Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: O Besos

Apr 22, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds’ O Besos has compiled 25 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series and currently ranks 19th on the leaderboard. His career mark reads 5-2-0-1, $172,624.

The Greg Foley trainee made his initial start at Churchill Downs on November 22 and finished a belated sixth over a sloppy surface while facing maiden special weight foes. He concluded his short juvenile campaign with a facile maiden special weight tally at Fair Grounds, when drawing off by 5 1/2 widening lengths in a sprint on the main oval.

O Besos commenced his three-year-old season on January 17 and went last-to-first in an allowance dash at Fair Grounds, finishing 2 1/4 lengths clear under the wire in a sharp showing. In his stakes debut, the chestnut was an even fourth in the Risen Star S. (G2) while making his initial attempt going a route of ground. The colt was a fast-closing third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) in his most recent performance, which was arguably his best one to date.

Bred in the Bluegrass State by L. Barrett Bernard, the son of Orb is the second black-type performer produced from the stakes-winning Soto mare Snuggs and Kisses, who is also responsible for an unnamed two-year-old colt by California Chrome, as well as an unnamed yearling colt by California Chrome.

O Besos continues to progress for Foley and has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in each lifetime start (76-82-88-91-94), with his top numbers coming in his two-turn endeavors. The chestnut has a consistently good turn of foot and is obviously trending in the right direction in preparation of the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

The lack of early speed will hurt his chances at taking home the top prize at Churchill Downs, but a top-four finish is well within reach for the talented sophomore if he continues to move forward in the weeks leading up to the Run for the Roses.

Andrew Brown visits with O Besos' riding unit: