Grade 2, $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Nov. 28, 2020 (10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Keepmeinmind, by Laoban Trainer: Robertino Diodoro Jockey: David Cohen Owner: Cypress Creek LLC and Arnold Bennewith Beyer Speed Figure: 79 KEEPMEINMIND had finished second in the Breeders' Futurity and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to Essential Quality, so he got some class relief here against rivals that were a significant cut below the likely divisional champ. He won as best, earning his first career victory, but the anemic Beyer figure indicates he ran down to the level of his competition, and that anything behind him is suspect going forward. This colt has proven he’s among the best of the division, but the rest in here need to make a lot of progress in coming months. One thing Keepmeinmind won’t have trouble with is distance. As I noted in the Juvenile analysis (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2021-kentucky-derby-breeders-cup-juvenile-analysis), he acts like he’ll run all day. And he now has a win over the track where the Derby is run, so that’s a point in his favor. In this race, Keepmeinmind broke half a step slow, then was at the rear of a compact field while three paths wide around the first turn. He was taken to the rail on the far turn and saved ground while under patient handling, was in the two path angling off the turn, was taken wider out for the stretch run, and lumbered home to get up in time. He’s just getting warmed up at this distance. SMILEY SOBOTKA, who finished second, was quickest leaving the gate and got to the front and to the rail entering the first turn. He volleyed for the lead with ONCOMING TRAIN and KING FURY down the backstretch, was passed by those two while going around the far turn, surged anew entering the lane to take the lead, drew away, and was run down late while drifting out. Not a bad effort, but in three starts he still hasn’t reached a Beyer figure of 80. ARABIAN PRINCE, who was third, was near the rear of the tightly bunched field while between rivals around the first turn, then was outrun down the backstretch and was in front of only Keepmeinmind heading into the far turn. He rallied between rivals in the two path on that turn, then made steady progress while between rivals in the stretch run, but he was easily outrun by the winner in the final furlong. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more SWILL, who was fourth, drew the rail and appeared to have the kind of speed that could put him in front, but he was outrun to the first turn and had to tuck in behind Smiley Sobotka. He looked uncomfortable being there early on that turn, and was still keen entering the backstretch. He remained covered up for much of the far turn, was angled to the four path a quarter-mile out to take aim on the leaders, but never really punched it in. Maybe he’ll be better if he can make the top going two turns, but otherwise this wasn’t encouraging in terms of projecting how he’ll fare going farther at 3. King Fury, who was fifth, veered out a bit at the start and bumped ULTIMATE BADGER, then advanced to press the pace from the three path around the first turn. He tugged his way forward to be even with Smiley Sobotka and Oncoming Train heading down the backstretch, continued in the three path around the far turn and poked his head in front midway on the turn, but gradually faded through the lane. I thought he should have run a lot better in the BC Juvenile considering the race shape and his trip. This was more of the same. SITTIN ON GO, who was sixth, was toward the rear of the pack while saving ground around the first turn, and was a bit rank early on that turn. He inched closer inside of Swill while following stablemate Smiley Sobotka down the backstretch, hugged the rail around the far turn, and was simply outrun through the lane. He’s run two strong races around one turn while making one run, and flattened out in both of his two-turn tries. Perhaps his connections will continue to try to fit the square peg into the round hole, but until he returns to a one-turn race I’ll be playing against. Oncoming Train, who was seventh, had good speed and set up shop just outside Smiley Sobotka around the first turn. He vied for the lead between Smiley Sobotka and King Fury down the backstretch and around the far turn, couldn’t keep up with those two entering the lane and steadily retreated. Ultimate Badger, who was eighth, bumped with King Fury leaving the gate, then raced midpack in the three path around the first turn. He was three to four paths wide entering the far turn, was asked aggressively midway on the turn but had nothing to offer as Arabian Prince roared past him to his inside, and was done before reaching the quarter pole. INSPECTOR FROST, who finished last of nine, was way too keen while between Swill and King Fury rounding the first turn. He raced just outside of Swill on the far turn, couldn’t stay with Swill and began to tire nearing the quarter pole, then was floated out by the onrushing Keepmeinmind heading into the lane but was already waving the white flag.