2019 Florida Derby winner, Maximum Security.
Posted on by bluegrassblog@thoroughbredu.com

Doors to The Derby

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1994 Florida Derby winner, Holy Bull!
1994 Florida Derby winner, Holy Bull!

Four important preps are set to race March 27th, 2021. These are the Jeff Ruby Steaks, The Florida Derby, the UAE Derby and the Fukuryu. The first three listed are part of the traditional American tiered point system races while the Fukuryu is the final of 4 races on the Japan series for a KY Derby invite. Let’s check out each race with some of the basics.

First, is the Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse near Tokyo, Japan. This stakes was inaugurated in 2000. Posting at 2:10 am ET, this is the final chance to earn a spot from the Japan Road to the KY Derby. This race is roughly 1 and 1/8 miles. It offers 40-16-8-4 points to the first four respective finishers. The purse is $315,808 dollars. Colts and fillies are entered. Not reading Japanese is a real limitation for gathering information on this race. Ladybug is the favorite though I could not find the odds. The winning horses on the first three races of the Japan Road have not chosen to enter the KY Derby. Therefore, this is a real opportunity to the winner of this Fukuryu. The field is set by “HN” number (perhaps that is the saddle cloth number), “BN” number (perhaps that is the post at the gate number)/horse/jockey/trainer/and points obtained on the Japan Road:

  1. 1. Lance of Earth/S. Ishibashi/M. Honda
  2. 2. Meisho Murakumo/Y. Shibata/Y. Wada
  3. 3. Miko Black/A. Tsumura/H. Asami
  4. 3. LordStrom/K. Miura/H. Shimizu
  5. 4. Ladybug/M. Sakai/Y. Kitade/6 points
  6. 4. Giuditta/K. Matsuyama/K. Ishizaka/
  7. 5. Your History/Y. Ishikawa/M. Ikezoe
  8. 5. Ca Va/H. Tanabe//H. Uemura
  9. 6. Taisei Slugger/M. Demuro/Y. Takahashi/2 points
  10. 6. T Up Leon/H. Uchida/M. Okuhira
  11. 7. Taisei Again/T. Ono/T. Matusushita/2 points
  12. 7. Gold Higher/T. Yokoyama/R. Okubo
  13. 8. God Selection/Y. Nakai/T.Konno
  14. 8. Glanz Atem/N. Yokoyama/T. Nakagawa

Next, is the United Arab Emirates Derby. This Group II race was also created in 2000. It is held at Meydan Race Course in Dubai, UAE. Many USA, JPN and other international contenders made the trip. The UAE Derby is a 1 and 3/16 mile (9.5 furlongs) dirt race with a purse of $750,000. The race offers 100-40-20-10 points. It is on a card of 9 races including the $12 million dollar Dubai World Cup. Race 5 posts at 10:05 am ET. The entries are as follows by post/horse.jockey/trainer/morning-line odds/and points obtained on The Japan Road:

  1. El Patriota (URU)/Vagner Leal/A Cintra Pereira/15-1
  2. Ambivalent (USA)/Luis Saez/D O’Neill/20-1
  3. Fire Group (USA)/Antonio Fresu/A Al Mheiri/
  4. France Go De Ina (USA)/Joel Rosario/H Mori/6-1
  5. Lugamo (USA)/Olsin Murphey/A Sano/50-1
  6. Mouheeb (USA)/Ryan Curatolo/N Bachalard/8-1
  7. New Treasure (IRE)/Lanfranco Dettori/J Gosden/20-1
  8. Panadol (USA)/Mickael Barzalona/S bin Ghadayer/9-2
  9. Pink Kamehamaha (JPN)/Keita Tosaki/H Mori/8-1
  10. Rebel’s Romance (IRE)/William Buick/C Appleby/15-1
  11. Speight’spercomete (USA)/Pattrick Dobbs/D Watson/15-1
  12. Takeru Pegasus (JPN)/Ryan Moore/Y Kato/10-1/7 points on the Japan Road from 2 of the 4 races
  13. Mnasek (USA)/Sam Hitchcott/D Watson/6-1
  14. Soft Whisper (IRE)/Parrick Cosgrave/S bin Suroor/12-1

On to the Jeff Ruby Steaks! No that isn’t a typo for a stakes race, that is a reference to the sponsor. This race was inaugurated in 1972, formerly referred to as The Spiral Stakes. It is currently hosted at Turfway Park in Florence, KY. The race originated at Latonia Race Track. This prep is on 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) of all weather track. It also offers 100-40-20-10 points. The purse is $250,000 and is race 11 on a card of 12. The Jeff Ruby will post at 6:25 pm ET. Listed by post/horse/jockey/trainer/M-L odds/and points on The America Road:

  1. Like The King/Drayden Van Dyke/Wesley Ward/6-1/4
  2. Hush Of A Storm/Santiago Gonzalez/William Morey/4-1/10
  3. King’s Ovation/Albin Jimenez/Dale Romans/15-1
  4. Awesome Gerry/Martin Garcia/Saffie Joseph, Jr./20-1
  5. Sainthood/Gerardo Corrales/Todd Pletcher/12-1
  6. Smiley Sobotka/Declan Cannon/Dale Romans/15-1/4 points
  7. Tarantino/Florent Geroux/Rodolphe Brisset/3-1/9 from 2 races
  8. Moonlite Strike/Rafael Hernandez/Saffie Joseph, Jr./12-1/11 from 2 races
  9. Hard Rye Guy/Brian Hernandez, Jr./Ian Wilkes/10-1/1
  10. Gretzky The Great/Chris Landeros/Mark Casse/5-1/2 points
  11. Dyn O Mite/Deshawn Parker/J. Desormeaux/15-1
  12. Hockey Dad/Rafael Bejarano/Doug O’ Neill/10-1

Finally, it’s riders up for the Curlin Florida Derby! Predating, the Jeff Ruby, this race traces back to 1952. It is hosted by Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL. While it is at the same distance as the Jeff Ruby, 1 and 1/8 miles, it is a dirt race. Again the points are 100-40-20-10. This purse is $750,000 and is the last and 14th race on that track’s Saturday card. It will post at 6:40 pm ET. The entries are:

  1. Nova Rags/Junior Alvarado/William Mott/12-1/4 points
  2. Quantum Leap/Miguel Vasquez/Ian Wilkes/20-1
  3. Jirafales/Edgard Zayas/Gustavo Delgado/30-1
  4. Southern Passage/Corey Lanerie/Dale Romans/30-1
  5. Known Agenda/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd Pletcher/5-1/2 points
  6. Sigiloso/Leonel Reyes/Antonio Sano/30-1
  7. Greatest Honour/Jose Ortiz/Clause McGaughey III/6-5/60 from 2 races
  8. Soup And Sandwich/John Velazquez/Mark Casse/20-1
  9. Collaborate/Tyler Gaffalione/Saffie Joseph, Jr./6-1
  10. Spielberg/Javier Castellano/Bob Baffert/4-1/17 from 4 races
  11. Papetu/Emisael Jaramillo/Antonio Sano/15-1/11 from 2 races

There are many paths and open doors of opportunity on The Road to the KY Derby. With so many international opportunities, high points and the Japan Road all taking place this Saturday there will be some major changes to the top 20 positions on the KY Derby leaderboard. Stay with Thoroughbred U as we race down The Road to the KY Derby and find some time to look into other information too.

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