Grade 1, $300,000 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity; 1 1/16 miles; Los Alamitos; Dec. 10, 2016
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Mastery, by Candy Ride
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Cheyenne Stables LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 91
Much will be expected in the next six months from Mastery, who gave trainer Bob Baffert a record ninth win in the $300,000 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity on Saturday.
Mastery is undefeated in three starts, including two stakes, and is the leading California-based hope for the Triple Crown. In the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity, Mastery won the race at 1 1/16 miles by 7 1/4 lengths, a record margin in the 36th running of a race run at Hollywood Park from 1981-2013.
Grade 2, $300,000 Remsen Stakes, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, Nov. 26, 2016
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Mo Town, by Uncle Mo
Trainer: Tony Dutrow
Jockey: John Velazquez
Owners: Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Team D
Beyer Speed Figure: 86
Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, 1 1/16 miles, Delta Downs, Nov. 19, 2016
(10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Gunnevera, by Dialed In
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: Peacock Racing Stables LLC
The American Graded Stakes Committee has downgraded three Grade 1 races, including two key Kentucky Derby prep races, and upgraded the Pennsylvania Derby from Grade 2 to Grade 1, according to a release of the 2017 grade assignments on Friday.
Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile; 1 1/16 miles; Santa Anita; Nov. 5, 2016
(20 Derby qualifying points for a win, 8 for second, 4 for third, 2 for fourth)
Winner: Classic Empire, by Pioneerof the Nile
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Owner: John Oxley
Beyer Speed Figure: 102
Mont Saint Legame won last weekend’s Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse, the first of two races in Japan offering points toward the 2017 Kentucky Derby. Although the colt has yet to set foot on American soil, he is by a familiar name.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field once again was the clear-cut favorite when Pool 1 in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday evening.
The field, the 24th or “all others” option, was pounded late in the four-day session to close as the 6-5 choice, followed by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire at 6-1. Then came Mastery (10-1), Mo Town (12-1), and McCraken (12-1), with all others being 22-1 or higher.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mo Town, No Dozing, and Takaful – the first three finishers in Saturday’s Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct – are headed to various parts of Florida in the coming days and could all take different paths to try to get to the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
Mo Town won the Remsen by 2 1/2 lengths over No Dozing, with Takaful, the 4-5 favorite, another 3 1/2 lengths back in third.
