Snapper Sinclair
City Zip–True Addiction, by Yes It’s True
Bred in Kentucky by K & G Stables ($180,000 purchase by Jeffrey Bloom at OBS April 2-year-old sale)

Although modern genetics wags an admonitory finger, we persist in thinking in terms of sire lines and their defining characteristics. We nod knowledgeably each time a small, muscular, compact horse emerges from the Northern Dancer line, even though descendants of that epochal stallion now come in every shape and size imaginable.

Restoring Hope is being pointed for the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby on Sunday, said trainer Bob Baffert. The 1 1/8-mile race awards 85 points for the Kentucky Derby on a scale of 50-20-10-5.

Baffert said Flavien Prat has the mount on Restoring Hope, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 89 for a maiden special weight route win last month at Santa Anita.

Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Oaklawn Park; March 17, 2018
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)

Winner: Magnum Moon, by Malibu Moon
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Owner: Robert and Lawana Low
Beyer Speed Figure: 97

The first and only starter trainer Keith Desormeaux will have at this Fair Grounds meet comes in the most important race of the meet.

My Boy Jack is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $1 million Louisiana Derby. The colt was to ship Tuesday morning from California. His trainer has made a much deeper journey since he called New Orleans home every winter.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has confirmed what already had been suspected, that Grade 3 Withers winner Avery Island is now officially off the Derby trail after returning lame from a routine workout at Palm Meadows last Friday.

McLaughlin sent Avery Island to Rood and Riddle Clinic in Kentucky for further evaluation earlier this week.

Trainer Doug O’Neill was awake but dreaming early Sunday morning, a day after his trainee, Blended Citizen, registered a neck victory in Turfway Park’s Grade 3, $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, a Kentucky Derby prep race.

“We’re getting that Derby dream, of course,” he said from phone from his Santa Anita base. “He always worked phenomenal on the dirt, but his best races have been turf or synthetic. So naturally we’re wondering, can he be the next Animal Kingdom?”

Most people who have even a casual acquaintance with Kentucky Derby history know that the last horse to win the Derby without having raced at 2 was Apollo in 1882.

But that 136-year streak is under a serious double-barreled threat this year. One gunning to end this run is Justify, the brilliant Southern California-based colt who debuted Feb. 18 and was most impressive winning an allowance at Santa Anita last week to make it two triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure scores in as many starts.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Magnum Moon burst onto the Kentucky Derby scene Saturday at Oaklawn, where he picked up 50 points for the classic by darting to a 3 1/2-length win over favorite Solomini in the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel. It was Magnum Moon’s third victory in as many starts, as well as his stakes debut.  

“I’m very, very excited with the way he ran,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Magnum Moon.

McKinzie will remain at Santa Anita for the Santa Anita Derby on April 7, while Justify will go to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby on April 14, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday.

Baffert is known to call audibles, but on Friday he said “as of today” that was the plan with his two highly regarded Kentucky Derby prospects.

McKinzie was disqualified from victory in the San Felipe Stakes on March 10 in favor of Bolt d’Oro. The Santa Anita Derby thus sets up as a rematch between those two, since Bolt d’Oro is also intended for the Santa Anita Derby.