Road to the Kentucky Heats Up With Quartet of Races Saturday

Mar 03, 2022

With nine weeks remaining until the first
Saturday in May, several top 3-year-olds are beginning to emerge in their quest
for a spot in the starting gate for the Grade I, $3 million Kentucky Derby
presented by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, May 7.

         
On Saturday, a quartet of Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers will be held
throughout the country including three stops in the Championship Series. The
action is headlined by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park,
which features an ultra-competitive cast of 12 colts and geldings. Remsen (GII)
winner Mo Donegal was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite but
will scratch from the race due to a low grade fever, according to trainer Todd
Pletcher. Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner Simplification is now the
7-2 early choice. More than 2,700 miles away at Santa Anita Park,
highly-regarded San Vicente (GII) winner Forbidden Kingdom tops
the $400,000 San Felipe (GII) as the 8-5 favorite. On the East Coast at
Aqueduct, undefeated Jimmy Winkfield Stakes winner Morello is the 3-1
favorite in the $300,000 Gotham (GIII).

         
All three races will award eligible horses with points on a 50-20-10-5 scale to
the top four finishers.

         
Additionally, the final Prep Season race, the $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial,
will be run at Turfway Park as a local prep for the $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks
(GIII) on April 2. The 1 1/16-mile race, which will award the Top 4 finishers
points on a 10-4-2-1 scale,  is topped by Grade II winner and Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Turf (GI) runner-up Tiz the Bomb. 

         
Fans can bet all four races Saturday on www.TwinSpires.com,
the official wagering provider of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs Inc.

         
The San Felipe Stakes and Fountain of Youth will be broadcast on CNBC from 4-6
p.m. The racing action also will be shown on “America’s Day at the Races” from
4:30-7 p.m. on Fox Sports 2 and on TVG.

 

MORNING LINE FAVORITE MO DONEGAL TO SCRATCH FROM
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH; FULL FIELD OF 12 EXPECTED – Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher
reported Wednesday that Donegal Racing’s $250,000 Remsen (Grade II)
winner Mo Donegal, who was made the early 3-1 favorite in Saturday’s
$400,000 Fountain of Youth (GII), will scratch from the 1 1/16-mile race due to
a low-grade fever.

         
Nevertheless, the Fountain of Youth, which will offer the Top 4 finishers
points on a 50-20-10-5 scale toward the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by
Woodford Reserve (GI), is loaded with potential talent.

         
Even with the scratch of Mo Donegal, Pletcher still appears to have a live shot
at winning his record-breaking fourth Fountain of Youth with WinStar Farm
and Siena Farm’s undefeated colt Emmanuel. Now the second choice
at odds of 9-2 on the morning line, Emmanuel dominated both of his starts by a
combined 11 ¼ lengths. The son of the former-Pletcher trained More Than Ready,
Emmanuel will be united with Gulfstream Park’s leading rider Luis Saez
from post No. 8. Seven years ago, Saez and Pletcher teamed to win the Fountain
of Youth with Itsaknockout. Pletcher also sports victories in the race
with Scat Daddy (2007) and Eskendereya (2010).

         
Also entered in the field is Rattle N Roll, who is slated to make his
3-year-old bow after winning the $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland
last October. Trained by Kenny McPeek and owned by the Louisville-based
partnership Lucky Seven Stable, Rattle N Roll’s four-race career has
been etched in drama. In his second start at Saratoga, the Connect colt was
pulled up in the far turn after McPeek said a rock possibly hit Rattle N Roll
and caused him to bolt from the field. Rattle N Roll returned four weeks later
and dominated a field of nine rivals at Churchill Downs in a maiden special
weight contest. In the Breeders’ Futurity, Rattle N Roll cruised to a 4
¼-length score at odds of 8-1. The chestnut colt was targeting a start in the
$400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) in late November but spiked a temperature
and received time off. Rattle N Roll has been working steadily at Gulfstream
Park for the Fountain of Youth, including a swift :58.60 move last Saturday
outside of stablemate Creative Minister. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will
ship from Fair Grounds to ride from post 6.

         
Other top contenders in the Fountain of Youth include $150,000 Mucho Macho Man
winner and Holy Bull (GIII) runner-up Simplification; $200,000 Street
Sense winner Howling Time; $200,000 Saratoga Special (GII) winner High
Oak; $125,000 Pasco winner Markhamian; and recent allowance winners In
Due Time and A.P.’s Secret.

         
The Fountain of Youth field is rounded out by $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
(GI) third-place finisher Giant Game, $100,000 Swale Stakes (GIII)
runner-up Dean Delivers and $150,000 Limehouse stakes third-place runner
O Captain.

         
Galt, who finished fourth in the Holy Bull, was the lone also-eligible
entrant but will draw into the field with the scratch of Mo Donegal.

         
Here’s the complete field for the Fountain of Youth from the rail out (with
jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Markhamian (Marcos Meneses, Juan Avila,
20-1); Simplification (Jose Ortiz, Antonio Sano, 7-2); Howling Time (Joe
Talamo, Dale Romans, 15-1); In Due Time (Paco Lopez, Kelly Breen, 6-1); Dean
Delivers (Miguel Vasquez, Michael Yates, 15-1); Rattle N Roll (Brian Hernandez
Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1); A.P.’s Secret (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.,
20-1); Emmanuel (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher, 9-2); High Oak (Junior Alvarado,
Bill Mott, 8-1); Giant Game (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans, 15-1); O Captain
(Javier Castellano, Gustavo Delgado, 30-1); and Mo Donegal (Irad Ortiz Jr.,
Todd Pletcher, 3-1). Also eligible: Galt (Joel Rosario, Bill Mott, 12-1).

         
Fans can bet on the Fountain of Youth at www.TwinSpires.com,
the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc.

 

SAN VICENTE WINNER FORBIDDEN KINGDOM TOPS SAN
FELIPE –
MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm’s $200,000 San Vicente (Grade
II) winner Forbidden Kingdom is poised to make his first start around
two turns in Saturday’s $400,000 San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita.

         
Run at 1 1/16 miles, the San Felipe features a compact field of seven colts. A
maximum 85 points will be awarded to the Top 4 finishers in a 50-20-10-5 scale.
Armagnac and Doppelganger are ineligible to garner points in the
San Felipe because they are trained by Bob Baffert, who is suspended
from competing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby by Churchill Downs Incorporated. The
San Felipe will go as Race 5 at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET.

         
The speedy Forbidden Kingdom, trained by Richard Mandella, cruised to a
front-running score in the Jan. 29 San Vicente, which was run at seven
furlongs.

         
“He’s as quick as they come,” said 71-year-old Mandella, who was inducted into
racing’s Hall of Fame in 2001.

         
Mandella has won more than 2,200 races in his career but has yet to win the
Kentucky Derby (GI). Mandella’s former trainee Omaha Beach was the 4-1
favorite in the 2019 Kentucky Derby but had to be scratched three days prior to
the race after his team discovered the colt had an entrapped epiglottis.

         
For many horses based in California, the San Felipe is the local prep to the $1
million Santa Anita Derby (GI) that will be staged on Saturday, April 9.

         
Here’s the complete field for the San Felipe from the rail out (with jockey,
trainer and morning line odds): Happy Jack (Abel Cedillo, Doug O’Neill,
8-1); Worse Read Sanchez (Mario Guitierrez, O’Neill, 20-1); Armagnac
(John Velazquez, Baffert, 5-1); Beautiful Art (Mike Smith, Simon
Callaghan, 12-1); Doppelganger (Flavian Prat, Baffert, 9-5); Forbidden Kingdom
(Juan Hernandez, Mandella, 8-5); and Cabo Spirit (Victor Espinoza,
George Papaprodromou, 5-1).

         
Worse Read Sanchez and Beautiful Art are not currently nominated to the Triple
Crown. To become eligible, their connections could pay a $6,000 late nomination
fee by Monday, March 28.

         
Fans can bet on the San Felipe at www.TwinSpires.com,
the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc.

 

UNDEFEATED MORELLO LEADS FIELD OF 10 IN GOTHAM – Blue Lion
Thoroughbreds and Craig and Victoria Taylor’s
undefeated $150,000 Jimmy Winkfield winner Morello tops a cast of 10
3-year-olds that were entered in Saturday’s $300,000 Gotham (Grade III) at
Aqueduct.

         
The one-mile Gotham will go as the finale on Aqueduct’s 10-race card with a
post time of 5:27 p.m. ET. Fans can wager on the Gotham at www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering
provider of Churchill Downs Inc.

         
Nine of the 10 horses that entered the Gotham are eligible to gain a possible
85 points toward a spot in the starting gate in the $3 million Kentucky Derby
presented by Woodford Reserve (GI). Eligible horses within the Top 4 will
receive points on a 50-20-10-5 scale. Rockefeller is currently
ineligible to gain points because his trainer Bob Baffert is suspended
by Churchill Downs Incorporated from competing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

         
Morello, trained by Steve Asmussen, cruised to a five-length win last
out in the Jimmy Winkfield, the local prep to the Gotham. The son of Classic
Empire broke his maiden at Aqueduct by 4 ¼ lengths in late November. Morello
and jockey Jose Lezcano will break from post No. 9.

         
The Gotham field also features WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s
undefeated Dean’s List, who ships in from Gulfstream Park for trainer Todd
Pletcher and Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor, Peter Rinato and
Ray Handal’s speedy maiden winner Fromanothamutha, who enters the
Gotham with the highest last race Brisnet Speed Figure of 105. 

         
Here’s the complete field for the Gotham from the rail out (with jockey,
trainer and morning line odds): Runninsonofagun (Jalon Samuel, John
Toscano Jr., 30-1); Glider (Antonio Gallardo, Mark Casse, 8-1); Golden
Code (Kendrick Carmouche, Todd Pletcher, 12-1); Fromanothamutha (Dylan
Davis, Handal, 601); Dean’s List (Manny Franco, Pletcher, 7-2); Life Is Great
(Eric Cancel, Bob Klesaris, 15-1); Noneedtoworry (Silvestre Gonzalez,
Herold Whylie, 30-1); Bold Journey (Jorge Vargas Jr., Bill Mott, 6-1);
Morello (Lezcano, Asmussen, 3-1); and Rockefeller (Trevor McCarthy, Baffert,
4-1).

 

GRADE II WINNER TIZ THE BOMB HEADLINES SATURDAY’S
$125,000 JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL – Magdalena Racing’s $200,000 Bourbon
Stakes (Grade II) winner Tiz the Bomb led an oversubscribed field of 14
3-year-old colts and geldings that were entered in Saturday’s $125,000 John
Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park.

         
The John Battaglia Memorial, run at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta surface, is
the local prep toward the April 2, $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) – the
premiere race of the Turfway Park Winter Meet. The Battaglia will go as Race 5
of 8 at 8:14 p.m. ET.

         
Trained by Kenny McPeek, Tiz the Bomb will make his first start on the
Tapeta surface following an enigmatic seventh-place effort four weeks ago in
the $250,000 Holy Bull (GIII) run on dirt at Gulfstream Park. Previously, the
son of Hit It a Bomb reeled off two wins and a runner-up effort on turf. Along
with his victory in the Bourbon, Tiz the Bomb held on for a three-quarters of a
length score in the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile before his runner-up
effort to Modern Games in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
(GI). The three-time winner will be ridden by Alex Achard from post No.
10.

         
Chief among Tiz the Bomb’s rivals in the Battaglia is $100,000 Leonatus Stakes
winner Erase. Owned by Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables
and trained by Brad Cox, Erase has been based throughout the winter at
Turfway. The son of Dialed In led every step of the way in the Jan. 22
Leonatus, the local prep to the Battaglia Memorial. Jockey Ry Eikleberry
was named to ride Erase for the first time from post 8.

         
Here’s the John Battaglia Memorial field: Goldeneye (Albin Jiminez, Bill
Morey, 20-1); Rich Strike (Sonny Leon, Eric Reed, 20-1); La Belleza
Negra (Edgar Morales, Rey Hernandez, 15-1); Stolen Base (Gerardo
Corrales, Mike Maker, 7-2); On Thin Ice (Chris Landeros, Mark Casse,
15-1); Legendary Lore (Rafael Bejarano, Morey, 15-1); Droppin G’s
(Malcom Franklin, Jerry Antonuik, 30-1); Erase (Eikleberry, Cox, 5-1); O P
Firecracker (Manny Esquivel, Robert Medina, 12-1); Tiz the Bomb (Achard,
McPeek, 5-2); Bloodline (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Cox, 7-2); and Grael
(Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh, 20-1). Also eligible: Amicable (Tiago
Canuto, Charlie Livers, 30-1) and Winter Son (Gabe Lagunes, Jimmy
Chapman, 30-1).

         
Goldeneye, La Belleza Negra, Legendary Lore, Droppin G’s, O P Firecracker,
Grael, Amicable and Winter Son were not nominated to the Triple Crown. To
become eligible, their connections could pay a $6,000 late nomination fee by
Monday, March 28.

         
Fans can bet the John Battaglia Memorial on www.TwinSpires.com,
the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Inc.

         
The John Battaglia Memorial is named after Turfway Park’s former General
Manager and late father of Churchill Downs longtime oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

 

OTHER 3-YEAR-OLD RACES TO WATCH – Throughout the weekend
there are several 3-year-old contests that could have implications to the Road
to the Kentucky Derby (GI) and Kentucky Oaks (GI).

        
Here is a calendar of key 3-year-old races to watch this week:

         
Friday

·       
3:00
p.m. ET, Dundalk 7, Patton Stakes (Listed), 3yo, 1 M (AW)

         
Saturday

·       
12:40
p.m. ET, GP 2, Mdn 60k, 3yo f, 7 F

·       
1:20
p.m. ET, Aqu 2, Mdn 80k, 3yo, 1 M

·       
1:40
p.m. ET, GP 4, Mdn 60k, 3yo, 7 F

·       
2:40
p.m. ET, GP 6, $200,000 Davona Dale (GII), 3yo f, 1 M

·       
3:10
p.m. ET, GP 7, $125,000 Palm Beach, 3yo, 1 M (T)

·       
3:28
p.m. ET, SA 2, Mdn 67k, 3yo, 6 F

·       
4:35
p.m. ET, FG 6, $75,000 Black Gold, 3yo, 1 1/16 M (T)

·       
4:57
p.m. ET, Aqu 9, $250,000 Busher Invitational, 3yo f, 1 M

·       
5:27
p.m. ET, Aqu 10, $300,000 Gotham (GIII), 3yo, 1 M

·       
5:30
p.m. ET, SA 6, $400,000 San Felipe (GII), 3yo, 1 1/16 M

·       
5:42
p.m. ET, GP 12, $400,000 Fountain of Youth (GII), 3yo, 1 1/16 M

·       
6:00
p.m. ET, SA 7, Mdn 67k, 3yo, 1 M (T)

·       
6:12
p.m. ET, GP 13, $125,000 Herecomesthebride (GIII), 3yo f, 1 M (T)

·       
6:40
p.m. ET, OP 10, Mdn 84k, 3yo f, 1 1/16 M

·       
8:14
p.m. ET, TP 5, $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial, 3yo, 1 1/16 M (AW)

·       
8:46
p.m. ET, TP 6, $125,000 Cincinnati Trophy, 3yo f, 1 M (AW)

·       
9:16
p.m. ET, TP 7, OC 50000n1x, 3yo f, 6 F (AW)

 

UPSET REBEL WINNER UN OJO VALUTS TO NO. 2 ON ROAD
TO DERBY LEADERBOARD WITH 54 POINTS – Following Saturday’s $1 million Rebel (Grade
II) at Oaklawn, Un Ojo boosted his Road to the Kentucky Derby points
total to 54 with his 75-1 upset win.

         
Owned by Kevin Moody’s Cypress Creek Equine and trained by Ricky
Courville, Un Ojo shocked bettors in the Rebel with his rail-skimming rally
over the muddy surface at Oaklawn.

         
Here are the Top 20 horses on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard:

 

Horse	Trainer	Resume	Possible Next Start	Points
Epicenter	Steve Asmussen	1st – Risen Star 1st – Gun Runner 2nd – Lecomte	March 26: Louisiana Derby	64
Un Ojo	Ricky Courville	1st – Rebel 2nd -- Withers	April 2: Arkansas Derby	54
Smile Happy	Kenny McPeek	1st – Ky Jockey Club 2nd – Risen Star	March 26: Louisiana Derby or April 9: Blue Grass	30
Ethereal Road	D. Wayne Lukas	2nd – Rebel	April 2: Arkansas Derby	20
Barber Road	John Ortiz	2nd – Smarty Jones 2nd – Southwest 3rd – Rebel	April 2: Arkansas Derby	18
Classic Causeway	Brian Lynch	1st – Sam F. Davis 2nd – Ky Jockey Club 3rd – Breeders’ Futurity	March 12: Tampa Bay Derby	16
Pappacap	Mark Casse	2nd – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile 2nd – American Pharoah 3rd – Lecomte	TBA	14
Zandon	Chad Brown	2nd – Remsen 3rd – Risen Star	April 9: Blue Grass	14
White Abarrio	Saffie Joseph Jr.	1st – Holy Bull 3rd – Ky Jockey Club	April 2: Florida Derby	12
Mo Donegal	Todd Pletcher	1st – Remsen 3rd – Holy Bull	April 9: Wood Memorial	12
Rattle N Roll	Kenny McPeek	1st – Breeders’ Futurity	March 5: Fountain of Youth	10
Make It Big	Saffie Joseph Jr.	1st – Springboard Mile	TBA	10
Slow Down Andy	Doug O’Neill	1st – Los Al Futurity	TBA	10
Major General	Todd Pletcher	1st – Iroquois	March 12: Tampa Bay Derby	10
Dash Attack	Kenny McPeek	1st – Smarty Jones	TBA	10
Early Voting	Chad Brown	1st – Withers	April 9: Wood Memorial	10
Call Me Midnight	Keith Desormeaux	1st – Lecomte	March 26: Louisiana Derby	10
Courvoisier	Kelly Breen	1st – Jerome	TBA	10
Kavod	Chris Hartman	4th – Smarty Jones 4th – Southwest 4th – Rebel	TBA	7
Commandperformance	Todd Pletcher	2nd – Champagne 4th – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile	TBA	6

 

EUROPEAN ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY UPDATE –
Godolphin’s
Blue Trail, who was well-backed at even-money, won Wednesday’s $81,000
Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton. The Charlie Appleby
trainee was not made eligible during the early phase of Triple Crown
nominations but can pay a $6,000 late fee to gain eligibility by Monday, March
28.

         
The next stop on the European Road to Kentucky Derby is Friday at Dundalk for
the one-mile Patton Stakes featuring Triple Crown nominee Absolute Ruler. Post
time is 3 p.m. ET.

         
The series will close March 31 at Chelmsford for the Cardinal Condition Stakes.

         
For more information on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, visit www.KentuckyDerby.com.

 

DOWN THE STRETCH – Trainer Ricky
Courville’s son and assistant Clay reported Rebel Stakes winner Un
Ojo returned to Copper Crowne Training Center in Opelousas, La. where he’ll
train until the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (GI) on April 2. Un Ojo, which
translates in Spanish to “one eye,” lost his left eye in a pasture accident as
a yearling. Clay, who saddled Un Ojo for his father, also gallops the New
York-bred gelded son of Laoban. …

 

Honeybee Stakes (GIII) winner Secret Oath’s
plans are still not set in stone. Owner Rob Mitchell declined to comment
following the Honeybee whether Secret Oath would face the males in the Arkansas
Derby. Secret Oath’s Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, “That
filly ran so much faster than the colts, too, and she was on cruise control and
they’re under a drive. I don’t know what we’re going to do.” Should Lukas keep
Secret Oath against fillies, her next start could come in the $600,000 Fantasy
Stakes (GIII), which is run on the same day as the Arkansas Derby on April 2. …

 

Trainer Michael Puhich reported allowance
winner Call Me Jamal will likely target the Arkansas Derby following his
2 ¼-length victory Saturday. “We’re still Derby dreaming,” Puhich said, as he
stood alongside former NFL coach Mike Tice in the Oaklawn
winner’s circle. “We’re not out of it yet.” …

 

Lecomte (GIII) winner Call Me Midnight
returned to the Fair Grounds work tab with an easy half-mile in :51.20
Saturday. The Midnight Lute colt worked twice following his 28-1 upset in the
Jan. 22 Lecomte but received a week off, according to trainer Keith Desormeaux.
…

 

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset reported 5
¾-length debut winner We the People would target a mid-March allowance
race as his next start. The son of Constitution, owned in partnership with WinStar
Farm, CMNWLTH and Siena Farm, worked a half-mile in :48.40
Saturday at Oaklawn and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.80. We the People
could target a race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby depending on his next
race result. …

 

One of the top horses that’s missing from
Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (GII) is $250,000 Holy Bull (GIII) winner White
Abarrio. His connections chose to skip the race in favor of the $1 million
Florida Derby (GI) on April 2. The Race Day colt returned to the work tab
Sunday with a swift three-furlong move in :36.22 for trainer Saffie Joseph
Jr. “I don’t think extra distance is going to be a problem for him. He
galloped out great (in the Holy Bull),” jockey Tyler Gaffalione
said. …

 

Forward Gal (GIII) winner Girl With a Dream,
trained by Brad Cox and a winner of her last three races, heads the
$200,000 Davona Dale (GII) at Gulfstream, the first of three Road to the
Kentucky Oaks races on Saturday. Here’s the field from the rail out (with
jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Kathleen O (Javier Castellano,
Shug McGaughey, 9-2); Classy Edition (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher,
7-2); Girl With a Dream (Luis Saez, Brad Cox, 3-1); Outfoxed (Tyler
Gaffalione, Bill Mott, 5-1); Sweet Dani Girl (Jose Ortiz, Carlo
Vaccarezza, 4-1); Cocktail Moments (Corey Lanerie, Kenny McPeek, 5-1)
and Mi Negrita (Junior Alvarado, Armando De La Cerda, 20-1)…

 

Forward Gal (GIII) runner-up Radio Days
and Busanda winner Magic Circle heads a field of six 3-year-old fillies
that were entered in Saturday’s $250,000 Busher Invitational at Aqueduct.
Here’s the field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Shotgun Hottie
(Eric Cancel, Bill Morey, 12-1); Sterling Silver (Trevor McCarthy, Tom
Albertrani, 6-1); Morning Matcha (Frankie Pennington, Butch Reid Jr.,
5-1); Venti Valentine (Manny Franco, Jorge Abreu, 7-2); Magic
Circle (Kendrick Carmouche, Rudy Rodriguez, 3-1); and Radio Days (Dylan Davis,
Shug McGaughey III, 7-5). …

 

Undefeated filly Marissa’s Lady tops
Saturday night’s $125,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park, a Prep
Season event on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The Top 4 finishers will be
awarded a total of 17 points. The race will go at 8:42 p.m. ET as Race 6 of 8.
Here’s the field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line
odds): Valentina Day (Gerardo Corrales, Ben Colebrook, 10-1); Bhoma
(Alex Achard, Kenny McPeek, 5-1); Zawish (Edgar Morales, Helen
Pitts-Blasi, 30-1); Hal’s Dream (Santiago Gonzalez, McPeek,
20-1); Marissa’s Lady (Rafael Bejarano, Bill Morey, 1-1); Queen Judith
(Chris Landeros, Mark Casse, 12-1); Glacken’s Cause (Malcom Franklin,
Pat Huffman, 30-1); Tap Dancing Lady (Albin Jiminez, Ron Kahles, 6-1);
and Bubble Rock (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Brad Cox, 7-2). …

 

Next Friday-Sunday is the penultimate Kentucky
Derby Future Wager Pool which will coincide with the lone Future Wager for the
Longines Kentucky Oaks. The fields will be released Tuesday.

 

UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP
SERIES RACES

 

March 12 (eight weeks out) – $400,000 Tampa Bay
Derby (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Belgrade
(Graham Motion); Classic Causeway (Brian Lynch); Major General (Todd Pletcher);
and Shipsational (Ed Barker).

 

March 26 (six weeks out) – $1 million Louisiana
Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Call Me
Midnight (Keith Desormeaux), Cyberknife (Brad Cox), Epicenter (Steve Asmussen),
Pioneer of Medina (Todd Pletcher), Smile Happy (Kenny McPeek); and Zozos
(Brad Cox)

 

March 26 (six weeks out) — $1 million UAE Derby
(GII), 1 3/16 miles, Meydan Racecourse (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Gilded
Age (Bill Mott); Sekifu (JPN) (Koshiro Take)

 

March 27 (six weeks out) – $500,000 Sunland Derby
(GIII), 1 1/8 miles, Sunland Park (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5)

 

April 2 (five weeks out) – $1.25 million Arkansas
Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Barber
Road (John Ortiz); Call Me Jamal (Michael Puhich), Ethereal Road (D. Wayne
Lukas), Great Escape (Rodolphe Brisset); and Un Ojo (Ricky Courville).

 

April 2 (five weeks out) – $1 million Florida
Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): White
Abarrio (Saffie Joseph Jr.)

 

April 2 (five weeks out) – $600,000 Jeff Ruby
Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

 

April 9 (four weeks out) – $1 million Blue Grass
(GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Great
Escape (Rodolphe Brisset); Smile Happy (Kenny McPeek), Zandon (Chad
Brown)

 

April 9 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Santa Anita
Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

 

April 9 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial
(GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Early
Voting (Chad Brown) and Mo Donegal (Todd Pletcher)

 

April 16 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington
(GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 4 points: 20-8-4-2)

 

Note: The possible fields for upcoming Kentucky
Derby Championship Series races are fluid as owners and trainers vie for
points. Known possible horses mentioned to be under consideration for each race
are based on published news reports and other sources. Horses listed in italics
are possible for multiple races.