Kentucky Derby qualifying points up for grabs at Kempton Park
A quiet Wednesday at Kempton Park in England could help determine a Kentucky Derby starter.
Marcus HershMar 02, 2020
A quiet Wednesday at Kempton Park in England could help determine a Kentucky Derby starter.
While the last-place finish by Dennis' Moment in Saturday's Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park may have dealt a setback to Dale Romans in his bid to get to the Kentucky Derby, the trainer will jump right back in the Triple Crown fray when he ships up Attachment Rate for Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.
Chance It isn't the only horse trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has on the Kentucky Derby trail at the moment. On Sunday, Joseph worked Ny Traffic and Disc Jockey, after which he said both would run in one of the upcoming Derby preps.
Tiz the Law, currently the top rated 3-year-old on Daily Racing Form's Derby Watch, returned to the work tab for the first time in three weeks when breezing an easy half-mile in 50 seconds Monday morning at Palm Meadows with regular rider Manny Franco aboard.
As Seen On Tv, second in a four-way scramble for second – third-place overall – behind Ete Indien in the Fountain of Youth, will run in one of the final Derby preps worth 170 points, said trainer Kelly Breen.
Maxfield continues to make steady progress in seeking to join the Kentucky Derby chase, although trainer Brendan Walsh keeps wondering – like everyone else – whether he has enough time.
Chance It and Sole Volante are among a multitude of Atlantic Coast shippers expected Saturday for the annual marquee race at Tampa Bay Downs, the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby.
Mr. Monomoy, who won a division of the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds, essentially securing a spot in the Kentucky Derby with the 50 Derby qualifying points he earned there, is out of training and off the Triple Crown trail.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. scratched his top 3-year-old prospect Chance It from Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, citing the poor post position as the reason for bypassing the important Kentucky Derby prep with a horse who was among the leading contenders in the 1 1/16-mile fixture. Chance It will now run next Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Crossfirehurricane remained unbeaten after three starts with a half-length win over stablemate Choice of Mine in Friday’s $82,500 Patton Stakes at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland, the first race of the year in the European qualifying series for the Kentucky Derby.