HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Keepmeinmind’s status for the postponed Southwest Stakes next week at Oaklawn Park will be determined by the status of training here.
Horses were last able to train over the Oaklawn surface on Feb. 11. A winter storm has since moved into the region, forcing the cancellation of five days of training through Tuesday and eight days of racing through Feb. 21.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – 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.
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – 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 on March 6.
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
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.
Mandaloun won Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star by 1 1/2 lengths over Proxy, who also had been second in the Lecomte. Midnight Bourbon won the Lecomte, going wire to wire, and after chasing Risen Star pacesetter Rightandjust finished third on Saturday.
The mutuel field, the 24th or “all others” option, closed as a lukewarm favorite after three days of betting into Pool 3 of the 2021 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The pool opened Friday at noon Eastern and closed Sunday evening at 6.
The mutuel field closed at 3-1, followed by Life Is Good at 7-1 and Essential Quality at 8-1. They were followed by Greatest Honour (9-1), Prevalence (14-1), Caddo River (15-1), Mandaloun (16-1), and Concert Tour (17-1), with all others ranging from 25-1 to 91-1. The lowest $2 exacta will-pay is Essential Quality over the field (5-24), worth $64.
Listed, $101,350 El Camino Real Derby, 1 1/8 miles (all weather), Golden Gate Fields, Feb. 13, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Rombauer, by Twirling Candy
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Kyle Frey
Owners: John and Diane Fradkin
Beyer Speed Figure: 84
Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Fair Grounds, Feb. 13, 2021
(50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Mandaloun, by Into Mischief
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Owner: Juddmonte Farms Inc.
Beyer Speed Figure: 98
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence, one of the more exciting prospects for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, was out for serious work again early Friday, going five furlongs in 1:01 over a fast track at the Palm Meadows training center.
Derby fever will come to a boil Saturday at Golden Gate Fields when the 40th El Camino Real Derby is run with a field of nine.
The $100,000 El Camino Real Derby, run at 1 1/8 miles over the Tapeta main track, offers 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a berth in the Preakness to the winner.
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2021: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
Tuesday in New Orleans will be the quietest Mardi Gras ever. COVID-19, which spread through the city after Mardi Gras 2020, has smothered the annual public bacchanal. Not even the famous parades Rex, and Zulu, and Endymion, which snakes a couple blocks from the Fair Grounds, will roll.
