Risen Star, Southwest top busy weekend of Derby points races

Feb 13, 2018 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Last Saturday’s Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs was the only Kentucky Derby prep of the weekend and it produced an upset winner in Flameaway, who thus far has not been nominated to the Triple Crown.

While he’ll presumably be made eligible at a future supplementary stage, for the time being the John Oxley-owned colt did not officially enter the Derby picture despite his 10-point victory over Catholic Boy (#7), whose four points for second boosted his total to 14. Hollywood Star added two points to his total in finishing third and currently sits at 17th place (5 points).

It will be a much busier time for Derby preps over the holiday weekend of February 17-19 with three on the schedule, including the first Championship series prep worth 50 points to the winner. That is the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds on Saturday, which has attracted a field of 10.

Among the Top 20 domestic point earners in the Risen Star lineup are Lecomte (G3) winner Instilled Regard (#9, 14) and that race’s runner-up Principe Guilherme (#20, 4). The race’s victor is virtually assured a spot in the Kentucky Derby field.

Bravazo (#19, 4) was also entered in the Risen Star, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas is also considering re-routing the colt to the $500,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn on Presidents Day. Worth 10 points to the winner, the Southwest is expected to include Hopeful (G1) winner Sporting Chance and last month’s Smarty Jones one-two Mourinho (#13, 10) and Combatant (#15, 8), as well as Seven Trumpets, who is currently in 21st place with four points.

The other prep of the weekend is Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields over the Tapeta at 1 1/16 miles. 

(Coady Photography)