Thursday, March 29, 2018

UAE Derby Racing Roundup


©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.


This weekend, we’ll log a lot of miles on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. On Friday the last race on the European road to Derby glory continues on the all-weather surface in the 32Red Burradon Stakes at Newcastle Racecourse at High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Saturday, the road takes us first to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, the “City of Gold” in the United Arab Emirates and finally we’ll travel to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
At Meydan Racecourse a field of nine young Thoroughbreds has been drawn for the 19th running of the $2 million UAE Derby (G2), and GOLD TOWN will go to the starting gate as the Twinspires.com 6-5 morning-line favorite.
Live television coverage of Dubai World Cup Day can be seen on TVG beginning at 7:45 a.m. ET. XBTV will present online coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. ET.
Gold Town comes into this race with a 4-0-1 record in eight starts including an impressive win in the UAE 2000 Guineas (G3). Here’s the video and chart call:

GOLD TOWN soon led, kicked clear three furlongs out, ran on well, easily.

In his second start of the season, Gold Town pulled away in the stretch to win by an impressive 10 lengths.
Street Cry, the sire of Gold Town, was an outstanding, multiple graded stakes winner who finished in the money in all 12 of his lifetime starts, compiling a 5-6-1 record with $5,150,837 in career earnings.
As a two-year-old, Street Cry lost out on graded stakes honors by the narrowest of margins with second-place finishes in both the Del Mar Futurity (G2) and Norfolk Stakes (G2) and a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1).
As a three-year-old, Street Cry won the UAE 2,000 Guineas and finished second in both the UAE Derby (G2) and Discovery Handicap (G3).
Street Cry’s best season was as a four-year-old when he compiled a 3-1-0 record in four starts with victories in the Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 (G2), Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stephen Foster Handicap (G1). Street Cry finished his racing career with a second-place finish in the Whitney Handicap (G1).
Gold Town has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him competitive in this race. He’s undefeated in two starts as a two-year-old which he’s won by a combined 14¼ lengths.
He has room to improve in his third start of the season and I look for Gold Town to run a good race.
A long shot I like is THREEANDFOURPENCE (10-1) who comes into this race with a 1-2-0 record in four starts including a second-place finish in the 32Red Patton Stakes. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

THREEANDFOURPENCE Prominent, soon led, under pressure and headed 1½ furlongs out, kept on, not match winner final 100 yards.

In his debut as a three-year-old, Threeandfourpence finished a respectable second off a four-month layoff, just three quarters of a length shy of victory.
War Front, the sire of Threeandfourpence, was a graded-stakes winner of the 8½-furlong Princelet Stakes which he won by 8-lengths in a final time of 1:41.79. However, most of War Front’s other races were in sprints where he had a penchant for finishing second. But, he did win the 6-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) by 2½-lengths.
At stud, War Front sired Soldat, winner of the 2010 With Anticipation Stakes (G2) and second-place finisher in the 8-furlong Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes (G2), and 8½-furlong Pilgrim Stakes (G3). Soldat went on as a three-year-old to win the 9-furlong Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).
He sired The Factor, a speedy colt who as a two-year-old won the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) and went on as a three-year-old to win the 8½-furlong Rebel Stakes (G2).
Threeandfourpence has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he’s the best-bred horse in this herd. His breeding indicates that he should run well in the stretch out in distance and he has room to improve in his second start of the season.
Another long shot I like is YULONG WARRIOR (15-1) who comes into this race off an impressive win in the Emirates.com Al Bastakiya Stakes. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

YULONG WARRIOR soon led, ridden clear two furlongs out, ran on well, easily.

Yulong Warrior set the pace from the start and pulled away in the stretch to easily win by an impressive 11 lengths.
Street Sense, the sire of Yulong Warrior, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 6-4-2 record in 13 starts with $4,383,200 in career earnings.
As a two-year-old, Street Sense finished third in both the Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Futurity (G3) and the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He followed that with a win in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) and was tabbed as the Eclipse Champion Two Year Old.
 Street Sense won his season debut as a three-year-old in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) en route to a 2¼ length win over Hard Spun in the 2007 Kentucky Derby.
Yulong Warrior has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him potentially competitive in this race. He’s an improving colt and I look for him to make another move forward.
MENDELSSOHN (5-2) comes into this race with a 3-1-0 record in six starts including a win in the 32Red Patton Stakes last out. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

MENDELSSOHN led early, soon tracked leader in second, third halfway, pushed along and headway to lead narrowly 1½ furlongs out, ridden and kept on best final 100 yards.

Mendelssohn tracked Threeandfourpence, who set the pace to the stretch, then quickened and pulled away to win by a narrow three-quarters of a length.
Scat Daddy, the sire of Mendelssohn, was a multiple graded stakes winner who compiled a 5-1-1 record in nine starts with $1,334,300 in career earnings.
As a two-year-old, Scat Daddy was 3-0-1 in five starts with wins in the Sanford Stakes (G2) and Champagne Stakes (G1), and he finished second in the Hopeful Stakes (G1).
In his season debut as a 3-year-old, Scat Daddy finished third in the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and followed up with wins in the 9 furlong Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) in route to a eighteenth-place finish in the Derby.
His best runners on the Derby Trail include Daddy Long Legs, Daddy Nose Best, El Kabeir, Frac Daddy, Azar and Dice Flavor who was my long shot pick to win the 2013 El Camino Real Derby (G3).
Mendelssohn has a low E Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index potentially makes him competitive and I look for him to run a good race.
Honorable mention goes to Rayya (10-1) and the American import, Reride (12-1), who ships in for trainer Steve Asmussen off a win in the Mine That Bird Derby.


*****

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).


2018 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Noble Indy, 110, Todd Pletcher, $640,000
2. Bolt d’Oro, 64, Mick Ruis, $780,000
3. Enticed, 63, Kiaran McLaughlin, $360,880
4. Bravazo, 54, D. Wayne Lukas, $349,913
5. Promises Fulfilled, 52, Dale Romans, $256,480
6. Magnum Moon, 50, Todd Pletcher $$540,000
7. Runaway Ghost, 50, $520,310
8. Quip, 50, Rodolphe Brisset, $212,000
9. Lone Sailor, 42, Tom Amoss, $273,347
10. McKinzie, 40, Bob Baffert, $320,000
11. +Good Magic, 34, Chad Brown, $1,200,000
12. +Solomini, 34, Bob Baffert, $616,000
13. My Boy Jack, 32, Keith Desormeaux, $502,000
14. Flameaway, 30, Mark Casse, $472,260
15. Firenze Fire, 29, Jason Servis, $582,500
16. +Free Drop Billy, 24, Dale Romans, $497,200
17. Snapper Sinclair, 22, Steve Asmussen, $321,810
18. Combatant, 22, Steve Asmussen, $300,000
19. *Blended Citizen, 22, Doug O’Neill, $129,644
20. Strike Power, 20, Mark Hennig, $199,560
+ = Horses we picked as yearlings at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Good Magic = Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Male. *Blended Citizen is not nominated for the Triple Crown.


EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. *MENDELSSOHN, 20, Aidan O’Brien, $747,307
2. Saxon Warrior (JPN), 20, Aidan O’Brien, $245,017
3. *GRONKOWSKI, 20, Jeremy Noseda, $0
4. Roaring Lion (USA), 14, John Gosden, $136,807
5. f-Happily (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $543,648
6. *THREEANDFOURPENCE, 8, Aiden O’Brien, $54,076
7. Court House (IRE), 8, John Gosden, $0
8. *SEAHENGE, 4, Aiden O’Brien, $145,630
9. Olmedo (FR), 4, Jean-Claude Rouget, $113,505
10. Nelson (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $99,826
11. Delano Roosevelt (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $38,074
12. Fortune’s Pearl (IRE), 4, Andrew Balding, $1,800
13. Masar (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $101,264
14. The Pentagon (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $71.981
15. Mildenberger (ENG), 2, Mark Johnston, $64,634
16. Warm the Voice (IRE), 2, Brendan Duke, $12,904
17. f-Blackgold Fairy, 2, Michael Halford, $4,618
18. Ventura Knight (IRE), 2, Mark Johnston, $0
19. Verbal Dexterity (IRE), 1, Jim Bolger, $280,269
20. Kew Gardens (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $28,605
21. Woodmax (GER), 1, Nicolas Clement, $23,610
22. Petrus (IRE), 1, Brian Meehan, $7,182
          *Mendelssohn, Gronkowski, Threeandfourpence and Seahenge are only horses nominated for Triple Crown. Here’s the video of Mendelssohn’s win in the Patton Stakes. Here’s the video of Gronkowski’s win in the Conditions Stakes.


JAPAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Sumahama (JPN), 30, Ryo Takahashi, $291,287
2. *RUGGERO (JPN), 16, Yuichi Shikato, $220,861
3. Taiki Ferveur, 12, Mitsunori Makiura, $299,689
4. Le Vent Se Leve (JPN), 10, Kiyoshi Hagiwara, $463,935
5. Don Fortis (JPN), 4, Mitsunori Makiura, $436,916
6. Mic Ben Hur (JPN), 4, Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, $122,696
7. Great Time (JPN), 3, Hideaki Fujiwara, $186,586
8. Haseno Pyro (JPN), 2, Kenki Sato, $263,981
9. Meiner Yukitsubaki (JPN) 2, Noboru Takagi, $151,796
10. Dark Repulser (JPN), 1, Takashi Kanari, $200,920
11. Bronze Kay (JPN), 1, Koichi Tsunoda, $75,979
*Ruggero is the only horse nominated for Triple Crown. Here’s the video of his last race, Hyacinth Stakes. 

32Red Burradon Stakes Racing Roundup


©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

This weekend, we’ll log a lot of miles on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. On Friday the last race on the European road to Derby glory takes us to Newcastle Racecourse at High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Saturday, the road takes us first to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, the “City of Gold” in the United Arab Emirates and finally we’ll travel to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
At Newcastle Racecourse, GRONKOWSKI heads a herd of ten runners as the 2-1 Twinspires.com morning-line favorite of the 32Red Burradon Stakes.
Gronkowski comes into this race with a 3-1-0 record in five starts with an impressive win in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

GRONKOWSKI took keen hold, held up, rapid headway to press leader three furlongs out, ridden to lead over one furlong out, edged right inside final furlong, ran on.

Lonhro, the sire of Gronkowski, was a champion racehorse in Australia that compiled a 26-3-2 record in 35 starts with $5,790,510 (AUS) in earnings.
Some more notable races won by Lonhro include 11 Group One races: the Australian Cup (2004), C F Orr Stakes (2004) George Ryder Stakes (2003, 2004), Caulfield Stakes (2002, 2003), George Main Stakes (2003), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2003), Chipping Norton Stakes (2003), LKS MacKinnon Stakes (2002) and the Caulfield Guineas (2001).
Lonhro was selected as the 2002 Australian Champion, the 2004 Australian Middle Distance Champion, Australian Racehorse of the Year and World Champion Miler. In addition, Lonhro led the 2011 Australian Leading Sire List and in 2014 he was inducted in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Gronkowski has a low D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® score but his Behavior Index could, potentially, make him competitive.
A long shot I like is De MEDICI (20-1) who comes into this race with a 1-1-0 record in two starts including a third-place finish in a 32Red Casino Novice Stakes last out. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

De MEDICI raced wide close up, hampered and bumped approaching final two furlongs, effort and every chance inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish.

Makfi, the sire of De Medici, was a Classic Champion Thoroughbred that compiled a 4-0-0 record in six starts with $867,460 in career earnings.
During two racing seasons, Makfi raced in England and France. In November of 2009, he won his only start as a two-year-old at Fontainebleau Racecourse.
As a three-year-old, Makfi was 3-0-0 in five starts winning his season debut in the Prix Djebel (Group 3). He went on to win the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Group 1) and the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard-Jacques Le Marois (Group 1).
De Medici has an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he’s the best-bred colt in this herd. He’s cutting back to a mile which he won in his maiden debut in a decent time of 1:36 and change.
DeMedici has the breeding to be competitive in this race and, perhaps, upset at a nice price.
PURSER (7-2) comes into this race with a 2-0-1 record in four starts including a third-place finish in the Masar Godolphin Autumn Stakes (Group 3). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

PURSER raced wide in touch, ridden and headway over one furlong out, kept on one pace final furlong.

Mizzen Mast, the sire of Purser, began his racing career in France where he was a Group 3 winner before he was shipped to America where he won several graded stakes. During his racing career, Mizzen Mast compiled a 5-2-0 record in 11 starts with $554,146 in earnings.
As a two-year-old, Mizzen Mast was 1-1-0 in three starts with a second-place finish in the Prix des Chenes Royal Thalasso Barriere (Group 3).
At the age of three, Mizzen Mast was 3-1-0 in seven starts with victories in the Prix de Guiche (Group 3), Bien Bien Stakes and Malibu Stakes (G1). He finished secone in the 10-furlong Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1)
In his only start at the age of four, Mizzen Mast won the Strub Stakes (G2).
Purser has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and that makes him potentially competitive in this race.
Honorable mention goes to Freescape (20-1), Fortune’s Pearl (12-1) and Nyaleti (3-1).


*****

EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. *MENDELSSOHN, 20, Aidan O’Brien, $747,307
2. Saxon Warrior (JPN), 20, Aidan O’Brien, $245,017
3. *GRONKOWSKI, 20, Jeremy Noseda, $0
4. Roaring Lion (USA), 14, John Gosden, $136,807
5. f-Happily (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $543,648
6. *THREEANDFOURPENCE, 8, Aiden O’Brien, $54,076
7. Court House (IRE), 8, John Gosden, $0
8. *SEAHENGE, 4, Aiden O’Brien, $145,630
9. Olmedo (FR), 4, Jean-Claude Rouget, $113,505
10. Nelson (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $99,826
11. Delano Roosevelt (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $38,074
12. Fortune’s Pearl (IRE), 4, Andrew Balding, $1,800
13. Masar (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $101,264
14. The Pentagon (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $71.981
15. Mildenberger (ENG), 2, Mark Johnston, $64,634
16. Warm the Voice (IRE), 2, Brendan Duke, $12,904
17. f-Blackgold Fairy, 2, Michael Halford, $4,618
18. Ventura Knight (IRE), 2, Mark Johnston, $0
19. Verbal Dexterity (IRE), 1, Jim Bolger, $280,269
20. Kew Gardens (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $28,605
21. Woodmax (GER), 1, Nicolas Clement, $23,610
22. Petrus (IRE), 1, Brian Meehan, $7,182
          *Mendelssohn, Gronkowski, Threeandfourpence and Seahenge are only horses nominated for Triple Crown. Here’s the video of Mendelssohn’s win in the Patton Stakes. Here’s the video of Gronkowski’s win in the Conditions Stakes.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Florida Derby Stakes Racing Roundup

©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.


This weekend, we’ll log a lot of miles on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. On Friday the last race on the European road to Derby glory continues on the all-weather surface in the 32Red Burradon Stakes at Newcastle Racecourse at High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Saturday, the road takes us first to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, the “City of Gold” in the United Arab Emirates and finally we’ll travel to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
At Gulfstream Park, AUDIBLE heads a herd of nine young Thoroughbreds as the 9-5 morning line favorite in 67th running of the $1.1 million, Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1). The NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will broadcast live television coverage at 6 p.m. ET. Post time is 6:30 ET.
       Trained by Todd Pletcher, Audible finished third in his maiden debut at Belmont Park last September. Since then, he’s posted three straight wins by a combined 17 lengths, including an impressive victory in the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

AUDIBLE bumped with rival at the start, raced three wide up close in the first turn, stalked three to four wide through the backstretch, edged up and poked head in front at the three eighths pole while taking on outside challenge from FREE DROP BILLY, shook off rival entering the lane, moved away to commanding lead, urged right handed twice in final furlong, remained sharp and finished going away.

In his stakes debut Audible pulled away in the stretch to win with authority by an impressive 5½ lengths.
Into Mischief, the sire of Audible, was a precocious colt and multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 3-3-0 record in six starts with $597,080 in career earnings.
As a two-year-old, Into Mischief easily won his maiden debut by 2½ lengths at Santa Anita Park on October 21, 2007. He went on to finish second in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) and followed that with a win in the 8½-furlong CashCall Futurity (G1). His finish time of 1:40.82 was just a few ticks off of the record time of 1:40.74 set by Afternoon Deelites and the second fastest time of 1:40.78 set by Valiant Nature.
In his debut as a three-year-old in February 2008, Into Mischief finished second in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) and after an extended break, he returned to racing in October winning the Damascus Stakes by two lengths. In December, Into Mischief finished his racing season with a second-place finish in the Malibu Stakes (G1).
On the Kentucky Derby Trail, his best runners have been Goldencents, Practical Joke, Vyjack and Vicar’s in Trouble. Goldencents won the Santa Anita Derby and finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Practical Joke finished second in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and fifth in the Derby. Vyjack finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) and 18th in the Derby. Vicar’s in Trouble won the Louisiana Derby and finished 19th in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Harlan’s Holiday, the grandsire of Audible, won the Florida Derby (G1), Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Audible has a low G Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index potentially makes him competitive in this race.
       A long shot I like is MISSISSIPPI (12-1) who is stepping up in class and he comes into this race with a 1-2-0 record in four starts for trainer Mark Casse including a second-place finish in an Allowance Optional Claiming race last out. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

MISSISSIPPI was put to a full drive by the five sixteenths pole, came two wide into the lane as the lone challenger, made little headway through mid-stretch, then kept on with good determination closing outside storm runner at the finish.

Mississippi ran in fourth-place on the backstretch tracking the leaders to the far turn when he made his move and finished a neck shy of victory behind Storm Runner (20-1), who is also entered in the Florida Derby (G1).
Pioneerof the Nile, the sire of Mississippi, was a pretty good middle-distance runner and multiple graded-stakes winner that compiled a 2-0-1 record as a two-year-old including a win in the CashCall Futurity (G1) and a third-place finish in the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1).
As a three-year-old, Pioneerof the Nile was 3-0-1 in five starts with wins in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2), San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) in route to a second-place finish in the 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1).
As a stallion, his best runners to date on the Kentucky Derby Trail include Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Classic Empire and Cairo Prince.
Mississippi, a dark bay or brown colt by Pioneerof the Nile out of Katz Me If You Can by Storm Cat, was a yearling (Hip 888) we profiled at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, and, he’s one of the best-bred colts in this herd.
 It remains to be seen if Mississippi can step up in class to earn graded stakes honors. However, he has the breeding to be competitive and I look for him to run a good race.
CATHOLIC BOY (7-2) comes into this race with a 3-1-0 record in five starts for trainer Jonathan Thomas including a win in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3), a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), a win in the Remsen Stakes (G2) and a second-place finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) last out. Here’s the video and chart call of his last race:

CATHOLIC BOY unhurried early, made a three-wide run into the stretch, headed winner a furlong out but was out-finished to the wire in a good effort.

In his debut as a three-year-old, Catholic Boy looked good in his gritty duel with Flameaway in the stretch drive to finish a respectable second, just one-half length shy of victory.
More Than Ready, the sire of Catholic Boy, was a multiple graded-stakes winner that compiled a 7-4-1 record in 17 starts with $1,026,229 in earnings. He won the WHAS-11 Stakes, Flash Stakes, Tremont Stakes (G3), Sanford Stakes (G2), Hutcheson Stakes (G2) and finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) in route to a fourth-place finish in the 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1).
At stud, More Than Ready made quite a mark with in Australia with his sons Phelan Ready and Sebring who were champion 2-year-colts with over $2 million in career earnings. Some of his best runners in America have been the turf-sprinter Regally Ready with over $1 million in career earnings and Pluck, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Stakes (G2) and Summer Stakes (G3) with $727,290 in career earnings, and Verrazano.
Catholic Boy has a C Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him competitive and he has room to improve in his second start of the season.
PROMISES FULFILLED (3-1) comes into this race with a 3-0-1 record in four starts for trainer Dale Romans including a win in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

PROMISES FULFILLED broke sharp and sped to lead at the start, cleared on top and angled inside, set the pace saving ground while firmly rated in early stages then settled nicely and continued leading the way, was confidently handled still unasked with rivals edging closer with three furlongs left to run, tapped past the quarter pole then put to drive two wide turning for home, responded and fought off STRIKE POWER in final furlong then found more in reserve and kicked clear.

Promises Fulfilled led from gate to wire to earn his first graded stakes win by 2¼ lengths.
Shackleford, the sire of Promises Fulfilled, was a multiple graded-stakes winner and Classic Champion Thoroughbred that compiled a 6-5-1 record in 20 starts with $3,090,101 in career earnings.
Shackleford made two starts as a two-year-old and in his second start he won a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs.
As a three-year-old, Shackleford won his debut race and went on to finish fifth in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). He recovered from that race and finished second in the Florida Derby (G1) en route to a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
His best race as a three year old was in the Preakness Stakes (G1) where he defeated Animal Kingdom by half of a length. Shackleford’s next best was a second-place finish in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), Indiana Derby (G2) and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
As a four-year-old, Shackleford won the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2), Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Clark Handicap (G1). He finished second in the Kelso Handicap (G2) and third in the Carter Handicap (G1).
       Promises Fulfilled has a E Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index potentially makes him competitive.
Honorable mention goes to Hofburg (20-1) and Strike Power (4-1). Hofburg has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he’s the best-bred colt in this herd.
Whether he can step up off a maiden win to earn graded stakes honors remains to be seen. However, Hofburg has the breeding to be competitive and if he lives up to his breeding, he could be a factor in the exotics.


*****

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).


2018 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Noble Indy, 110, Todd Pletcher, $640,000
2. Bolt d’Oro, 64, Mick Ruis, $780,000
3. Enticed, 63, Kiaran McLaughlin, $360,880
4. Bravazo, 54, D. Wayne Lukas, $349,913
5. Promises Fulfilled, 52, Dale Romans, $256,480
6. Magnum Moon, 50, Todd Pletcher $$540,000
7. Runaway Ghost, 50, $520,310
8. Quip, 50, Rodolphe Brisset, $212,000
9. Lone Sailor, 42, Tom Amoss, $273,347
10. McKinzie, 40, Bob Baffert, $320,000
11. +Good Magic, 34, Chad Brown, $1,200,000
12. +Solomini, 34, Bob Baffert, $616,000
13. My Boy Jack, 32, Keith Desormeaux, $502,000
14. Flameaway, 30, Mark Casse, $472,260
15. Firenze Fire, 29, Jason Servis, $582,500
16. +Free Drop Billy, 24, Dale Romans, $497,200
17. Snapper Sinclair, 22, Steve Asmussen, $321,810
18. Combatant, 22, Steve Asmussen, $300,000
19. *Blended Citizen, 22, Doug O’Neill, $129,644
20. Strike Power, 20, Mark Hennig, $199,560
+ = Horses we picked as yearlings at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Good Magic = Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Male. *Blended Citizen is not nominated for the Triple Crown.


EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings


1. *MENDELSSOHN, 20, Aidan O’Brien, $747,307
2. Saxon Warrior (JPN), 20, Aidan O’Brien, $245,017
3. *GRONKOWSKI, 20, Jeremy Noseda, $0
4. Roaring Lion (USA), 14, John Gosden, $136,807
5. f-Happily (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $543,648
6. *THREEANDFOURPENCE, 8, Aiden O’Brien, $54,076
7. Court House (IRE), 8, John Gosden, $0
8. *SEAHENGE, 4, Aiden O’Brien, $145,630
9. Olmedo (FR), 4, Jean-Claude Rouget, $113,505
10. Nelson (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $99,826
11. Delano Roosevelt (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $38,074
12. Fortune’s Pearl (IRE), 4, Andrew Balding, $1,800
13. Masar (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $101,264
14. The Pentagon (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $71.981
15. Mildenberger (ENG), 2, Mark Johnston, $64,634
16. Warm the Voice (IRE), 2, Brendan Duke, $12,904
17. f-Blackgold Fairy, 2, Michael Halford, $4,618
18. Ventura Knight (IRE), 2, Mark Johnston, $0
19. Verbal Dexterity (IRE), 1, Jim Bolger, $280,269
20. Kew Gardens (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $28,605
21. Woodmax (GER), 1, Nicolas Clement, $23,610
22. Petrus (IRE), 1, Brian Meehan, $7,182
          *Mendelssohn, Gronkowski, Threeandfourpence and Seahenge are only horses nominated for Triple Crown. Here’s the video of Mendelssohn’s win in the Patton Stakes. Here’s the video of Gronkowski’s win in the Conditions Stakes.


JAPAN ROAD LEADERBOARD
Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Sumahama (JPN), 30, Ryo Takahashi, $291,287
2. *RUGGERO (JPN), 16, Yuichi Shikato, $220,861
3. Taiki Ferveur, 12, Mitsunori Makiura, $299,689
4. Le Vent Se Leve (JPN), 10, Kiyoshi Hagiwara, $463,935
5. Don Fortis (JPN), 4, Mitsunori Makiura, $436,916
6. Mic Ben Hur (JPN), 4, Yoshihiro Hatakeyama, $122,696
7. Great Time (JPN), 3, Hideaki Fujiwara, $186,586
8. Haseno Pyro (JPN), 2, Kenki Sato, $263,981
9. Meiner Yukitsubaki (JPN) 2, Noboru Takagi, $151,796
10. Dark Repulser (JPN), 1, Takashi Kanari, $200,920
11. Bronze Kay (JPN), 1, Koichi Tsunoda, $75,979
*Ruggero is the only horse nominated for Triple Crown. Here’s the video of his last race, Hyacinth Stakes.