A quartet of Kentucky Derby (G1) preps is set for Saturday (Feb. 3), all offering qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the first five finishers.
The $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park features early Derby favorite Fierceness, who will be making his 3-year-old debut. The 2-year-old champion and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) headlines a field of eight, which includes Otello, winner of the Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 1.
At Oaklawn Park, a full field of 12 is entered for the $800,000 Southwest (G3), with Godolphin-owned Maycocks Bay the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Bob Baffert-trained Wynstock (ineligible for Derby points) is 4-1, with a pair of Steve Asmussen trainees, Carbone and Otto the Conqueror at 9-2 and 5-1, respectively.
The two other Derby preps are the $250,000 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct and the $200,000 Robert. B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.
Among probables for the Withers are El Grande O, Seminole Chief, Speed Runner, Chanate, Mission Beach and Society Man. Probables for the Robert B. Lewis include Baffert-trained Nysos, Better Than Gold and Moonlit Sonata.
Key Contenders in the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and $800,000 Southwest Stakes (G3)
$250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3)
Fierceness, owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher was a runaway winner over Muth in the BC Juvenile. Otello is unbeaten in two career starts for trainer Christophe Clement.
Also entered in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull are Hades, Inveigled. Dancing Groom, No More Time, Domestic Product, and Sea Streak.
$800,000 Southwest Stakes (G3)
The Southwest, also at 1 1/16 miles, was postponed a week because of winter weather. Post time for the race is 4:50 p.m.
Wynstock comes into the race off a win in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on Dec. 16. Baffert is seeking a record-extending seventh victory in the Southwest — he won the past two years with Newgrange in 2022 and Arabian Knight in 2023.
Also entered: Charleston. Magic Grant, Otto the Conqueror, Liberal Art, Carbone, Common Defense, Linebacker, Mystik Dan, Just Steel, and Awesome Road.
Awesome Road hasn’t started since finishing fifth as the favorite in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.
The Derby points leaderboard heading into Saturday’s preps have Fierceness on top with 30 points. Among other 3-year-olds scheduled to run in the four preps, the following have qualifying points: Liberal Arts (13), Otto the Conqueror (10), Just Steel (5), El Grande O (5), Dancing Groom (3), Khanate (3), Awesome Road (1), and Mystik Dan (1).
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
