stretch Ride

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Jackpot Farm
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Martin Chuan

Top Speed Rating: (86) when winning a Keeneland allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $135,495

Sire: Street Sense
Dam: Q Go Girl
Color: Bay

A son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Stretch Ride is undefeated in two starts, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs before stretching out to dominate a 1 1/16-mile $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Keeneland by 5 3/4 lengths. Stretch Ride isn’t the fastest Kentucky Jockey Club entrant from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, but he’s progressing in the right direction, and one more step forward can put him in win contention.

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Risk It

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm
Breeder: Gun Runner Syndicate, De Sousa Stables, and Cranford Bloodstock
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning his debut at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $116,400

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Wedding Jitters
Color: Chestnut

Risk It romped in his debut sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga, leading all the way to score by 4 1/2 lengths, but was beaten to second place when stepping up in class and distance for the one-mile Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs. On the bright side, Risk It chased a destructive pace in that Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier and was only beaten 1 3/4 lengths by a rival who rallied from farther back, so Risk It has room to improve if he gets a better pace setup in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

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One Red Cent

Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Patience Jazdzewski and Mark Dyster
Breeder: Patience Wanda Jazdzewski
Trainer: Jon Jazdzewski
Jockey: Gerardo Corrales

Top Speed Rating: (79) when winning a $100,000 maiden claimer at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $57,025

Sire: Dominus
Dam: Uneven
Color: Chestnut

The most experienced Kentucky Jockey Club entrant with seven starts under his belt, One Red Cent ran his best race to date when winning a $100,000 maiden claimer dashing 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 15. But the speedy son of Dominus has done his best work sprinting, and his career-best 79 Brisnet Speed rating suggests he’ll need a step forward to challenge against tougher competition in the Kentucky Jockey Club.