First Look: Journey to Kentucky Derby stops in New Orleans
Photo:
Fair Grounds / Hodges Photography
Fair Grounds stakes were not always bellwethers for the
Kentucky Derby. Even though the track has been around more than 1 1/2
centuries, only five eventual Derby winners came through New Orleans before
2020.
Then the trend changed. Mandaloun and Rich Strike graduated
from Fair Grounds to get Derby victories, and Midnight Bourbon, Epicenter and
Two Phil’s went on to become runners-up.
One adjustment has been that Fair Grounds qualifiers for the
Derby were lengthened five years ago to their current distances, including
Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile, Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes. It is the first of the next-level
preps with points increased to 20-10-6-4-2 for the top five finishers.
Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon, Epicenter and Two Phil’s all hit the board in the
Lecomte before doing it again less than four months later at Churchill Downs.
Points races for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) also are scheduled Saturday
at Fair Grounds and Aqueduct. They are among seven key stakes this weekend.
Saturday
Lecomte (G3), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds,
Kentucky Derby 10-5-3-2-1 points race
Built took advantage of Admiral Dennis’s stumbling start
Dec. 21 to get loose on the lead and win by 6 3/4 lengths in the Gun Runner
Stakes, a Derby prep that covered the same two-turn course and distance as the
Lecomte. On his own merit, the $260,000 Hard Spun colt still got a 92 Beyer
Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. Admiral Dennis, the
odds-on favorite last month, settled for fourth place. He gets another shot at
Built and Magnitude, who finished second in the Gun Runner. Nick Vaccarezza, 25, makes his training debut with Golden Afternoon as
he takes over for his father Carlo Vaccarezza.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Innovator Authentic |
5.91 |
1st, OP MSW (12/29/2024-R3) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, OP MSW (12/29/2024-R3) |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Maximum Promise Maximum Security |
5.87 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Admiral Dennis Constitution |
6.05 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Magnitude Not This Time |
6.21 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Optical City of Light |
6.05 | Keith Desormeaux |
1st, CD STR (11/24/2024-R1) |
Entered |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, CD STR (11/24/2024-R1) |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Golden Afternoon Goldencents |
5.45 |
1st, FG Alw OC (11/28/2024-R6) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, FG Alw OC (11/28/2024-R6) |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Calling Card Complexity |
6.06 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Tough Catch Complexity |
6.19 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Dapper Moon Malibu Moon |
6.19 |
1st, FG ALW (12/19/2024-R5) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, FG ALW (12/19/2024-R5) |
|||||
| 10 |
|
Mobetterthangood Mo Town |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Disco Time Not This Time |
6.17 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Jolly Samurai First Samurai |
5.95 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 13 |
|
Built Hard Spun |
6.34 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 14 |
|
Seattle Road Quality Road |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Silverbulletday, Fair Grounds, 1 mile and 70 yards,
3-year-old fillies, Kentucky Oaks 10-5-3-2-1 points race
Simply Joking made her ambitious debut a successful one on
the Gun Runner undercard. Facing two last-out winners and three other rivals,
the Practical Joke filly trained by Whit Beckman overcame a troubled trip to
win the six-furlong Letellier Stakes. On the same card last month, impressive
maiden winner Golden Global finished second for trainer Kenny McPeek as the
even-money favorite in the Untapable covering the same mile and 70 yards as she
will race in the Silverbulletday. Bless the Broken was cross-entered in the Busanda at Aqueduct, but trainer William Walden said she would race in the Silverbulletday.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Chasten Into Mischief |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Golden Gamble Laoban |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Simply Joking Practical Joke |
6.12 | Whit Beckman | Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Drexel Hill Bolt d’Oro |
0.00 | Whit Beckman | Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
California Sunset Quality Road |
5.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Gowells Delight Practical Joke |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
She’s A Swede American Pharoah |
0.00 |
1st, FG MSW (12/29/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, FG MSW (12/29/2024-R7) |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Bless the Broken Laoban |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Louisiana (G3), Fair Grounds, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds
and up
Five-year-old millionaire Hit Show seeks his fifth win in the
last seven starts. He also tries to reverse his failure Nov. 29 in the Clark
(G2). As the 3-2 favorite that day at Churchill Downs, he finished third only to be demoted to fifth for drifting out and interfering in the
deep stretch. A four-time graded-stakes winner for trainer Brad Cox, Hit Show
will be reunited with Florent Géroux, who rode him to his four victories in
2024. Skinner, another 5-year-old, was moved from John Shirreffs to trainer
Cherie DeVaux since he won the Nov. 23 Native Diver (G3) at Del Mar.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Hit Show Candy Ride |
7.12 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Warrior Johny Cairo Prince |
5.59 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Pipeline Speightstown |
6.05 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Heroic Move Quality Road |
5.79 |
1st, Zia Park Championship |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, Zia Park Championship |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Skinner Curlin |
7.01 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Cooke Creek Uncle Mo |
5.48 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Velocitor Mor Spirit |
5.94 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Track Phantom Quality Road |
7.22 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Komorebino Omoide California Chrome |
5.89 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Maycocks Bay Speightstown |
5.71 |
1st, FG Alw OC (12/7/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, FG Alw OC (12/7/2024-R7) |
|||||
Busanda, Aqueduct, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-old fillies,
Kentucky Oaks 10-5-3-2-1 points race
Ramify, who looked green but still won her debut going one mile
last month at Aqueduct, will add a second turn when she takes on stakes company
this weekend. A Juddmonte homebred filly by Munnings out of Tapit mare Chamber,
Ramify made up 13 lengths to win by a half-length for trainer Chad Brown. Her
opposition will include Running Away, a Gun Runner filly who switched from turf
to dirt for a maiden-breaking, five-length win Nov. 30 for trainer Wesley Ward. Bless the Broken was cross-entered in the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds, where Walden said she will go Saturday.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sharp Smile Practical Joke |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Beautiful Blome Blofeld |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Ramify Munnings |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Bless the Broken Laoban |
0.00 | 7th, 2024 Demoiselle G2 2025 Busanda |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
7th, 2024 Demoiselle G2 2025 Silverbulletday |
|||||
| 5 |
|
Carmen’s Candy Jar Vino Rosso |
5.59 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Ruth Uncle Mo |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
My Sherrona Not This Time |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Bernieandtherose Accelerate |
0.00 |
1st, AQU Alw OC (11/24/2024-R4) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, AQU Alw OC (11/24/2024-R4) |
|||||
| 9 |
|
Running Away Gun Runner |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Leonatus, Turfway Park, 1 mile, synthetic, 3-year-olds
The profile of this race was raised when Rich Strike, who
finished third to start his 3-year-old season, went on to his sensational 80-1
upset in the 2022 Kentucky Derby. Can’t Deny It comes in off a debut victory
going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Fair Grounds last month. The $135,000
Justify colt is trained by Larry Rivelli, who has won 8 of 16 starts this month
at Turfway. Chunk of Gold stalked his way to a six-furlong debut victory Dec.
19 over the same Tapeta he will see Saturday. In this field of eight, his 85
Brisnet Speed Rating is second only to Can’t Deny It’s 86.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Chunk of Gold Preservationist |
0.00 |
1st, TP MSW (12/19/2024-R3) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, TP MSW (12/19/2024-R3) |
|||||
| 2 |
|
Baby Max Maximus Mischief |
5.34 |
2nd, TP Alw OC (12/6/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, TP Alw OC (12/6/2024-R7) |
|||||
| 3 |
|
Up to No Good Lord Nelson |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
Banks Outwork |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Shan Shancelot |
0.00 |
3rd, TP Alw OC (12/18/2024-R7) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
3rd, TP Alw OC (12/18/2024-R7) |
|||||
| 6 |
|
Can’t Deny It Justify |
0.00 |
1st, FG MSW (12/19/2024-R6) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, FG MSW (12/19/2024-R6) |
|||||
| 7 |
|
Church and State Caravaggio |
0.00 |
1st, WO Alw OC (12/6/2024-R3) |
Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
1st, WO Alw OC (12/6/2024-R3) |
|||||
| 8 |
|
Hard As Life Gun Runner |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
Sunday
La Cañada (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-years-old and up
It has been nearly a year since Alpha Bella made her stakes
breakthrough. The Don Alberto homebred won on her seventh try at added money,
holding on for a three-quarter-length victory in the La Prevoyante (G3) on Pegasus
day at Gulfstream Park. That was for her old trainer Pletcher. The 5-year-old
Justify mare went west last summer to the barn of John Sadler. Alpha Bella since
finished second in both the Zenyatta (G2) at Santa Anita and the Bayakoa (G3)
on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Del Mar. This race was pushed back a day because of the schedule changes forced by Los Angeles County wildfires.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Alpha Bella Justify |
6.57 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Chatalas Gun Runner |
6.47 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Cavalieri Nyquist |
5.79 | Probable | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Big Hug Mr Big |
0.00 |
2nd, Glendale Overnight |
Probable | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
2nd, Glendale Overnight |
|||||
|
|
Musical Mischief Into Mischief |
6.60 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Che Evasora Greenspring |
6.07 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Sun Of Hill Camelot Kitten |
5.84 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Don’t Bring Crazy Maximus Mischief |
5.34 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race Next Race |
||||||
|
|
Halone Justify |
0.00 |
1st, DMR MSW (11/29/2024-R2) |
Possible | ||
|
Last Race Next Race |
1st, DMR MSW (11/29/2024-R2) |
|||||
Las Ciénegas (G3), Santa Anita, about 6 1/2 furlongs,
hillside turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up
Toupie is expected to remain the program favorite after this
race was postponed from last weekend. This will be the 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly’s second start at Santa Anita. Her
first in September resulted in a 1 1/2-length victory in the Unzip Me Stakes,
also going 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill course. A Wertheimer brothers
homebred trained by Graham Motion, Toupie most recently finished fourth Nov. 8
as the 3-2 favorite in the Autumn Days turf sprint at Aqueduct. Entries for the Las Ciénegas were scheduled to be retaken Monday.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Nadette Outstrip |
6.36 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Toupie Uncle Mo |
6.06 | Graham Motion | Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Anywho Bolt d’Oro |
5.87 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Hamwood Flier Kodiac |
5.87 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Miss Lizzy Classic Empire |
4.79 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Ma Rae’s Girl Mendelssohn |
4.12 |
3rd, LRC Alw OC (12/13/2024-R8) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
3rd, LRC Alw OC (12/13/2024-R8) |
|||||
|
|
Just Nails Twirling Candy |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Laulne Starspangledbanner |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Needlepoint Blue Point |
0.00 |
1st, Lingfield Novice (12/22/2024-R2) |
Probable | ||
| Last race Next race |
1st, Lingfield Novice (12/22/2024-R2) |
|||||
|
|
Vitalera Into Mischief |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
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