The Derby Dispatch: Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022 -- Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series Begins Saturday With Grade II, $400,000 Risen Star at Fair Grounds
Feb 17, 2022
The Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship
Series is set to kickoff Saturday in New Orleans with a competitive field of 10
horses that were entered in the $400,000 Risen Star presented by Lamarque Ford
(Grade II) at Fair Grounds.
Horses with promise have emerged each week in point-bearing prep races since
this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve commenced
on Sept. 18. The 3-year-old picture should come into a sharper focus over seven
of the next eight weekends as the race distances get longer and the point
values get larger.
Saturday’s Risen Star – which has 85 points up for grabs: 50 for first, 20 for
second, 10 for third and 5 for fourth – launches the 16-race Championship
Series as 3-year-old Thoroughbreds continue their quest to secure a berth in
the starting gate for the 148th running of the $3 million Kentucky
Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 7 at Churchill Downs.
In the 20 Prep Season races run since last September, 17 different horses have
won. The three dual winners – champion 2-year-old Corniche, Messier and Newgrange
– have not been able to accrue points because their trainer Bob Baffert
is suspended by Churchill Downs Incorporated from competing in the 2022
Kentucky Derby.
Here are the Kentucky Derby Top 20 point earners heading into the Championship
Series:
1. Classic Causeway (16 points, winner of
Sam F. Davis, runner-up in Kentucky Jockey Club and third in Breeders’
Futurity);
2. Pappacap (14, runner-up in Breeders’
Cup Juvenile and American Pharoah, third in Lecomte);
3. Epicenter (14, winner of Gun Runner,
runner-up in Lecomte);
4. White Abarrio (12, winner of Holy Bull,
third in Kentucky Jockey Club);
5. Mo Donegal (12, winner of Remsen, third
in Holy Bull);
6. Rattle N Roll (10, winner of Breeders’
Futurity);
7. Jack Christopher (10, winner of
Champagne);
8. Make It Big (10, winner of Springboard
Mile);
9. Smile Happy (10, winner of Kentucky
Jockey Club);
10. Slow Down Andy (10, winner of Los
Alamitos Futurity);
11. Major General (10, winner of
Iroquois);
12. Dash Attack (10, winner of Smarty
Jones);
13. Early Voting (10, winner of Withers);
14. Call Me Midnight (10, winner of
Lecomte);
15. Courvoisier (10, winner of Jerome);
16. Barber Road (8, runner-up in Smarty
Jones and Southwest);
17. Commandperformance (6, runner-up in
Champagne, third in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile);
18. Mackinnon (5, runner-up in El Camino
Real Derby, fourth in Sham);
19. Giant Game (4, third in Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile ); and
20. Simplification (4, third in Holy
Bull). Non-restricted stakes earnings and career earnings serve as
tie-breakers.
Since the point series was adopted in 2013, it has taken an average of 21
points to make the field of 20 for the Kentucky Derby.
RISEN STAR PREVIEW – Saturday’s $400,000
Risen Star (Grade II) at Fair Grounds features the 3-year-old debut of
three-time Kentucky Derby Future Wager individual favorite Smile Happy
against well-meant prospects Zandon, Slow Down Andy, Epicenter
and Pappacap.
Smile Happy, who closed as the 8-1 individual choice in the KDFW Pools 1-3, is
the 7-2 favorite in the 10-horse Risen Star that will contest 1 1/8 miles and
offer Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 50-20-10-5 to the top four finishers.
Ridden by Corey Lanerie and trained by Kenny McPeek, the son of
Runhappy easily won the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) by 3 ¼ lengths in
November.
“I think this is a good first step for Smile Happy,” McPeek said. “He’s doing
super. He’s done everything right. He’s a very low maintenance horse who makes
our job easy. He eats good. He loves to train.”
Zandon, ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Chad Brown, lost the
1 1/8-mile Remsen (GII) in December at Aqueduct by a nose to Mo Donegal.
“We just
felt like that surface and the longer stretch would suit his style better than
the short stretch at Gulfstream that is usually speed favoring,” Brown said.
“He’s got to get over the shipping, but the horse couldn’t be training any
better. This guy has only run twice, so a little different situation than some
of the others I had on the (Kentucky Derby) trail that had more races under
their belt. He’s a very exciting prospect and I don’t see any reason why he
won’t get up to a mile and a quarter.”
California-invader Slow Down Andy, in the hands of two-time Kentucky
Derby winners trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez,
beat Messier in December’s Los Alamitos Futurity (GII).
“With a clean break, he’ll show good tactical speed and he’s got tremendous
stamina,” O’Neill said.
Epicenter, piloted by Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario and
trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, easily won the Gun Runner at
Fair Grounds in December and returned to finish an unlucky head back of closing
28-1 winner Call Me Midnight in the Jan. 22 Lecomte (GIII) after
dictating a swift pace throughout. His past performances suggest he could be on
the lead again Saturday.
Pappacap, trained by Mark Casse who tabbed Tyler Gaffalione to
ride for the time, was runner-up to champion juvenile Corniche in the
American Pharoah (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) last fall and finished
third beaten three-quarters of a length in the Lecomte while racing along the
inside rail most of the way.
The Risen Star field from the rail out (with jockeys, trainers and morning line
odds): Pappacap (Gaffalione, Casse, 4-1); Russian Tank (Jose Vega,
Gennadi Dorochenko, 50-1); Trafalgar (Colby Hernandez, Al Stall Jr.,
10-1); Tawny Port (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 12-1); Epicenter (Rosario,
Asmussen, 4-1); Pioneer of Medina (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher, 10-1);
Zandon (Ortiz, Brown, 9-2); Smile Happy (Lanerie, McPeek, 7-2); Bodock
(Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Brad Cox, 10-0); and Slow Down Andy (Gutierrez, O’Neill,
9-2).
All but Russian Tank are nominated to the Triple Crown. Trafalgar will race
with blinkers for the first time.
Risen
Star PPs: http://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RisenStar22.pdf
Rachel
Alexandra PPs: http://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RachelAlexandra22.pdf
HOW TO WATCH THE RISEN STAR – The Risen Star goes as
Race 13 on Saturday’s 13-race program at Fair Grounds, and has an approximately
post time of 6:58 p.m. ET. It will air live on TVG and can also be watched on
the Smart TV app Churchill Downs LIVE and www.TwinSpires.com.
KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB KEY RACE? – Three horses that
finished behind Smile Happy in last November’s Kentucky Jockey Club
(GII) at Churchill Downs won a Road to the Kentucky Derby stakes race in their
subsequent start. Runner-up Classic Causeway was a 3 ¾-length winner of
last weekend’s Sam F. Davis (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs. Third-place finisher White
Abarrio was a 4 ½-length winner of the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (GIII).
Seventh-place finisher Call Me Midnight was the upset 28-1 winner of the
Jan. 22 Lecomte (GIII) at Fair Grounds.
Four other KJC starters, meanwhile, haven’t fared as well. Fourth-place
finisher Ben Diesel was seventh in the Jan. 1 Smarty Jones and rebounded
to finish third in that track’s Jan. 29 Southwest (GIII). Fifth-place finisher Vivar
was 10th of 12 in the Southwest. Eighth-place finisher Red Knobs
returned to turf and finished eighth in the Feb. 5 Kitten’s Joy (GIII) at
Gulfstream Park. Last of 11 in the KJC, Ready Pursuit finished seventh
in a first-level allowance over the Tapeta at Turfway Park on Jan. 7.
Smile Happy, Howling Time (fifth), Guntown (ninth) and Texas
Red Hot (10th) are training toward their 3-year-old debuts.
RECENT RISEN STAR WINNERS SHINE – Recent winners of the
Risen Star have proven their victories were not a fluke.
Gun Runner, the 2016 Risen Star winner, would go on to win that year’s
Louisiana Derby (GII), Matt Winn (GIII) and Clark (GI) before earning Horse of
the Year honors at age 4 with victories in the Razorback (GIII), Stephen Foster
(GI), Whitney (GI), Woodward (GI) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) in 2017. He
concluded his career in January 2018 with a 2 ½-length score in the Pegasus
World Cup (GI) to finish with a career record of 12-3-2 and $15,988,500 in 19
starts.
Girvin, the 2017 winner, would later defeat McCracken and Practical
Joke in that summer’s Haskell (GI) at Monmouth Park.
Bravazo, who scored a 21-1 upset in the 2018 Risen Star, came within a
half-length of eventual Triple Crown winner Justify in the slop at that
year’s Preakness (GI) at Pimlico and also finished a neck back of Leofric
in the 2018 Clark (GI) at Churchill Downs.
War of Will, the 2019 winner, prevailed in the Preakness (GI) after an
adventurous trip in the Kentucky Derby, and would later win the Maker’s Mark
Mile (GI) at Keeneland by a nose in 2020.
The 2020 renewal was run in split divisions. Mr. Monomoy, the
half-brother to champion Monomoy Girl, never raced again after his Risen
Star first division victory. Modernist, the second division winner, won
the Excelsior (GIII) at Aqueduct at age 4.
Last year’s Risen Star winner was Mandaloun, who crossed the wire second
in the Kentucky Derby. He’s won his last three races: the Pegasus and Haskell
(GI) – via disqualification – at Monmouth and this year’s Louisiana (GIII) at
Fair Grounds.
OTHER 3-YEAR-OLD RACES TO WATCH – Cyberknife, Gunfighter,
Guntown, Kapuna, Peaceful Waters, Shinnecock Hills
and Strava are Triple Crown nominees entered in a first-level
optional-claimer over 1 1/16 miles on Saturday at Fair Grounds (Race 8 at 4:25
p.m.). Gold Square’s Cyberknife, who finished sixth last out in the
Lecomte (GIII) is the 7-2 morning line choice. Strava, who is the co-second
choice at 9-2, is co-owned by former University of Louisville legendary
basketball coach Denny Crum. … Triple Crown nominees King Ottoman,
Maasai Warrior, Strong Quality and Vinco are among nine
maidens entered in a 1 1/16-mile race Saturday at Fair Grounds (Race 6 at 3:27
p.m.). Barray and Joni Butzow’s Maasai Warrior was made the 7-2 morning
line favorite. … Conclusive, who won a first-level allowance at
Laurel by 5 ¾-lengths in January, is the lone Triple Crown nominee in
Saturday’s nine-horse $100,000 Miracle Wood over one mile at Laurel (Race 5 at
2:21 p.m. ET).
DOWN THE STRETCH – The Japan Road to the
Kentucky Derby continues early Sunday at 12:25 a.m. ET with the Hyacinth from
Tokyo Racecourse. The top four finishers in the one mile race will accrue
points on a scale of 30-12-6-3 in stand-alone series of races from Japan.
Here’s the field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Welcome News
(Takeshi Yokoyama, Yasutoshi Ikee); El Paso (Kosei Miura, Ryo Takei); Osteria
(Hiroyuki Uchida, Hiroshi Miyamoto); Crown Pride (Mirco Demuro, Koichi
Shintani); Good Deal (Christophe Lemaire, Naosuke Sugai); Combustion
(Yuga Kawada, Keizo Ito); Sea Vixen (Hiroshi Kitamura, Kazuo Fujisawa); Jasper
Jet (Yutaka Take, Hideyuki Mori); Taisei Drefong (Keita Tosaki,
Masayuki Nishimura); Blitz Fang (Yuichi Fukunaga, Ryuji Okubo); Geraldo
Barows (Shu Ishibashi, Ryo Terashima); Mesmeriser (Takuya Ono,
Teruhiko Chida); Line of Soul (Akira Sugawara, Hidetaka Otonashi); and Rayas
(Yasunari Iwata, Hideyuki Mori). El Paso, Osteria. Crown Pride, Blitz Fang,
Geraldo Barows and Line of Soul are nominated to the Triple Crown. … Early $200
nominations to the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) – the Derby’s
sister race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 6 – close
Saturday. … Undefeated filly Shahama is expected to be the heavy
favorite in Friday’s UAE Oaks (GIII) at Meydan Racecourse. The 1 1/8-mile race
goes as Race 3 at 10:10 a.m. ET and the winner will receive 50 points on the
Road to the Kentucky Oaks. … The Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues Saturday
with the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (GII) over 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds.
Eighty-five points are up for grabs: 50 for first, 20 for second, 10 for third
and 5 for fourth. The field from the rail out (with jockeys, trainers and
morning line odds): La Crete (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, 8-1); North
County (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh, 8-1); Miss Mattie B (Mike
Smith, Bob Hess Jr., 15-1); Dream Lith (Ramon Vazquez, Robertino
Diodoro, 6-1); Divine Huntress (Jose Ortiz, Graham Motion, 6-1); Candy
Raid (Jose Riquelme, Keith Desormeaux, 30-1); Turnerloose (Florent
Geroux, Brad Cox, 12-1); Goddess of Fire (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher,
8-1); Awake At Midnyte (Mario Gutierrez, Doug O’Neill, 7-2); California
Angel (Deshawn Parker, George Leonard III, 30-1); and Hidden Connection
(Reylu Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun, 3-1). The Rachel Alexandra goes as Race 12 at
approximately 6:27 p.m. ET. … The Risen Star and Rachel Alexandra are two of
six stakes races on a stellar 13-race card Saturday at Fair Grounds. The
others: the $100,000 Colonel Power for 4-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs on
turf featuring multiple stakes winner Just Might; $100,000 Albert M.
Stall Memorial for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf; $250,000
Mineshaft (GIII) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles featuring recent 7
¼-length allowance winner Olympiad; $150,000 Fair Grounds (GIII) for 4-year-olds
and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf. … The barn area at Churchill Downs is scheduled
to open Tuesday, March 22. … Trainer D. Wayne Lukas reported top
3-year-old filly Secret Oath is likely to be nominated to the $1 million
Arkansas Derby (GI) on April 2. The winner of last month’s Martha Washington
was nominated to the Triple Crown. … Next week’s Road to the Kentucky Derby
Championship Series continues with the Rebel at Oaklawn.
UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY
DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RACES
Feb. 26 (10 weeks out) – $1 million Rebel (GII),
1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn Park (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Barber
Road (John Ortiz); Ben Diesel (Dallas Stewart); Chasing Time (Steve Asmussen);
Dash Attack (Kenny McPeek); Ethereal Road (Wayne Lukas); and Newgrange (Bob
Baffert).
March 5 (nine weeks out) – $400,000 Fountain of
Youth (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): A. P.’s
Secret (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Emmanuel (Todd Pletcher); In Due Time (Kelly
Breen); Mo Donegal (Pletcher); Rattle N Roll (Kenny McPeek); and
Simplification (Antonio Sano).
March 5 (nine weeks out) – $400,000 San Felipe
(GII), 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Forbidden
Kingdom (Richard Mandella) and Messier (Bob Baffert).
March 5 (nine weeks out) – $300,000 Gotham
(GIII), one mile, Aqueduct (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Early
Voting (Chad Brown); Fromanothamutha (Ray Handal); Golden Code (Todd
Pletcher); Major General (Todd Pletcher); and Morello (Steve Asmussen).
March 5 (nine weeks out) – $125,000 John
Battaglia Memorial, 1 1/16 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 4 points:
10-4-2-1)
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): Classic
Causeway (Brian Lynch); Major General (Todd Pletcher); Rattle N Roll
(Kenny McPeek); 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) 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)
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): Secret
Oath (Wayne Lukas) and Zozos (Brad Cox).
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)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Tiz the
Bomb (Kenny McPeek).
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): Zozos
(Brad Cox)
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.
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