Each of this weekend’s four Grade III prep races offer 20-10-6-4-2 points to the first five finishers, respectively.
The first prep this Saturday is the Withers Stakes. The Withers is raced at Aqueduct in New York, NY. The oldest of these four stakes, this race dates back to 1874. The distance is 1 and 1/8 mile with a $250,000 purse. The Withers Stakes posts at 3:55 PM ET on a card of 10 races. Race 9 has 9 entries as follows by post position/name (state they were bred in) and KY Derby points when applicable.
- Speed Runner (KY)
- Deposition (KY)
- Lightline (KY)
- El Grande O (NY) – earned 5 points with a second place finish in the Jerome Stakes
- Seminole Chief (FL)
- Society Man (KY)
- Mission Beach (KY)
- Uncle Heavy (PA)
- Khanate (KY) – earned 3 points by finishing 3rd place in the Jerome Stakes
Next, we have the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. This stakes was inaugurated in 1935. The 1 mile race has a $200,000 purse and is race 5 on a card of 10. The race posts at 5:15 PM ET and the entries are as follows by post position/name (state they were bred in) and KY Derby points when applicable.
- Wine Me Up (KY) – trainer will not qualify for KY Derby points which is unfortunate because this colt was second in the American Pharoah worth 5 points and fourth in the Los Alamitos Futurity Stakes worth 2 points
- Ace of Clubs (KY) – earned 1 point by finishing 5th in the Los Alamitos Futurity
- Better Than Gold (KY)
- Moonlit Sonata (KY)
- Coach Prime (KY) – trainer will not qualify for KY Derby points due to his trainer though he was third in the Los Alamitos Futurity worth 3 points
- Nysos (KY) – trainer will not qualify for KY Derby points
- Stronghold (KY) – finished second in the Los Alamitos Futurity earning 5 points
- Mc Vay (KY)
- Scatify (KY)
Following that, is the Holy Bull Stakes hosed by Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL. It is the newest of these 4 stakes, dating back to 1990. This race is 1 and 1/16 miles with a $250,000 purse. The Holy Bull is the 12th of 12 races in the program and will post at 5:48 PM ET. Eight horses are entered as follows by post position/name (state they were bred in) and KY Derby points when applicable.
- Hades (FL)
- Inveigled (IN)
- Otello (KY)
- Dancing Groom (KY) – earned 3 points with a 3rd place finish in the Champagne Stakes
- No More Time (IA)
- Domestic Product (KY)
- Fierceness (KY) – sits at the top of the KY Derby leaderboard with the 30 points earned winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes
- Sea Streak (NJ)
Finally, the fourth KY Derby prep of the day is the Southwest Stakes. This race is held at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, AR. The Southwest was inaugurated in 1968. The race is 1 and 1/16 miles and has a purse of $800,000. Post time is 5:50 PM ET for the Southwest Stakes, race 11 on the card of 12. Twelve thoroughbreds are entered as follows by post position/name (state they were bred in) and KY Derby points when applicable.
- Maycocks Bay (KY)
- Charleston (KY)
- Magic Grant (KY) – earned 3 points in the Springboard Mile with a 3rd place finish
- Otto the Conqueror (KY) – earned 10 points in the Springboard Mile by finishing 1st and holding the 9th place rank on the KY Derby leaderboard
- Wynstock (NY) – could have earned 10 points winning the Los Alamitos Futurity but doesn’t currently qualify because his trainer is banned
- Liberal Arts (KY) – earned 13 points finishing 3rd in the Iroquois Stakes and 1st in the Street Sense Stakes thus ranking 5th on the current KY Derby leaderboard
- Carbone (KY)
- Common Defense (KY)
- Linebaker (KY)
- Mystik Dan (KY) – earned 1 point with a 5th place finish in the Smarty Jones Stakes
- Just Steel (KY) – earned 5 points finishing 2nd in the Smarty Jones and ranking 17th on the KY Derby leaderboard
- Awesome Road (KY) – earned 1 point with a 5th place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
FOUR sure, these will be four stakes to see! Chances are these four races will feature some of the 2024 KY Derby field. I love the anticipation On The Road To The Kentucky Derby. I am full of expectations for this Run FOUR The Roses! Thoroughbred U welcomes you and your friends for the ride on this road. Check back for more posts to follow. Thank you.
