Four More To Score: Kentucky Derby Prep Points

Locked raced to victory in the Breeders' Futurity. Will he win it all again in the Fountain of Youth Stakes?
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Karlwithanarl is looking to stay on his Turfway Park winning streak in the John Battaglia memorial Stakes.
Karlwithanarl is looking to stay on his Turfway Park winning streak in the John Battaglia memorial Stakes.

FOUR a good time, catch these next four Kentucky Derby prep races! This weekend is packed with opportunity and talent. These stakes will play a big part in the field for the 150th Kentucky Derby. Who will score these KY Derby prep points?

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Rebel Roster – On The Road To The Kentucky Derby

Northern Flame finished fourth in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, gathering his first Kentucky Derby prep points.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Just Steel has Kentucky Derby fever.  He is seen here in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.  Next up is the Rebel Stakes.
Just Steel has Kentucky Derby fever. He is seen here in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Next up is the Rebel Stakes.

The Rebel Stakes roster is ready for race day! Offering 105 Kentucky Derby prep points, this Saturday’s stakes likely seals a spot in The Run For The Roses. Read on to review this Rebel roster.

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Risen Star Raises Prep Points

Two Phil's used his third place finish in the Risen Star Stakes to earn the points needed for the Kentucky Derby where he finished second in 2023!
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Two Phil's used his third place finish in the Risen Star Stakes to earn the points needed for the Kentucky Derby where he finished second in 2023!
Two Phil’s used his third place finish in the Risen Star Stakes to earn the points needed for the Kentucky Derby where he finished second in 2023!

It takes champion skill and many prep points to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby starter gate. The Risen Star Stakes offers a rise in the point values offered to the top five finishers. 105 points are at stake in this stakes. Fair Grounds’ Risen Star Stakes is historically full of thoroughbreds that go on to Triple Crown success. Take a look at Saturday’s Risen Star to start the Kentucky Derby Championship series.

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Davis Directs To Derby

Patriot Spirit finishes behind Valentine Candy in the Bowman Mill Stakes. Patriot Candy hopes for Kentucky Derby prep points in the Sam F. Davis Stakes.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
West Saratoga earned Kentucky Derby prep points in the Iroquis Stakes and the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.  Next he hopes to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes.
West Saratoga earned Kentucky Derby prep points in the Iroquois Stakes and the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. Next he hopes to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes.

If you have your sights set on the Tampa Bay Derby, the Kentucky Derby or both, you would be wise to direct your contender to enter the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The Sam F. Davis offers 42 Kentucky Derby prep points making it a stakes that has historically qualified many thoroughbreds a place in the KY Derby. Moreover, the Sam F. Davis is also a prep race for next month’s Tampa Bay Derby. Held at the same track, the Tampa Bay Derby is offering 105 KY Derby prep points and an excellent way to climb towards the top of the KY Derby leaderboard. Indeed, the Davis directs to the Derby.

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Run FOUR The Roses

Just Steel and Awesome Road competed in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. They face off again in the Southwest Stakes! They may get a change in the 150th Kentucky Derby...
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Just Steel raced in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.  He is hoping to earn Kentucky Derby points in the Southwest Stakes.
Just Steel raced in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He is hoping to earn Kentucky Derby points in the Southwest Stakes.

FOUR the love of horse racing, do not miss the four Kentucky Derby prep races this Saturday! Before The Run For The Roses there are many races on The Road to the Kentucky Derby. February 3rd, 2024 is action packed with four stakes races awarding 20 horses a chance to qualify for the 20 posts positions of the 150th Kentucky Derby. Check out these four stakes races!

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Looking At The Lecomte

Lat Long is looking forward to racing in The Lecomte Stakes!
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Lat Long pictured at Keeneland is entered in the Lecomte Stakes.
Lat Long, pictured at Keeneland, is entered in the Lecomte Stakes!

The Road to the Kentucky Derby levels up in point value in the Lecomte Stakes. Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA is set to host the 80th running of the Lecomte on Saturday, January 20th, 2024. Let’s look at the Lecomte!

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Kentucky Derby Depictions

Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY is home to the Kentucky Derby!
Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Forte is fresh off a 5 stakes winning streak.  Will the 149th Kentucky Derby be his next stakes win?
Forte is fresh off a 5 stakes winning streak. Will the 149th Kentucky Derby be his next stakes win?

Saturday, May 6, 2023 will feature the 149th edition of the Kentucky Derby! Please, delight with a bit of information and my photographic depictions of The Derby entries.

The Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve is race 12 on a card of 14. This classic stakes for 3 year-old thoroughbreds carries a purse of $ 3 million dollars. It is a 1 and 1/4 mile dirt race, posting at 6:57 PM ET. The races will air from noon until 7:30 PM ET on NBC.

The field of 20 is as follows by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning-line odds: * (20 will race so the last 3 are Also- Eligible and race only if there are scratches) Practical Move has scratched and Cyclone Mischief has been drawn in to replace him. Lord Miles has scratched and Mandarin Hero will join the field. Continuar scratches and King Russell enters into the field. Skinner has scratched and there are no more eligible replacements. Forte has scratched without a replacement.

Congrats to Mage for the win!

  1. Hit Show/Manuel Franco/Brad H. Cox/Gary and May West/30-1
  2. Verifying/Tyler Gaffalione/Brad H Cox/Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor/15-1
  3. Two Phil’s/Jareth Loveberry/Larry Rivelli/Patricia’s Hope, LLC, Philip Sagan and Madaket Stables, LLC/12-1
  4. Confidence Game/James Graham/J. Keith Desormeaux/Don’t Tell My Wife Stables and Ocean Reef Racing/20-1
  5. Tapit Trice/Luis Saez/Todd A. Pletcher/Whisper Hill Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable/5-1
  6. Kingsbarns/Jose L. Ortiz/Todd A. Pletcher/Spendthrift Farm, LLC/12-1
  7. Reincarnate/John R. Velazquez/Tim Yakteen/SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC and Robert Masterson, et al./50-1
  8. Mage/Javier Castellano/Gustavo Delgado/OGMA Investments, LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH/15-1
  9. Skinner/Juan J. Hernandez/John A. Shirreffs/C R K Stable, LLC/20-1
  10. Practical Move/Ramon A. Vazquez/Tim Yakteen/Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr., Leslie A. Amestoy and Roger K. Beasley/10-1
  11. Disarm/Joel Rosario/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC/30-1
  12. Jace’s Road/Florent Geroux/Brad H. Cox/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC and West Point Thoroughbreds, LLC/50-1
  13. Sun Thunder/Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr./Kenneth G McPeek/R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine/50-1
  14. Angel Of Empire/Flavien Prat/Brad H. Cox/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC/8-1
  15. Forte/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Todd A. Pletcher/Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/3-1
  16. Raise Cain/Gerardo Corrales/Ben Colebrook/Andrew N. Warren and Rania Warren/50-1
  17. Derma Sotogake (JPN)/Christophe Lemaire/Hidetaka Otonashi/Hiroyuki Asanuma/10-1
  18. Rocket Can/Junior Alvarado/William I. Mott/Frank Fletcher Operations/30-1
  19. Lord Miles/Paco Lopez/Saffie A. Joseph, Jr./Vegso Racing Stables/30-1
  20. Continuar (JPN)/Ryusei Sakai/Yoshito Yahagi/Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd./50-1
  21. Cyclone Mischief/Joel Rosario/Dale L. Romans/Albaugh Family Stables, LLC and Castleton Lyons/30-1
  22. Mandarin Hero (JPN)/Kazushi Kimura/Terunobu Fujita/Hiroaki Arai/20-1
  23. King Russell/Rafael Bejarano/Ron Moquett/Brereton C. Jones and Naber Racing, LLC/50-1

As promised, here are my photos of many of the 149th Kentucky Derby contenders. Please, share this story and thank you for following Thoroughbred U!

Featured image caption: Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY is home to the Kentucky Derby!

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Save The Lex For Last

Curly Larry and Mo has raced at Keeneland in Lexington, KY twice before. He is entered in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter

The final Kentucky Derby prep race is the Lexington Stakes in Lexington, KY. Saturday, 4/15/23, Keeneland will host the 41st running of the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. It is the last chance to qualify for entry to the 149th Kentucky Derby.

The Lexington Stakes is race 9 and posts at 5:16 PM ET. It offers 20-8-6-4-2 KY Derby prep points to the respective winners. The race is 1 and 1/16miles.

Follow updates here for Keeneland’s stakes this Spring Meet:

  • 75th running of the Lafayette Stakes/April 7th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/Corona Bolt
  • 35th running of the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (GIII)/April 7th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/turf/$400,000/Mo Stash
  • 86th running of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (GI)/April 7th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YO fillies/dirt/$600,000/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Defining Purpose
  • 36th running of the Commonwealth Stakes (GIII)/April 8th/race 5/2:50 PM ET/7 furlongs/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Here Mi Song
  • 35th running of the Appalachian Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 6/3:25 PM ET/1 mile/3 YO fillies/turf/$400,000/Papilio
  • 22nd running of the Madison Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 7/4:00 PM ET/7 furlongs/4YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$600,000/Goodnight Olive
  • 27th running of the Shakertown Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 8/4:35 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3YO and up/turf/$350,000/Caravel
  • 99th running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 9/5:15 PM ET/1 and 1/8 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$1 million dollars/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/ Tapit Trice
  • 4th running of the FanDuel Limestone Stakes (listed)/April 14th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO fillies/turf/$250,000/Love Reigns
  • 35th running of the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (GI)/April 14th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 mile/4 YO and up/turf/$600,000/Chez Pierre
  • 26th running of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes (listed)/April 15th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$250,000/Twilight Gleaming
  • 41st running of the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (GIII)/April 15th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/worth 40 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/First Mission
  • 35th running of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (GI)/April 15th/race 10/5:48 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$600,000/In Italian
  • 4th running of the Palisades Stakes (listed)/April 16th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YOs/turf/$250,000/Gaslight Dancer
  • 38th running of the Beaumont Stakes (GII)/April 16th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YO fillies/dirt/$400,000/worth 20 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Key of Life
  • 28th running of the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (GIII)/April 21st/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$300,000/Frost Point
  • 38th running of the Elkhorn Stakes (GII)/April 22nd/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up/turf/$350,000/Verstappen
  • 92nd running of the Ben Ali Stakes (GIII)/April 22nd/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 3/16miles/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Rattle N Roll
  • 61st running of the Bewitch Stakes (GIII)/April 28th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$300,000/War Like Goddess

Photo caption: Curly Larry and Mo has raced at Keeneland in Lexington, KY twice before. He is entered in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes.

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Back At My Hometrack : Keeneland Stakes Schedule

Verifying is seen entering the track for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. He returns to Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes. He will aim to get points in order to race in the 149th Kentucky Derby.
Share This:
Facebooktwitter

The Spring Meet is on at Keeneland! From April 7th through the 28th, 2023, live racing returns to my favorite racetrack, in Lexington, KY. Fifteen race dates will host 19 stakes, offering over eight million dollars in purse money. Save this post for your stakes reference, throughout the meet, for regular updates.

Here is the Keeneland stakes schedule by historical running/race name (grade)/date/race # on the card/post time/length/age and/or gender/surface/purse/and Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks points when applicable and winner :

  • 75th running of the Lafayette Stakes/April 7th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/Corona Bolt
  • 35th running of the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (GIII)/April 7th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/turf/$400,000/Mo Stash
  • 86th running of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (GI)/April 7th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YO fillies/dirt/$600,000/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Defining Purpose
  • 36th running of the Commonwealth Stakes (GIII)/April 8th/race 5/2:50 PM ET/7 furlongs/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Here Mi Song
  • 35th running of the Appalachian Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 6/3:25 PM ET/1 mile/3 YO fillies/turf/$400,000/Papilio
  • 22nd running of the Madison Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 7/4:00 PM ET/7 furlongs/4YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$600,000/Goodnight Olive
  • 27th running of the Shakertown Stakes (GII)/April 8th/race 8/4:35 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3YO and up/turf/$350,000/Caravel
  • 99th running of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI)/April 8th/race 9/5:15 PM ET/1 and 1/8 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$1 million dollars/worth 200 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/ Tapit Trice
  • 4th running of the FanDuel Limestone Stakes (listed)/April 14th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO fillies/turf/$250,000/Love Reigns
  • 35th running of the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes (GI)/April 14th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 mile/4 YO and up/turf/$600,000/Chez Pierre
  • 26th running of the Giant’s Causeway Stakes (listed)/April 15th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$250,000/Twilight Gleaming
  • 41st running of the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (GIII)/April 15th/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/3 YOs/dirt/$400,000/worth 40 points on The Road To The Kentucky Derby/First Mission
  • 35th running of the Jenny Wiley Stakes (GI)/April 15th/race 10/5:48 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$600,000/In Italian
  • 4th running of the Palisades Stakes (listed)/April 16th/race 7/4:12 PM ET/5 and 1/2 furlongs/3 YOs/turf/$250,000/Gaslight Dancer
  • 38th running of the Beaumont Stakes (GII)/April 16th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/7 furlongs/3 YO fillies/dirt/$400,000/worth 20 points on The Road To The Kentucky Oaks/Key of Life
  • 28th running of the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (GIII)/April 21st/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 1/16 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/dirt/$300,000/Frost Point
  • 38th running of the Elkhorn Stakes (GII)/April 22nd/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up/turf/$350,000/Verstappen
  • 92nd running of the Ben Ali Stakes (GIII)/April 22nd/race 9/5:16 PM ET/1 and 3/16miles/4 YO and up/dirt/$300,000/Rattle N Roll
  • 61st running of the Bewitch Stakes (GIII)/April 28th/race 8/4:44 PM ET/1 and 1/2 miles/4 YO and up fillies and mares/turf/$300,000/War Like Goddess

Photo caption: Verifying is seen entering the track for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. He returns to Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes. He will aim to get points in order to race in the 149th Kentucky Derby

Thank you for reading! If you or your friends are coming to Keeneland this Spring, please leave me a comment.

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Double Derby!

Forte edged out Loggins to win the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. Forte is fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He will aim for the top in the Florida Derby!
Share This:
Facebooktwitter

The Road to the Kentucky Derby is coming to an end. We are down to the final month and just six stakes to qualify for an opportunity to Run For The Roses. Kentucky Derby 149 is on the first Saturday in May. Before that can happen, the first Saturday in April, holds double the Derby, double the fun, the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby.

4/1/23 features the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Race 14 posts at 6:40 PM ET. The $1 million dollar, GI stakes has a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles. Then, at 7:24 PM ET, Oaklawn Park hosts the GI Arkansas Derby. It is race 12, worth $1.25 million dollars and of the same distance. Finally, the European Road is also featuring the Cardinal Condition Stakes as well!

Photo caption: Forte edged out Loggins to win the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Forte is fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He will aim for the top in the Florida Derby!

Share This:
Facebooktwitter