WHO’S HOT
Concert Tour, the co-fifth choice last week for the May 1 Kentucky Derby on the line of Daily Racing Form’s Marty McGee, had his price nearly halved, from 15-1 to 8-1, after his runaway victory in the Rebel Stakes last Saturday at Oaklawn. The lone newcomer to this week’s list is Rebel runner-up Hozier, who becomes the fifth Bob Baffert trainee in the top 20, joining stablemates Concert Tour, race favorite Life Is Good, Medina Spirit, and Spielberg. He is a 30-1 on McGee’s line.
Hot Rod Charlie
Oxbow–Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie
Bred in Kentucky by Edward A. Cox Jr. ($17,000 Fasig-Tipton February short yearling purchase by Erickson Equine; $110,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase by Dennis O’Neill)
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Joel Rosario is a man in demand.
Last Saturday, Rosario was at Oaklawn Park, after being at Santa Anita the previous Saturday, after being at Oaklawn the Saturday prior. He’ll head to Fair Grounds this Saturday before going to Dubai the final Saturday of the month, then return to the United States, where he’ll be at either Keeneland or Santa Anita the first Saturday in April. It’s a dizzying schedule, but that’s the demand placed on a top jockey this time of year, as the Kentucky Derby draws closer.
Grade 2, $1 million Rebel Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn Park, March 13, 2021
(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Concert Tour, by Street Sense
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Gary and Mary West
Beyer Speed Figure: 94
NEW ORLEANS – The best-looking horse seen working Monday at Fair Grounds was, appropriately, the highest-profile horse seen working during a quiet training session in balmy New Orleans.
Midnight Bourbon, trying to punch his ticket to the Kentucky Derby when he starts Saturday in the $1 million Louisiana Derby, breezed an easy half-mile in 49.20 seconds. The colt looked good when he won the Lecomte Stakes in January and looks even better now.
Dream Shake will have a California-based campaign in advance of a potential start in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 6, Dream Shake will start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3, trainer Peter Eurton confirmed Friday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure when easily passing a second preliminary test Thursday at Gulfstream Park en route to joining the Kentucky Derby trail.
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Prevalence never had a straw in his path after breaking from the outside post in a field of six 3-year-olds in the one-mile, first-level allowance. He prevailed by three lengths in 1:35.82 over a fast track, returning $2.20 as a prohibitive favorite.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence, the exciting Godolphin homebred on the fast track to the 147th Kentucky Derby, passed another preliminary test en route to joining the Derby trail by easily winning a first-level allowance Thursday at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Prevalence never had a straw in his path in winning the one-mile race by three lengths in 1:35.82 over a fast track. He returned $2.20 as the prohibitive favorite in a field of six 3-year-olds.
Every day at this time of year is a big day if you’ve got a Kentucky Derby contender. It’ll be so in triplicate for trainer Brad Cox on Saturday.
He’ll arise early in New Orleans and head over to Fair Grounds, where Essential Quality, his unbeaten Eclipse Award winner, will have his first work back following his victory two weeks earlier in the Southwest, and where Mandaloun, winner of the Risen Star, will have his final work in advance of the Louisiana Derby seven days later.
WHO’S HOT
The dazzling victory by Life Is Good in the San Felipe caused Marty McGee, who authors the Derby Watch top 20 betting line for the Kentucky Derby, to make Life Is Good the new favorite, down to 5-2 after being the 6-1 third choice last week. There are three newcomers to this week’s list – Crowded Trade, Helium, and Weyburn – and a returnee in Prevalence. McGee has Prevalence at 30-1, with the other three at 50-1.
