THE Kentucky Derby preps crank up a notch this evening with the reappearance in the Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park of last year’s Eclipse Award winner, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Forte. A total of 100 points will be up for grabs over three different trials, with two more at Aqueduct and Santa Anita.
The son of Violence takes on seven rivals headed by the Chad Brown-trained Blazing Sevens. That colt finished fourth behind the Todd Pletcher favourite in the Breeders’ Cup and had also been beaten by him in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga. In between, Blazing Sevens had won the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.
Over on the west coast it’s a busy day with the feature Santa Anita meeting and the Grade 1s Santa Anita Handicap, Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes and the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes.
Frankie Dettori is at the forefront of the action, partnering the Phil D’Amato-trained Newgrange in the Big ‘Cap. He rides Du Jour for Bob Baffert over the turf mile in the Frank Kilroe.
Bob Baffert’s Defunded, winner last year of the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes and most recently second in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup, is the Santa Anita Handicap favourite. Stiletto Boy was third in this last year but has a bit to do on subsequent form and was a length and quarter back in third in the Pegasus.
Godolphin’s Proxy lost touch with the field on the final bend in the Pegasus World Cup before running on late for fifth over the nine furlongs and this distance might also see him more suited and he won the nine-furlong Clark Handicap the time before.
Phil d’Amato’s Irish-bred Hong Kong Harry is favourite for the Frank E Kilroe Mile after the son of Es Que Love has won five of his last six races including two Grade 2s at Del Mar on his last two outings. Air Force Red, a Grade 2 winner here for Leonard Powell in December is next in the betting ahead of Richard Mandella’s Grade 2 San Diego Handicap winner from last year Royal Ship.
The Grade 2 San Felipe drew five from Tim Yakteen, including four recently moved from Bob Baffert to Yakteen to be eligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points: National Treasure, Hejazi, Fort Bragg and Mr Fisk (Dettori).
National Treasure (Quality Road) was third on his seasonal debut in the Sham Stakes and should make an improved effort from the third-place finisher in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Yakteen’s Hejazi broke his maiden last time at this track following a two-year-old third place in the Grade 1 American Pharoah (National Treasure second).
Geaux Rocket Ride (Richard Mandella) and Skinner (John Shirreffs) are others to note.
Aqueduct
Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Gotham Stakes has a field of 15.
Carmel Road and Fort Warren (Brittany T. Russell) both started their career with trainer Bob Baffert in California, but with Baffert’s horses ineligible for qualifying points, the two graded stakes-placed three-year-olds have been moved to different barns for Saturday’s race.
Carmel Road, a son of Quality Road, will be making his three-year-old debut for Tim Yakteen.
Trainer Brad Cox, who has already claimed a victory in six Kentucky Derby preps, will chase number seven with a duo making their stakes debut, Slip Mahoney and then likely favourite, two-time winner Eyeing Clover.