Like Willie Nelson, Bill Mott just can’t wait to get on the road again. The Derby road, that is.
Mott is the defending training champ for the Kentucky Derby, winning it last year when his colt Country House was placed first following the disqualification of Maximum Security. Mott last Saturday put himself in position to get back to this year’s Derby when Modernist scored an upset victory in the second division of the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds.
WHO’S HOT
Modernist, Mr. Monomoy, and Silver Prospector – all of whom won graded stakes races last weekend – are the newest members of the Derby Watch top 20. Mr. Monomoy, who won the faster division of the Risen Star, is 15-1 on the Kentucky Derby future line set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form. Modernist and Silver Prospector are both 20-1. Gouverneur Morris, winner of an allowance race last Friday in his 3-year-old debut, is down to 12-1 after being 20-1 a week ago. Tiz the Law remains the 4-1 favorite.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Gouverneur Morris has eased back into training at Palm Beach Downs following a successful 3-year-old debut as trainer Todd Pletcher considers what will come next for his top prospect for the 146th Kentucky Derby.
Gouverneur Morris won a first-level allowance last Friday at Tampa Bay Downs in his first start since finishing second to Maxfield in the Breeders’ Futurity last October at Keeneland. A Constitution colt, Gouverneur Morris most likely will have just one chance to earn enough qualifying points to make the May 2 Derby, Pletcher said.
Listed, $101,800 El Camino Real Derby; 1 1/8 miles (all-weather); Golden Gate Fields; Feb. 15, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Azul Coast, by Super Saver
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Owner: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Beyer Speed Figure: 74
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Horses trained by Brad Cox locked up the second- and third-place spots in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes on Monday at Oaklawn, with Wells Bayou earning 4 Kentucky Derby points for his runner-up finish and Answer In earning 2.
Silver Prospector moved past Wells Bayou in the later stages for a length win. Wells Bayou was making his stakes debut. He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96.
Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Oaklawn; Feb. 17, 2020
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Silver Prospector, by Declaration of War
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Owner: Ed and Susie Orr
Beyer Speed Figure: 97
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Patrick Biancone mimed a French adage that roughly translates into “It’s a long way from the cup to the lips” when acknowledging just how much time exists between now and the 146th Kentucky Derby.
“De la coupe aux levres,” a smiling Biancone said while taking an imaginary drink.
His point is well taken. With 11 weeks to the May 2 Derby, Biancone is the trainer of a couple of live contenders, Sole Volante and Ete Indien, both of whom have been ridden in most of their races by Luca Panici.
NEW ORLEANS – One-tenth of the 2020 Kentucky Derby field could be set when the dust settles Saturday evening at Fair Grounds.
The Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes awards 85 Derby qualifying points. The 50 that go to the Risen Star winner essentially assure a spot in the 20-horse Derby – and this year there are two Risen Stars.
