The Derby Dispatch for Thursday, Feb, 13

Feb 13, 2025

The race to the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) heats up Saturday as the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby gets underway with the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds.

The Risen Star Stakes is the first of 16 Championship Series races contested at 10 different racetracks across North America. Saturday’s event will award 50 points to the winner, with 25 points to the runner-up and the third-through fifth-place finishers earning points on a 15-10-5 scale.

Sunday’s action will feature another key stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the $400,000 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park. The 1 1/8-mile event will award 20-10-6-4-2 points to the Top 5 finishers.

To date in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season, champion 2-year-old Citizen Bull established himself as the early Derby favorite, racking up 60 points with victories in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI), American Pharoah (GI) and Robert B. Lewis (GIII).

A major update to this year’s series is the rebranding of the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby. The seven-race series will culminate in the April 5 UAE Derby (GII) at Meydan Racecourse, which was previously part of the traditional Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.

For the 2025 Kentucky Derby, two invitations will be extended to compete in the Derby, with preference given to the top two-point earners from the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Interest in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby remains strong, with a record 69 horses nominated to the Triple Crown. Many of those connections are weighing their next starts in either the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby or the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby, with several possibly targeting the UAE Derby.

The next race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is the Feb. 29 Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.

With only 11 weeks remaining until the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, the path to Churchill Downs is taking shape. The Championship Series will determine which 3-year-olds emerge as the top contenders for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 3.

Brisnet Past Performances:

Risen Star PPs: https://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RisenStar25.pdf

Sunland Derby PPs: https://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SunlandDerby25.pdf

KDFW Pool 4 PP: https://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Derby25Future4.pdf

Inside the Kentucky Derby podcast: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/news/risen-star-stakes-preview/

TOP DERBY PROSPECT EAST AVENUE SET FOR 3-YEAR-OLD DEBUT IN GRADE II, $500,000 RISEN STAR – Godolphin’s highly regarded 3-year-old colt East Avenue is set to launch his 3-year-old campaign as the 9-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The 1 1/8-mile test headlines the track’s “Louisiana Derby Preview Day” and serves as the first race in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, awarding 50-25-15-10-5 qualifying points to the Top 5 finishers toward securing a spot in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (GI).

A half-brother to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish, East Avenue dazzled as a 2-year-old, winning the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland before a troubled start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) led to a ninth-place finish. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the Medaglia d’Oro colt will be reunited with jockey Tyler Gaffalione and break from post No. 4 in the 13-horse field.

One of East Avenue’s chief rivals is Rigney Racing’s Jonathan’s Way (4-1), who secured 10 Derby qualifying points with his Iroquois Stakes (GIII) victory at Churchill Downs which kicked off the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Phil Bauer trainee finished second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) before stepping onto the sidelines and will have a new rider in Jose Ortiz for the Risen Star. The duo will break from post 2.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Built (5-1), winner of the Gun Runner Stakes, will also have a new rider for the Risen Star, with Luis Saez taking the call. The Hard Spun colt stamped himself as a contender on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a decisive 6 ¾-length gate-to-wire victory in the Dec. 21 Gun Runner Stakes. Last time out in the Lecomte Stakes (GIII), Built showed a different dimension, closing from 4 ½ lengths off the pace to finish a narrow second behind Disco Time. He will break from post 9 in the Risen Star.

Trainer Chad Brown, who won last year’s Risen Star with Sierra Leone, sends out Resolute Bloodstock’s Septarian (12-1). The third-place finisher in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, he will be piloted by Flavien Prat, recently named 2024 Eclipse Award Champion Jockey, from post 7.

Three trainers tied atop the Risen Star all-time leaderboard with three victories each—Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher and D. Wayne Lukas—have runners aiming for a record fourth win.

Asmussen, who teamed with Winchell Thoroughbreds to win this race with Pyro (2008), Gun Runner (2016) and Epicenter (2022), will saddle Magnitude (12-1). The colt looks to rebound after a troubled trip in the Lecomte Stakes (GIII), where he finished sixth. Ben Curtis has the mount from the far-outside post 13.

Pletcher enters Vassimo (8-1), a Team Penney Racing-owned son of Nyquist, who remains unbeaten in two starts. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the call from post 3.

Lukas, who last won this race in 2018 with Bravazo, sends out BC Stables’ American Promise (12-1). The Justify colt broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles and will have Keith Asmussen aboard from post 1.

 

The complete field for the Risen Star Stakes, in post-position order (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):

American Promise (Keith Asmussen, Lukas, 12-1)
Jonathan's Way (Ortiz, Bauer, 4-1)
Vassimo (Irad Ortiz Jr., Pletcher, 8-1)
East Avenue (Gaffalione, Walsh, 9-5)
Chunk of Gold (Abel Cedillo, Ethan West, 30-1)
Seattle Road (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Tom Amoss, 30-1)
Septarian (Flavien Prat, Brown, 12-1)
Giocoso (Jaime Torres, Keith Desormeaux, 20-1)
Built (Luis Saez, Wayne Catalano, 5-1)
Render Judgment (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1)
*Jolly Samurai (Rene Diaz, Danny Pish, 30-1)
Vamos Carlitos (Florent Geroux, Greg Foley, 30-1)
Magnitude (Ben Curtis, Asmussen, 12-1)
*Jolly Samurai is not Triple Crown nominated but can become eligible by paying a $6,000 late fee by Monday, April 7.

 

The final major local prep for the Louisiana contingent on the Road to the Kentucky Derby comes March 22 with the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) at 1 3/16 miles.

 

GETAWAY CAR HITS THE ROAD FOR SUNLAND PARK DERBY – California-based Getaway Car will ship to New Mexico to take on eight rivals in Sunday’s $400,000 Sunland Park Derby, a Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series race.

The 1 1/16-mile Sunland Park Derby awards qualifying points to the Top 5 finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale toward the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI). It is the featured ninth race on the card, with a post time of 6:17 p.m. ET.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Getaway Car won the Best Pal Stakes (GIII) at Del Mar in August, drawing clear by an impressive 5 ½ lengths. The son of Curlin has been winless in his next four starts since but finished second in the American Pharoah (GI) to stablemate and eventual champion Citizen Bull and runner-up in the Los Alamitos Futurity (GII) to Journalism. Juan Hernandez, aboard for all six of his starts, will ride from post No. 4.

The Sunland Park Derby field also includes Kentucky-based Touchy, runner-up in the Turfway Prevue; Oaklawn Park maiden winner Caldera; multiple graded stakes-placed McKinzie Street and Riley Allison Derby winner Take Charge Tom.

The field for the Sunland Park Derby from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Itsmybirthday (Harry Hernandez, Robertino Diodoro)
Remember Big Jim (Elvin Gonzalez, Dick Cappellucci)
*Smash It (Florent Geroux, Todd Fincher)
Getaway Car (Hernandez, Baffert)
*Spenard (Luis Valenzuela, Tena Birdwell)
Take Charge Tom (Orlando Mojica, Robertino Diodoro)
*McKinzie Street (Ramon Vazquez, Justin Evans)
Touchy (Joel Rosario, Wesley Ward)
Caldera (Rafael Bejarano, Wayne Lukas)
*McKinzie Street, Smash It and Spenard are not currently nominated to the Triple Crown but can become eligible with a $6,000 late payment due by Monday, April 7.

 

RISEN STAR QUOTES

East Avenue (trainer Brendan Walsh): “We had a plan after the Breeders’ Cup to give him six works into the Risen Star. His breeze (on Jan. 17) was really good. I had him sit behind two horses and he really finished up nicely. … It’s an important race for him to get started on his campaign this year. We know there are bigger targets down the road. We’ll have him ready for this race and hopefully still have some left in the tank for later this spring.”
Jonathan’s Way (trainer Phil Bauer): “At the end of his 2-year-old year he gave us a solid effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club. This winter he’s been doing very well training at Fair Grounds. We’re excited to get him back to the races. We have him where we need to be and it’s setting up to be a key race like it normally is.”
Chunk of Gold (trainer Ethan West): “He impressed us when he broke his maiden on debut and stepped up his game running second last time in the Leonatus, closing from pretty far out of it. We debated on running him in this spot or the Battaglia, which would be in our backyard. With earnings, we may not have gotten into the Battaglia if it drew a full field. That being said, this race will give him experience on dirt and he’s trained very well out of the Leonatus.”
Vamos Carlitos (trainer Greg Foley): “He ran a huge race last time out in an allowance. They went slow early and he came flying late. He should love every bit of the mile-and-an-eighth.”
HOW TO WATCH THE RISEN STAR

FanDuel TV featuring live, on-site coverage from Matt Bernier, Andie Biancone, Scott Hazelton, Joaquin Jaime, Todd Schrupp and Joe Talamo.
Churchill Downs LIVE app/TwinSpires.com will feature the simulcast show at Fair Ground with chief analyst Joe Kristufek leading the coverage.
RISEN STAR BY THE NUMBERS

Risen Star has produced 76 Kentucky Derby starters since 1985 including 33 in the past 10 years.
Three horses have won the Kentucky Derby after exiting the Risen Star: Mandaloun (2021), Country House (2019) and War Emblem (2002)
Most wins by a jockey (3): Shane Romero (1988-89, ’92); Robby Albarado (2003-04, ’07); Florent Geroux (2016, ’20-21)
Most wins by a trainer (3): Neil Howard (1992, ’98, 2004); Todd Pletcher (2010, ’12, ’14); D. Wayne Lukas (1997, 2000, ’18); Steve Asmussen (2008, ’16, ’22); Brad Cox (2020-21, ’23)
Number of favorites that won in the last 10 runnings – 3: Sierra Leone (2024, 5-2); Mandaloun (2021, 2-1); War of Will (2019, 1-1)
HOW TO WATCH THE SUNLAND PARK DERBY

FanDuel TV
TwinSpires.com
SUNLAND PARK DERBY BY THE NUMBERS

The Sunland Park Derby has produced 12 Kentucky Derby starters since 2003 including 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Overall, the Derby starters who exited the race have a record of 12-1-1-0 on the first Saturday in May.
Most wins by a trainer (3): Bob Baffert (2006, 2013, 2014); Doug O’Neill (2003, 2005, 2022)
Most wins by a jockey (2): Victor Espinoza (2006, 2007); Martin Garcia (2013, 2014)
KEY RACES TO WATCH TO WATCH – This weekend there are several races around the world that could have implications on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Here are some of the key races:

 

Friday

AQU, R1 (1:10 p.m.), OC 100000n1x, 3yo, 6 ½ F
AQU, R6 (3:34 p.m.), OC 50000, 3yo, 1 M
SA, R4 (5 p.m.), MSW, 3yo F, 1 M
SA, R6 (6 p.m.), MSW, 3yo, 1 M
Saturday

GP, R4 (1:47 p.m.), MSW, 3yo, 1 M
FG, R4 (2:30 p.m.), MSW, 3yo F, 6 F
FG, R6 (3:30 p.m.), MSW, 3yo F, 6 F
FG, R7 (4 p.m.), MSW, 3yo, 6 F
FG, R9 (5 p.m.), MSW, 3yo, 1 1/16 M
OP, R9 (5:51 p.m.), $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes, 3yo F, 6 F
FG, R13 (7 p.m.), $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (GII), 3yo F, 1 1/16 M
FG, R14 (7:30 p.m.), $500,000 Risen Star (GII), 3yo, 1 1/8 M
TP, R5 (7:55 p.m.), MSW, 3yo, 1 M
Sunday

SUN, R7 (5:13 p.m.), $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, 3yo F, 1 M
SUN, R9 (6:17 p.m.), $400,000 Sunland Park Derby, 3yo, 1 1/16 M
CITIZEN BULL TABBED AS 6-1 INDIVIDUAL FAVORITE IN POOL 4 OF KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER – Citizen Bull, the 2024 champion 2-year-old colt and recent winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Grade III), has been tabbed as the 6-1 individual favorite in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager while the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” is the overall 9-2 favorite for the three-day pool, which runs Friday through Sunday.

The three-day pool, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, opens Friday at noon (all times Eastern) and closes Sunday at 6 p.m. Fans can place wagers on Pool 4 at racetracks and simulcast outlets across North America and online through TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

Pool 4 also coincides with the kickoff of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, beginning with Saturday’s $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds. Four Pool 4 entrants are set to compete in the Risen Star: Built, East Avenue, Jonathan’s Way and Vassimo.

The complete field for Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager with morning line odds (trainer, sire and morning line odds provided by Mike Battaglia):

#1 Barnes (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, 8-1)

#2 Built (Wayne Catalano, Hard Spun, 30-1)

#3 Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes, Liam's Map, 20-1)

#4 Captain Cook (Rick Dutrow Jr., Practical Joke, 20-1)

#5 Chancer McPatrick (Chad Brown, McKinzie, 25-1)

#6 Citizen Bull (Bob Baffert, Into Mischief, 6-1)

#7 Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley, Coal Front, 40-1)

#8 Cyclone State (Chad Summers, McKinzie, 50-1)

#9 Disco Time (Brad Cox, Not This Time, 25-1)

#10 East Avenue (Brendan Walsh, Medaglia d'Oro, 15-1)

#11 Ferocious (Gustavo Delgado, Flatter, 50-1)

#12 First Resort (Eoin Harty, Uncle Mo, 40-1)

#13 Gaming (Bob Baffert, Game Winner, 40-1)

#14 Gate to Wire (Todd Pletcher, Munnings, 30-1)

#15 Getaway Car (Bob Baffert, Curlin, 80-1)

#16 Grande (Todd Pletcher, Curlin, 30-1)

#17 Hypnus (Kenny McPeek, Into Mischief, 80-1)

#18 Innovator (D. Wayne Lukas, Authentic, 50-1)

#19 John Hancock (Brad Cox, Constitution, 25-1)

#20 Jonathan’s Way (Phil Bauer, Vekoma, 50-1)

#21 Journalism (Michael McCarthy, Curlin, 20-1)

#22 Keep It Easy (Dale Romans, Hard Spun, 50-1)

#23 Legitimate (Michael McCarthy, Authentic, 80-1)

#24 Patch Adams (Brad Cox, Into Mischief, 30-1)

#25 Poster (Eoin Harty, Munnings, 40-1)

#26 Praetor (Chad Brown, Into Mischief, 50-1)

#27 Rapture (Brad Cox, Uncle Mo, 50-1)

#28 River Thames (Todd Pletcher, Maclean's Music, 25-1)

#29 Rodriguez (Bob Baffert, Authentic, 20-1)

#30 San Saba (Bob Baffert, Justify, 40-1)

#31 Sand Devil (Linda Rice, Violence, 40-1)

#32 Sandman (Mark Casse, Tapit, 40-1)

#33 Sorcerer's Silver (Dale Romans, Good Magic, 80-1)

#34 Sovereignty (Bill Mott, Into Mischief, 20-1)

#35 Speed King (Ron Moquett, Volatile, 30-1)

#36 Tappan Street (Brad Cox, Into Mischief, 40-1)

#37 Tip Top Thomas (Todd Pletcher, Volatile, 50-1)

#38 Tiztastic (Steve Asmussen, Tiz the Law, 80-1)

#39 Vassimo (Todd Pletcher, Nyquist, 50-1)

#40 All Other 3-Year-Olds (9-2)

 

Overall there are 14 new interests in Pool 4 from Pool 3: Burnham Square, Captain Cook, Gate to Wire, Hypnus, John Hancock, Legitimate, Praetor, Rapture, River Thames, Sand Devil, Sorcerer’s Silver, Speed King, Tip Top Thomas and Vassimo.

In total, six Future Wager pools were scheduled ahead of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 3. Future Wager Pool 5 runs March 14-16 and Pool 6 is April 3-5. Pool 5 will also include the Longines Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.

There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. If Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of this week’s pool that one of the wagering interests experiences an injury, illness or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately.

More information, Brisnet.com past performances and real-time odds on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be available before the pool opens Friday at KentuckyDerby.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks Championship Series kicks off Saturday at Fair Grounds with the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (GII) featuring Godolphin’s undefeated Golden Rod Stakes (GII) winner Good Cheer, who’s set to make her first start in 2025. Trained by Brad Cox, Good Cheer was tabbed as the heavy 6-5 morning line favorite in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies. The Rachel Alexandra goes as Race 13 at 7 p.m. …

Action continues on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks Sunday at Sunland Park for the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks where Michael Lund Petersen’s standout maiden special weight winner Maysam leads the field of seven 3-year-old fillies in the one-mile contest. The Sunland Park Oaks goes as Race 7 at 5:13 p.m. …

Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing’s impressive maiden special weight winner Colloquial was made a nominee for the Triple Crown by his connections paying a $6,000 late fee. Late nominations are due by Monday, April 7 and can be made online at www.thetriplecrown.com. …

Godolphin’s Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) winner First Resort continues to train at Turfway Park towards his first start of 2025. The Eoin Harty trainee cruised five furlongs in :59.40 Monday and is possible to run in the Feb. 22, $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed) at Turfway Park. …

Trainer Chad Summers reported Jerome Stakes winner Cyclone State arrived in Saudia Arabia on Wednesday for the Feb. 22 Saudi Derby. The Iowa-bred colt could then compete in the April 5 UAE Derby (GII) on the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby, according to Summers. …

Get ready for Kentucky Derby 151 with Inside the Kentucky Derby, the ultimate one-stop shop for all things Derby. Hosted by Churchill Downs' Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein, this weekly podcast delivers the latest Derby news, analysis and insider insights, featuring respected industry guests. Fans can subscribe and download the show on popular podcast platforms, including iTunes, Spotify and YouTube. …

Churchill Downs’ Spring Meet stall applications are due by Monday, March 3 with the stable area reopening Tuesday, March 18. Stall application: www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/Spring-Stall-app-2025.pdf…

Nominations to the $1.5 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) close Friday. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

 

UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY RACES

 

Feb. 22 (10 weeks out) -- $1.25 million Rebel (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Barnes (Bob Baffert); Bullard (Michael McCarthy); Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley); Innovator (Wayne Lukas); Rodriguez (Bob Baffert); Sandman (Mark Casse); Speed King (Ron Moquett)

 

Feb. 22 (10 weeks out) – $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial (Listed), 1 1/16 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5 points: 20-10-6-4-2)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Baby Max (Kelsey Danner); California Burrito (Tommy Drury Jr.); Coming In Hot (John Ennis); First Resort (Eoin Harty)

 

March 1 (nine weeks out) – $415,000 Fountain of Youth (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes); Ferocious (Gustavo Delgado); Gate To Wire (Todd Pletcher); Keep It Easy (Dale Romans); River Thames (Todd Pletcher); Sovereignty (Bill Mott);

 

March 1 (nine weeks out) – $300,000 San Felipe (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Barnes (Bob Baffert); Journalism (Michael McCarthy); Rodriguez (Bob Baffert); Romanesque (Bob Baffert)

 

March 1 (nine weeks out) – $300,000 Gotham (GIII), one mile, Aqueduct (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Gate To Wire (Todd Pletcher); Sacrosanct (Brad Cox); Sand Devil (Linda Rice)

 

March 8 (eight weeks out) – $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Chancer McPatrick (Chad Brown); Gate To Wire (Todd Pletcher)

 

March 15 (seven weeks out) -- $500,000 Virginia Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Colonial Downs (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Omaha Omaha (Michael Gorham); Surfside Moon (Chucky Lawrence)

 

March 22 (six weeks out) – $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): John Hancock (Brad Cox)

 

March 22 (six weeks out) – $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Flying Mohawk (Whit Beckman)

 

March 29 (five weeks out) – $1 million Florida Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Ferocious (Gustavo Delgado); John Hancock (Brad Cox); River Thames (Todd Pletcher)

 

March 29 (five weeks out) – $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): John Hancock (Brad Cox); Speed King (Ron Moquett)

 

April 5 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Captain Cook (Rick Dutrow Jr.); McAfee (Rick Dutrow Jr.); Poster (Eoin Harty); Surfside Moon (Chucky Lawrence)

 

April 5 (four weeks out) – $1.25 million Blue Grass (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

 

April 5 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Citizen Bull (Bob Baffert)

 

April 12 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 20-10-6-4-2)

 

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.

 

ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round simulcast wagering facility. www.ChurchillDowns.com.