A HOST of Derby trials this weekend with Aqueduct, Keeneland and Santa Anita all staging their big prep races for Kentucky.
Centre stage is the $1 million Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby where a good performance by Bolt D’Oro would propel him in to Kentucky Derby favouritism.
After a disappointing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he returned from a spell off the track to go down narrowly in a thrilling San Felipe Stakes at this track, losing out to McKinze who was subsequently disqualified and the race awarded to Bolt D’Oro. His connections believe him to have come on from that run and even a repeat should see him home here.
His main rival is Justify, a Bob Baffert-trained son of Scat Daddy who began with a nine and a half-length debut win in February and won an allowance race last time here out.
The Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks has Mike Smith’s mount Midnight Bisou as favourite.
KEENELAND
Ryan Moore travels to Keeneland to partner Marconi, a Tapit colt owned by Bridlewood Farm and Mrs John Magnier, in the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes worth a $1 million.
A field 15 and a wide open contest will make it a good prep for a Kentucky Derby experience for the rider. Good Magic, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, is favourite ahead of Free Drop Billy, also a Grade 1 winning juvenile at this track but beaten on his two outings this season.
Arawak and Blended Citizen, both trained by Doug O’Neill, are following the same training plan O’Neill used for Nyquist when he trained at Keeneland in April 2016 after he won the Florida Derby and before he captured the Kentucky Derby. Flameaway is another for consideration for Mark Casse.
Also on the card are the Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes with Monomoy Girl the favourite.
The Grade 1 Madison Stakes is for older mares over seven furlongs and has a field of 13 with Miss Sunset and Lewis Bay shading favouritism.
AQUEDUCT
The Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct drew a nine-horse field topped by Enticed, easy winner of the Grade 3 Gotham for Kiaran McLoughlin and Godolphin, and the Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire. Also on the card are the Grade 1 Carter Handicap, the Grade 2 Gazelle for fillies and the Bay Shore for three-year-olds over seven furlongs.