This week, horse racing could produce some of the most promising Kentucky Derby contenders yet as we move within 90 days of the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.
Four, yes four, Derby prep races are set for Friday and Saturday – two each day – as last week’s winter freeze forced tracks to reschedule their programs.
On Friday, it’s the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park and the $200,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct – each taking place six days after the original dates were snowed out.
On Saturday, it’s the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita and the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
All four races award Derby qualifying points on a sliding scale of 20-10-6-4-2 to the first five finishers.
In addition, the road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) features three point-qualifiers this weekend – the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Friday, the $125,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, and the $100,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.
For bettors, this is another opportunity to pluck an early Derby contender at longer odds than you’d get if your pick shows up in the winner’s circle over the weekend.
With unbeaten and early Derby favorite Ted Noffey sidelined for the Triple Crown season with a slight injury, there’s no clear-cut standout, although Nearly’s victory in the $275,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream on Jan. 31 moves him into the role as a top prospect. Todd Pletcher trains both, so the Hall of Famer lost a star and maybe gained one.
With a $1 million purse for the Southwest, it's little wonder that a full field of 14 3-year-olds was entered, including Litmus Test and Buetane for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Litmus Test, the 5-2 favorite on the morning line, however, will be scratched from the race. Buetane is the third choice at 4-1.
Baffert has won the Southwest six times, often sending promising 3-year-olds to Oaklawn from his base at Santa Anita to separate them from his other 3-year-old Derby prospects running at home.
With Litmus Test out, it’s up to Buetane to carry the torch for Baffert.
Buetane, a $1.15 million purchase by Zedan Stables, was scratched from last week’s Holy Bull due to travel concerns.
Joel Rosario has the call leaving from gate 3. Post time for the Southwest is 5:40 p.m. ET.
Litmus Test is currently third on the Derby leaderboard with 19 points. Strategic Risk, with 10 Derby points, is also entered in the Southwest.
The Withers drew a field of seven going 1 1/8 miles, with Mailata, Grittiness, and Ottinho the likely top choices.
The Robert B. Lewis should have at least two Baffert colts – Desert Gate and Plutarch. Desert Gate is the 5-2 morning-line favorite with Plutarch the third choice at 4-1.
American Pharoah Stakes (G1) winner Intrepido is 7-2 for trainer Jeff Mullins, and Secured Freedom is 6-1 for trainer Tim Yakteen.
Desert Gate, with Juan Hernandez scheduled to ride out of gate 1, won in his debut, then won the Best Pal Stakes (G3). He’s finished second in his last two races, to stablemate Brant in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and to Intrepido in the American Pharoah.
Plutarch was third in the American Pharoah.
The Las Virgenes drew a compact field of four, including the top two finishers in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) -- 2-year-old champion filly Super Corredora and Explora (recent Santa Ynez Stakes winner). Also entered are Meaning, fourth in the BC Juvenile Fillies, and Bank Shot.
The Sam F. Davis should feature a pair trained by Pletcher – Epic Desire and Renegade, with Commandment trained by Brad Cox and Paladin trained by Chad Brow are also being pointed to the race.
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.
