Three Derby prep races are on the schedule this weekend, with the Kentucky Derby just six weeks away come Saturday. Several horses already have qualified, but there’s room for 20. Jockeying for standings points begins March 26-27.
A few horses who showed promise in January — such as Slow Down Andy — are back, while others are hoping to clinch a spot with one significant effort. Both of Saturday’s races are worth 100 points to the winner. The next three finishers earn 40-20-10 points, respectively.
Derby prep races for March 26-27
Louisiana Derby good test for distance
First up on Saturday are the Grade 1 Louisiana Derby from Fair Grounds and the Grade 2 UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Louisiana Derby races 1 3/16 miles, just a hair shorter than the Kentucky Derby. Therefore, it provides an excellent test to see if horses can go the distance. Also, pay attention to horses’ run-out after the finish to gauge how much energy they have left (although many say that this metric could be arbitrary).
UAE Derby features horse from suspended trainer Bob Baffert
In the UAE Derby, one leading horse, Pinehurst, is trained by Bob Baffert, who continues to work toward appealing the decision that leaves him ineligible for the Kentucky Derby.
This week, a Kentucky judge denied a stay of his 90-day suspension. However, the trainer will be allowed to appeal the ruling to the state’s Court of Appeals. This week’s ruling from Judge Thomas Wingate of the Franklin Circuit Court came after a Thursday hearing.
Baffert’s attorney Craig Robertson claimed the trainer was entitled to a stay. He argued that the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has traditionally given them in all medication cases. Last year, Baffert’s horse Medina Spirit, who crossed the line first, failed a post-race drug test, testing positive for the steroid betamethasone.
Pinehurst is one of a three-horse contingent the US is sending to the UAE Derby. Pinehurst, fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, began the year with a loss to (No. 6) Forbidden Kingdom in the San Vicente (G2) before heading to the Mideast and winning the Saudi Derby (G3).
Another is Gilded Age, who placed third in the Grade 3 Withers in his first start since breaking his maiden in November. Since finishing ninth in the Cecil B. DeMille (G3), Get Back Goldie has raced twice at Meydan — sixth in his last out, a win before that.
50-point Sunland Derby posts on Sunday
On Sunday at the Sunland Derby in New Mexico, Grade 2 Los Angeles Futurity winner Slow Down Andy will ship to challenge Mine That Bird Derby winner Straight Up G. Only Slow Down Andy has a graded-stakes win.
The Derby Dozen, week 7
We look at what’s ahead for our Derby Dozen with no Derby prep news from this past weekend.
- (No Change) Epicenter (trainer Steve Asmussen): Epicenter is second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 64 points. He is the 7-5 morning-line favorite after his gate-to-wire win at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star (G2). His only loss in his last four starts came when Call Me Midnight (also entered here, at 6-1) caught him at the wire in the Lecomte (G3).
- (NC) Smile Happy (Kenny McPeek): McPeek announced Monday that Smile Happy’s next race is the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 9. “We could justify going to a couple of spots, but he’ll go to the Blue Grass,” McPeek told DRF. He said Smile Happy won on debut last fall at Keeneland. The colt’s owners — the Lucky Seven Stable of the Mackin family — live in Kentucky, influencing the considerations. He posted a pair of breezes last Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
- (NC) Zandon (Chad Brown): Posted a big four-furlong work in 48:40 last Saturday prepping for the Blue Grass Stakes. He’s expected at the race on April 9 at Keeneland.
- (NC) White Abarrio (Saffie Joseph Jr.): He continues to train sharply for a scheduled start on April 2 in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
- (NC) Classic Causeway (Brian Lynch): His win two weekends ago at Tampa Bay Downs was the slowest Tampa Bay Derby win since 1999 and clocked 7-8 lengths slower than the Challenger Stakes for older stakes horses on the same card.
- (NC) Forbidden Kingdom (Richard Mandella): Forbidden Kingdom returned to the track Monday at Santa Anita. A fever interrupted his training and forced him to miss a workout last week. “He acts like nothing ever happened,” Mandella told DRF.
- (NC) Morello (Asmussen): The Grade 3 Gotham winner worked five furlongs in 1:01.0 at Belmont Park on Monday morning. It was the fastest of nine works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago, going four furlongs at Belmont Park.
- (NC) Simplification (Antonio Sano): His work on Saturday at Gulfstream Park wasn’t the fastest, but jockey Jose Ortiz liked it. “He worked very good,” Ortiz said. “Very good. The pony let me off at the 5 1/2; he was very relaxed. Antonio told me to just let him be happy for five furlongs and gallop out strong, and that’s exactly what he did.” Simplification races next in the Florida Derby on April 2 at Gulfstream Park.
- (NC) Emmanuel (Todd Pletcher): One of three horses nominated by Pletcher for the April 2 Arkansas Derby.
- (NC) Early Voting (Brown): Early Voting breezed Saturday in preparation for the April 9 Wood Memorial, covering a half-mile in 48.47 seconds at Belmont Park, host of the Wood. The son of Gun Runner, he’s “coming along really well,” said Brown. “He’s been doing everything the right way.”
- (NC) In Due Time (Kelly Breen): This horse has been excellent at avoiding headlines this month.
- (NC) Un Ojo (Ricky Courville): Winner of the Grade 2 Rebel weeks ago, he’s one of four runners from that race expected to enter the Arkansas Derby on April 2. Un Ojo has 54 Kentucky Derby points, good for third on the leaderboard.
