©2017 Calvin L.
Carter. All rights reserved.
The
Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us to California Saturday
where BOLT
D’ORO has
been tabbed as the 9-5 morning line favorite in the 34th running of
the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) at Del Mar
racetrack. This young herd of 12 runners is the most talented in recent memory
as there are several high-quality colts entered in this race. Post time is 6:58
p.m. ET.
Undefeated
in three starts, Bolt d’Oro comes into this race for trainer Mick Ruis off of
stakes wins in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and the FrontRunner Stakes (G1).
Here’s the video and chart call of the FrontRunner:
BOLT
D’ORO stalked between horses then a bit off the rail, bid outside the
pacesetter on the second turn, took the lead into the stretch and drew clear
under urging.
Bolt
d’Oro pulled away in the stretch to win impressively by 7¾ lengths in the final
time of 1:43.54.
Medaglia d’Oro, the sire of Bolt d’Oro, was a good middle-distance
runner that compiled an 8-7-0 record in 17 starts with $5,754,720 in career
earnings. Overall, he had seven wins and five second-place finishes in 14 route
races.
Medaglia
d’Oro finished second in his only start as a two year old but as a three year old
he won the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and finished second in the Wood Memorial
Stakes (G1) in route to the 2002 Derby where he finished in fourth place.
In
the Preakness Stakes (G1), Medaglia d’Oro finished eighth but rebounded from
that run to finish second in the Belmont Stakes (G1). He went on to complete
his racing season as a three year old with wins in the nine-furlong Jim Dandy
Stakes (G2) and the 10-furlong Travers Stakes (G1).
As
a four year old, Medaglia d’Oro won the nine-furlong Strub Stakes (G2), Oaklawn
Handicap (G2) and Whitney Handicap (G1). In addition, he finished second in the
10-furlong Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
At
the age of five, Medaglia d’Oro won the nine-furlong Donn Handicap (G1) and
finished second in the 10-furlong Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (G1
The
next four horses I’ll mention were my sales picks as yearlings at the 2016 Keeneland September
Yearling Sale. Whether they have improved enough to turn the tables on Bolt
d’Oro remains to be seen. But, they all have very good breeding and I look for
them to run a good race.
SOLOMINI (6-1) comes into this race for
Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert with a 1-1-0 record in two starts including a
second-place finish to Bolt d’Oro in the FrontRunner Stakes (G1). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:
SOLOMINI four wide
into the first turn, stalked three deep then outside a rival leaving the second
turn and into the stretch and bested the others.
In
just his second start, Solomini looked good earning second-place honors in the
FrontRunner (G1) and he has room to improve in his third start of the season.
Curlin, the sire of Solomini, was an outstanding racehorse
that compiled an 11-2-2 record in 16 career starts with $10,501,800 in career
earnings.
Curlin did not
start as a two year old. But, at the age of three, Curlin was 6-1-2 in nine
starts with $5,102,800 in earnings including wins in the Rebel Stakes (G3) and
Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to a third-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby
(G1). He went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and he finished second in the
Belmont Stakes (G1).
Other important
stakes wins include the Breeders'
Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice, Dubai World Cup (G1),
Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), Woodward Stakes (G1), and the UAE Jaguar Trophy
Handicap.
With
an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred
Profile®, Solomini
was a yearling (Hip 662) I liked in session four at the
2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He’s is the best bred colt in this herd
and I look for him to run another good race.
FREE DROP BILLY (5-1) comes into this race for
trainer Dale Romans with 2-2-0 record in four starts including a second-place
finish in both the Sanford Stakes (G3) and Hopeful Stakes (G1), and an
impressive four-length win in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at
Keeneland Racecourse. Here’s the video and chart call of the Futurity:
FREE DROP BILLY was
well placed early along the three path, became pocketed nearing the seven
sixteenths pole, shifted into the three path entering the lane, took command of
the lead and drew off late under a brisk drive.
In
his previous two sprint races Free Drop Billy came up short of victory. But his
breeding indicates that he will do better as the races get longer and he did
not disappoint stretching out the Futurity to earn Grade One stakes honors.
Union
Rags, the sire
of Free Drop Billy, was a competitive colt on the trail to the 2012 Kentucky
Derby (G1), compiling an overall 5-1-1 record in eight career starts with
$1,798,800 in earnings.
As
a two year old, Union Rags won the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special (G2) and
Champagne (G1) stakes and finished second in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile (G1) stakes.
At
the age of three, Union Rags won the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) stakes
and finished third in the Florida Derby (G1) en route to a seventh-place finish
in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He finished his career with a narrow win by a neck
over Paynter in the Belmont (G1) stakes.
With
an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred
Profile®, Free
Drop Billy was a yearling (Hip 104) I liked in session one at the
2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He’s been training well and two recent
bullet work outs could have Free Drop Billy ready to run his best race yet.
GOOD
MAGIC, (8-1) comes into this race for trainer
Chad Brown with a 0-2-0 record in two starts including a narrow loss in the
Champagne Stakes (G1) to Firenze
Fire (6-1) who is also entered in the Juvenile. Here’s the video and
chart call
of that race:
GOOD MAGIC took up
position in mid-pack, stalked the three-way pace tussle towards the three path,
was set down leaving the five-sixteenths pole and tipped out in preparation for
the stretch drive, challenged as the widest of four front runners spinning into
the lane, out-fought them all to lead by a slim margin, saw the eventual winner
loom boldly in short order, had the lead snatched away, but put a good fight to
the wire.
In
just his second start, Good Magic looked good to finish second in the one mile Champagne
Stakes (G1) and his breeding indicates that he should continue to improve
stretching out in distance.
Curlin, the sire of Good Magic, was an outstanding racehorse
that compiled an 11-2-2 record in 16 career starts with $10,501,800 in career
earnings.
Curlin did not
start as a two year old. But, at the age of three, Curlin was 6-1-2 in nine
starts with $5,102,800 in earnings including wins in the Rebel Stakes (G3) and
Arkansas Derby (G2) en route to a third-place finish in the 2007 Kentucky Derby
(G1). He went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and he finished second in the
Belmont Stakes (G1).
Other important
stakes wins include the Breeders'
Cup Classic (G1), Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), twice, Dubai World Cup (G1),
Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), Woodward Stakes (G1), and the UAE Jaguar Trophy
Handicap.
With
an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, Good Magic was a $1 million
session four sale topper at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and he
was a yearling (Hip 845) on my sales list.
It
remains to be seen if Good Magic can step up in class to win graded stakes
honors. However, he has the breeding to be competitive and room to improve in
his third start of the season.
I
look for Good Magic to run a good race.
HOLLYWOOD STAR comes into this race for trainer
Dale Romans with a 1-2-0 record in three starts including a second-place finish
in both the Saratoga Special (G2) and Iroquois Stakes (G3. Here’s the video and chart call of the Iroquois:
HOLLYWOOD STAR was
well placed early, shifted into the four path in the far turn while making a
bid, continued the bid down the lane and was gaining on the winner in the final
stages.
Hollywood
Star narrowly lost graded stakes honors by three quarters of a length to The Tabulator (20-1) who is also entered in the Juvenile.
Malibu
Moon, the sire
of Hollywood Star, made only two starts as a two year old, compiling a 1-1-0
record, before a slab fracture ended his racing career.
At
stud, Malibu Moon sired the
2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb. In addition, he’s sired several horses that have been
competitive on the Derby trail such as Gormley, Danzig
Moon, Mr.
Z and Stanford.
Other
nice runners sired by Malibu Moon include Life
At Ten, Devil May Care,
Declan’s Moon, Ask
the Moon,
Prospective, Kauai
Katie, Moon Catcher,
Moonshine Memories, Ransom the Moon,
and Malibu Mint.
With
an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, Hollywood Star was a yearling (Hip 395) I liked in session two at the
2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
To
date, Hollywood Star has yet to live up to his breeding and whether he can step
up into the winner’s circle Saturday remains to be seen. But, I look for him to
run a good race and continue to improve his form on the Kentucky Derby Trail.
Honorable
mention goes to U S Navy Flag (8-1) and the Tabulator. Of all
the horses in this race, U S Navy Flag is the most seasoned and if he has a
smooth transition to dirt racing he could be tough in the Juvenile.
U
S Navy Flag also has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and, next to
Solomini, he’s the second best bred colt in this race.
With
a 4-1-2 record in 10 starts for Group One, record-setting trainer Aidan
O’Brien, U S Navy Flag comes into this race off of a 2½ length win in the
Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1). Here’s the video and chart call.
*****
This
is the sixth consecutive year for Churchill Downs to use a point system to determine
eligibility to get into the Kentucky Derby starting gate. A total of 36 races
comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby and a significant change to the
schedule is the addition of the Springboard Mile at Remington Park on December
17.
In
addition to the Japan road to the Derby which features
the Cattleya Sho Stakes (November 25), Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushan Stakes (December
13) and Hayacinth Stakes (February 2018), Churchill Downs has added a European road to Derby glory consisting
of seven races: Juddmonte Beresford (September 24), Juddmonte Royal Lodge
(September 30), Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (October 1), Racing Post Trophy
(October 28, Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes (March 1), Patton
(March 2) and the Burradon (March 30).
2017/2018 KENTUCKY DERBY
LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer,
Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. Firenze Fire, 10, Jason Servis, $407,500
2. +Free Drop
Billy, 10, Dale Romans, $400,000
3. Bolt d’Oro, 10, Mick Ruis, $360,000
4. The Tabulator,
10, Larry Rivelli, $126,750
5. Bravazo, 4, D.
Wayne Lukas, $100,000
6. +Good Magic, 4,
Chad Brown, $100,000
7. +Hollywood Star, 4, Dale Romans, $68,500
8. +Solomini, 4, Bob Baffert, $60,000
9. Lone Sailor, 2, Tom Amoss, $50,000
10. Enticed, 2, Kiaran McLaughlin, $50,000
11. Take the One O One, 2, Brian Koriner, $36,345
12. Kowboy Karma, 1, Larry Jones, $70,000
13. Lionite, 1, Steve Asmussen, $25,000
14. Ayacara, 1, Keith Desormeaux, $18,000
15. Ebben, 1, Steve Margolis , $7875
EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer,
Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1.
Saxon Warrior (JPN), 20, Aidan O’Brien, $244,687
2. Roaring Lion
(USA), 14, John Gosden, $136,682
3.
f-Happily (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $543,648
4.
Olmedo (FR), 4, Jean-Claude Rouget, $113,505
5.
Nelson (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $99,826
6.
Delano Roosevelt (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $38,074
7.
Masar (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $91,264
8.
The Pentagon (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $71,918
9.
Mildenberger (ENG), 2, Mark Johnston, $64,634
10.
Warm the Voice (IRE), 2, Brendan Duke, $12,904
11.
Verbal Dexterity (IRE), 1, Jim Bolger, $276,658
12.
Kew Gardens (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $28,605
13.
Woodmax (GER), 1, Nicolas Clement, $23,610
14.
Petrus (IRE), 1, Brian Meehan, $7,182
