Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 17, 2021
Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 17, 2021.
Jay PrivmanFeb 17, 2021
Kentucky Derby: Who's hot, who's not for Feb. 17, 2021.
Oaklawn Park on Wednesday announced the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes will be moved to next Saturday, Feb. 27, after severe winter weather forced the postponement of the Kentucky Derby points race from its original date of Feb. 15.
It's been nearly one year since McLaughlin decided to retire from training to become the agent for jockey Luis Saez. A little more than two months out from this year's Derby, Saez is riding the acknowledged favorite, Essential Quality, the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male of 2020 who is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the postponed Southwest Stakes, now set for Feb. 27.
Reigning North American leading sire Into Mischief secured his first classic victory last year when eventual Horse of the Year Authentic won the postponed Kentucky Derby, as well as the Breeders' Cup Classic at the same 1 1/4-mile distance. Among Into Mischief's prospects this year as he seeks a second consecutive Derby victory is Mandaloun.
Trainer Shug McGaughey has confirmed Greatest Honour for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, a Feb. 27 race for which the bay Tapit colt surely will be a solid favorite.
Senor Buscador, the promising 3-year-old based at Sam Houston Race Park, could see Kentucky Derby prep action at Oaklawn or Santa Anita.
Keepmeinmind’s status for the postponed Southwest Stakes next week at Oaklawn Park will be determined by the status of training here.
Nicky the Vest, the 11 3/4-length winner of Sunday's $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds, will most likely get a stakes start against open company in his next start. Whether that start is in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 6 or the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 3 remains to be seen.
It's been a while since trainer Bob Baffert traveled the New York route to the Triple Crown, but he is giving serious consideration to doing it this year. Baffert plans to nominate a trio of 3-year-olds to the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham and is pointing Freedom Fighter to the one-turn mile race.
They were first, second and third in the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16 and one-two-three this past Saturday in the Risen Star, and Mandaloun, Proxy, and Midnight Bourbon stand a good chance of meeting again March 20 at Fair Grounds in the $1 million Louisiana Derby.