This weekend, I witnessed the start of Kentucky Derby prep racing. The Iroquois was race 9 on a card of 11 at Churchill Downs, Home of the Kentucky Derby. The stakes had nine entries. The purse was $300 thousand dollars for the 1 and 1/16 mile dirt race for two-year olds. Posting at approximately 4:55 P.M. ET, four thoroughbreds earned KY Derby prep points. 10, 4, 2 and 1 points were awarded to the first four finishers, respectively.
Check out the top four on the 2023 KY Derby leaderboard! Curly Jack, owned by Michael McLoughlin, trained by Thomas M. Amoss and ridden by Edgar Morales finished first. Honed was second for Three Chimneys Farm and Magdalena Racing. Kenneth McPeek is the successful trainer and Julien R. Leparoux was in the saddle. Third place was won by Jace’s Road. Owned by Westpoint Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables, LLC., this colt is trained by Brad H. Cox. Florent Geroux was in the stirrups. The final point went to Hayes Strike. This colt belongs to Dixiana Farms, LLC. He shares McPeek as his trainer. The jockey was Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
Furthermore, the fillies were fantastic in the Pocahontas Stakes! The top four finishers hit the top of the KY Oaks leaderboard. Race 11 posted around 5:58 P.M. ET. Just as with the Iroquois, the Pocahontas was worth $300 thousand dollars and it was an 1 and 1/16 mile dirt race for two-year olds. However, it was exclusively for fillies.
First to finish was Fun And Feisty! She won by several lengths for owners, Lucky Seven Stable. Once again, trainer Kenneth G. McPeek had a great day as did jockey, Julien Leparoux. Shoplifter raced past the finish line second. She is owned by Anderson Stables, LLC. and her owner/trainer combo, Eddie Kenneally. Rafeal Bejarno was Shoplifter’s jockey. With a nice third place win, Grand Love represented owners, Three Chimneys Farm, LLC. Her trainer is Steven M. Asmussen. Jocky Joel Rosario was aboard Grand Love. The last filly to earn a spot on the leaderboard was Boss Lady Bailey. Hooties Racing, LLC. is proud to own Boss Lady Bailey. I was very pleased for John Alexander Ortiz to be training two horses in the Pocahontas and seven thoroughbreds at Churchill that same day. Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. was Boss Lady Bailey’s jockey.
I watched the alpha and I’m looking forward to the omega but meanwhile, I will enjoy every race on the roads to the KY Derby and Oaks. Live racing returns to Keeneland in less than a month and I will be there for their Fall meet and their third hosting of the Breeders’ Cup. Check back with Thoroughbred U for more racing. Please, take a friend along for the ride. Thank you!
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