First Look: 3 Kentucky Derby preps are among 10 key stakes
Photo:
Gulfstream Park / NYRA / Santa Anita
They may not be win-and-you’re-in races, but three second-level
points preps coming Saturday have produced a combined six Kentucky Derby
winners in their history and six top-five finishers this decade.
The Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita provided Ferdinand, Charismatic and I’ll Have Another with prep experience on their way to their signature wins in Kentucky. In 2021, Hot Rod Charlie was third in the Bob Lewis and second in the Derby and Belmont. This year Citizen Bull and Madaket Road are probable starters for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who tries to win this race for the seventh time in a row.
The Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park produced Derby
victors Go for Gin, Funny Cide and Barbaro. It also spawned recent Belmont
Stakes winners Tiz the Law and Mo Donegal, both of whom were top-five Derby
horses as was Simplification.
Established in 1874, the Withers at Aqueduct became a Derby
prep only when it was moved from spring to winter with the advent of points
qualifying in 2012. Max Player and Hit Show won it before finishing fifth in
the Churchill Downs classic.
The Bob Lewis, Holy Bull and Withers highlight a weekend
that includes key stakes at Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Aqueduct and Tampa Bay
Downs.
Saturday
Robert B. Lewis (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, 3-year-olds, Kentucky
Derby 20-10-6-4-2 points race
Baffert, who has won this race a record 12 times, submitted six nominations
from his deep roster of 3-year-olds. Eclipse Award winner Citizen Bull, who took the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his most recent start, and Madaket Road, who
broke his maiden on opening day Dec. 26, were expected by the Santa Anita
racing office to be in the entry box Monday afternoon. Clock Tower, who won the
Cecil B. DeMille (G3) on Dec. 1 at Del Mar, may be the most intriguing
challenger to the Bafferts. He is expected to be switched back to the dirt
after two turf victories for trainer Wesley Ward.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Citizen Bull Into Mischief |
7.07 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Clock Tower Not This Time |
6.34 | Probable | |||
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Last race Next race |
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Madaket Road Quality Road |
5.95 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Rank Honor A. P. |
5.79 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Rodriguez Authentic |
3.39 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Baeza McKinzie |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last race Next race |
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|
|
Fomo Joe Instilled Regard |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Smooth Cruisein Girvin |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Valentines Candy Danzing Candy |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Santa Monica (G2), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs, fillies and
mares, 4-year-olds and up
What this race lacks in quantity, it makes up for in
quality. Kopion and Splendora are expected to come back to the same course and
distance where they finished one-two as 37-1 and 25-1 long shots in the La Brea
(G1) on Dec. 26. Hope Road, who finished fourth at 5-2 in that race, is expected
back after having her winning streak of four snapped.
Chile-bred Richi, who won the Las Flores (G3) this month in her second U.S. start
for Baffert, is also a probable entrant.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Kopion Omaha Beach |
7.18 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Hope Road Quality Road |
6.89 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Richi Practical Joke |
6.73 | Probable | |||
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Last race Next race |
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|
|
Splendora Audible |
6.47 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Pleasant Munnings |
6.89 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Sandy Bottom Omaha Beach |
6.34 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Thunder Road (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, 4-year-olds
and up
Seal Team was last seen losing, but it was an impressive loss.
Just before he turned 5, he measured up against some fast company Dec. 26 finishing
third in the 1 1/8-mile San Gabriel (G2). He lost by only 1 1/2 lengths to
Eclipse Award finalist Johannes. Six-year-old El Potente is 8: 5-0-2 at Santa
Anita, but this represents a big jump in class from the allowance company he
has dominated there.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cabo Spirit Pioneerof the Nile |
6.60 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Seal Team War Front |
6.24 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Astronomer Air Force Blue |
6.17 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Lammas Heeraat |
6.06 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Wizard Of Westwood Tu Brutus |
5.56 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
El Potente Temple City |
0.00 |
1st, SA Alw OC (1/4/2025-R10) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, SA Alw OC (1/4/2025-R10) |
|||||
|
|
St Anthony Noble Mission |
4.79 |
4th, TUP Alw OC (1/16/2025-R4) |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
4th, TUP Alw OC (1/16/2025-R4) |
|||||
|
|
Packs A Wahlop Creative Cause |
4.09 |
2nd, SA Alw OC (12/28/2024-R10) |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, SA Alw OC (12/28/2024-R10) |
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Megahertz (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, fillies and
mares, 4-year-olds and up
It was not until her 23rd start when Big Hug finally stepped
up to graded competition. After that third-place result only eight days ago in
the 1 1/16-mile La Cañada (G3), the Santa Anita racing office said she was
probable to wheel right back for trainer Val Brinkerhoff and try for her fourth
win in six starts. How tough can it be for this 5-year-old Mr. Big mare? Her
last two victories came a week apart in October at Century Downs in Canada.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Omaha Girl Omaha Beach |
6.06 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Mucho Macho Girl Mucho Macho Man |
6.02 |
2nd, FG Alw OC (12/22/2024-R5) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, FG Alw OC (12/22/2024-R5) |
|||||
|
|
Liguria War Front |
4.45 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
Big Hug Mr Big |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Sun Bee English Channel |
0.00 | Graham Motion |
4th, GP HCP (1/25/2025-R4) |
Probable | |
|
Last race Next race |
4th, GP HCP (1/25/2025-R4) |
|||||
|
|
Mahina Bolt d’Oro |
6.27 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Rashmi Oscar Performance |
6.12 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Tirupati Mitole |
5.45 |
1st, SA STR (1/4/2025-R4) |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, SA STR (1/4/2025-R4) |
|||||
|
|
Eternal Reign Invincible Spirit |
0.00 |
1st, SA MSW (12/27’2024-R5) |
Possible | ||
| Last race Next race |
1st, SA MSW (12/27/2024-R5) |
|||||
|
|
Needlepoint Blue Point |
0.00 |
1st, LIN NOV (12/22/2024-R2) |
Possible | ||
| Last race Next race |
1st, LIN NOV (12/22/2024-R2) |
|||||
|
|
Sareeha Shamardal |
0.00 |
1st, SA Alw OC (1/5/2025-R8) |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, SA Alw OC (1/5/2025-R8) |
|||||
Holy Bull (G3), Gulfstream Park, 1 1/16 miles,
3-year-olds, Kentucky Derby 20-10-6-4-2 points race
Burnham Square returns to a course and distance he dominated
last month, breaking his maiden by nine lengths in a $65,000
allowance race. Tappan Street made his debut a winning one for Cox when he went seven
furlongs last month at Gulfstream. Burning Glory and Kinetic Control were
first-time victors this fall at Churchill Downs. Guns Loaded is a two-time
winner who scored last out in a slowly run, one-mile Mucho Macho Man at
Gulfstream. Ferocious has not won since his debut, but his last three starts in
Grade 1s resulted in two seconds and a fifth in traffic in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Kinetic Control Not This Time |
6.11 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Ferocious Flatter |
6.58 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Tappan Street Into Mischief |
5.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Guns Loaded Gun Runner |
6.31 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
He’s Not Joking Practical Joke |
6.27 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Burning Glory Into Mischief |
5.59 | Bill Mott |
1st, CD MSW (12/1/2024-R8) |
Entered |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, CD MSW (12/1/2024-R8) |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Burnham Square Liam’s Map |
5.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Forward Gal (G3), Gulfstream Park, 7 furlongs, 3-year-old
fillies, Kentucky Oaks 20-10-6-4-2 points race
After breaking her maiden by 6 1/4 lengths, Florida-bred
Stunner won by 3 1/2 making her stakes debut in the Tempted. Those autumn victories
at Aqueduct were followed by a neck loss as the 3-10 favorite in the 1
1/16-mile Florida Sire My Dear Girl at Gulfstream. My Denysse won that race to
break her maiden, and she is back for this Oaks prep. Éclatant, who finished
third Nov. 30 in the 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod (G3) at Churchill Downs, might
benefit from the cutback since she is 2-for-2 going less than a mile. Rojo Rita
brings the eye candy, namely video of her Nov. 15 debut that resulted in a 16 1/4-length runaway going six furlongs at Gulfstream.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Unchained Elaine American Pharoah |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
The Queens M G Thousand Words |
6.55 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Justinqueso Ghostzapper |
0.00 |
1st, GP MSW (12/19/2024-R6) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, GP MSW (12/19/2024-R6) |
|||||
| 4 |
|
Costa Amalfitana Twirling Candy |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Beyond Belief Goldencents |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
My Denysse Neolithic |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Eclatant Into Mischief |
6.67 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Volatiled Volatile |
0.00 |
2nd, Juvenile Fillies Sprint |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, Juvenile Fillies Sprint |
|||||
| 9 |
|
Rojo Rita Volatile |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Frida City of Light |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Stunner Girvin |
6.07 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Withers, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, Kentucky
Derby 20-10-6-4-2 points race
Captain Cook, a $410,000 colt owned by Vinnie Viola’s St.
Elias Stable, broke his maiden by 9 1/4 lengths on second asking. That
was as a 1-2 favorite going seven furlongs in the slop Dec. 28 at Aqueduct. The
son of Practical Joke will not have it so easy this time going two turns
against Smarty Jones runner-up Mo Quality, Jerome second-place finisher Omaha
Omaha, Brad Cox’s maiden winner Uncle Jim and 2-for-2 Global Steve.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Global Steve Bucchero |
0.00 | Butch Reid Mychel Sánchez |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Surfside Moon Malibu Moon |
0.00 | Chuckie Lawrence Sahin Civaci |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Corvus Vino Rosso |
4.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Uncle Jim City of Light |
6.14 |
3rd, AQU Alw OC (12/6/2024-R3) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
3rd, AQU Alw OC (12/6/2024-R3) |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Mo Quality Mo Town |
5.91 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Captain Cook Practical Joke |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Omaha Omaha Audible |
5.79 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Tampa Bay (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf,
4-year-olds and up
A winner on dirt, synthetic and turf, Paros has finished first five times in a row including a 4-for-4 record since he was claimed for $40,000 last
summer and transferred from Linda Rice to trainer Mike Maker. The 5-year-old
Cairo Prince gelding won the listed Prairie Bayou going 1 1/16 miles Dec. 14 on
the Tapeta at Turfway Park. The other wins in his streak have been on turf.
Paros is 4-for-4 at the distance of the Tampa Bay, which will mark his first
graded-stakes attempt.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Northern Invader Collected |
6.19 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Irish Aces Mshawish |
6.03 |
2nd, KEE ALW (10/19/2024-R8) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, KEE ALW (10/19/2024-R8) |
|||||
|
|
Paros Cairo Prince |
5.34 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Eldest Son Into Mischief |
0.00 |
1st, GP Alw OC (12/28/2024-R6) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, GP Akw OC (12/28/2024-R6) |
|||||
|
|
Fidelightcayut Leofric |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Lorenz Forestry |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Possiblemente Tale of Ekati |
0.00 |
3rd, GP HCP (12/28/2024-R9) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
3rd, GP HCP (12/28/2024-R9) |
|||||
|
|
Card Trick Liam’s Map |
4.84 |
2nd, TAM Alw OC (12/27/2024-R7) |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, TAM Alw OC (12/27/2024-R7) |
|||||
|
|
Ninja Star Gary D |
4.45 |
1st, Sunshine Turf |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, Sunshine Turf |
|||||
Endeavour (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf, fillies
and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Great Britain-bred 5-year-old Breath Away finished fifth as
the 5-2 favorite in the Suwanee River (G3) last month at Gulfstream Park, but
she lost by only 1 1/2 lengths. She suffered narrower losses in two prior
stakes during the fall. Newly turned 4-year-old Austere, a stakes winner at age
2, came back from a 7 1/2-month break to win a Fair Grounds allowance Nov. 23
for trainer Brendan Walsh. Venencia carries trainer Chad Brown’s turf bona fides coming off a neck win Nov. 10 in the 1 1/16-mile Forever Together at Aqueduct. Five-year-old Be My Sunshine is trying to rediscover the
form that got her a runner-up finish for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. in last year’s
Endeavour. She is 5: 0-1-0 since.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Ocean Club Curlin |
6.61 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
See You Around Siyouni |
6.39 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Venencia Recoletos |
6.34 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Be My Sunshine Frosted |
5.87 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Austere Mendelssohn |
5.73 |
1st, FG Alw OC (11/23/2024-R6) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, FG Alw OC (11/23/2024-R6) |
|||||
|
|
Opus Forty Two Mendelssohn |
5.59 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Infinite Diamond Bee Jersey |
4.56 |
1st, GP Alw OC (12/20/2024-R10) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, GP Alw OC (12/20/2024-R10) |
|||||
|
|
Breath Away Bated Breath |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Damaso Outwork |
4.45 |
2nd, TAM Alw OC (1/3/2025-R5) |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, TAM Alw OC (1/3/2025-R5) |
|||||
Sunday
Las Virgenes (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, 3-year-old
fillies, Kentucky Oaks 20-10-6-4-2 points race
Tenma, who is 3-for-4, already has 10 Kentucky Oaks (G1)
qualifying points from her 1 1/16-mile Starlet (G2) victory last month at Los
Alamitos. She will try to give Baffert his fourth consecutive win in this race
and a record-extending ninth overall. So will her stablemate Cipriani, who was first by 8 1/4 lengths last out in her six-furlong debut Oct. 27 at Santa Anita. Look
Forward, who picked up 10 Oaks points by winning the seven-furlong Santa Ynez last
month for Michael McCarthy, will try to crash the Baffert party.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tenma Nyquist |
7.23 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Look Forward Bolt d’Oro |
6.39 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Artisma Munnings |
6.12 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
A. Z. Wildcat Munnings |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Cipriani Bernardini |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Just As Fancy Volatile |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Our Moonlight Tapit |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Will Then War of Will |
6.34 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Silent Law Tiz the Law |
6.27 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
As Catch Can Mo Town |
5.92 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
In The Air Tonight Stay Thirsty |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Lolo Le Plume Instilled Regard |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
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