Stronghold, the winner of the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico in his lone start this year, is scheduled to have his Grade 1 debut in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Wednesday that the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby is preferred over the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland at the same distance on the same day.
The Santa Anita Derby and Blue Grass Stakes are key preps to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.
WHO’S HOT
Although there were no major dirt races for 3-year-olds last week, the 2023 champion juvenile male Fierceness was in the news. An odds-on third in his only start this year, he is working like he will rebound in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park. Fierceness looked strong March 15 in a team work; he was best over 2-for-2 Tuscan Sky. Derby Watch linemaker David Aragona subsequently lowered Fierceness to 10-1, co-second choice with Timberlake.
Sierra Leone, winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star in his most recent start, closed as the favorite in last weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, followed by last year’s 2-year-old champion, Fierceness.
Sierra Leone, who is being pointed to the April 6 Blue Grass Stakes for his final Derby prep, was 7-1 at the close of betting, tops among the 39 individual interests. Fierceness, who has a single start this year, closed at 9-1. Fierceness is being pointed to the Florida Derby.
Sierra Leone, the recent winner of the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, has been made the 5-1 favorite for the fifth offering of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which will open Friday, according to odds distributed by Churchill Downs, the wager’s administrator.
The fifth edition of the Future Wager for the 2024 Kentucky Derby is the first in which the “all other 3-year-olds” entry is not expected to be the favorite. The Kentucky Derby is scheduled this year for May 4.
Deterministic
Colt by Liam’s Map – Giulio’s Jewel, by Speightstown
Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms ($625,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by St. Elias Stables)
Deterministic makes a big splash as a newcomer to the Derby Watch Top 20 this week, debuting as the 12-1 third choice off his win in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, in just his second start, and off a layoff. The colt is from the consistently successful family of blue hen Courtly Dee and will look to call on some of that deep stamina as he progresses.
WHO’S HOT
There’s a new kid in town. Deterministic, off nearly seven months, scored a decisive comeback victory in the Grace 3 Gotham Stakes on March 2 at Aqueduct to emerge as the newest addition to Derby Watch. Deterministic, 2 for 2, opens as 12-1 third choice by linemaker David Aragona.
Deterministic defeated Just a Touch by two lengths in the Gotham, a one-turn mile that was run over a sloppy track. Just a Touch, also making just his second career start, ran well. Aragona lowered his price from 30-1 to 20-1.
Leonatus Stakes winner Epic Ride continues traveling on Turfway Park’s road to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday night as the favorite in an overflow field for the $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial.
The Battaglia, at 1 1/16 miles, has drawn 14 entrants; 12 may start. The race, which awards its top finishers points toward the Kentucky Derby starting gate on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale, is the final local prep toward the Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby on March 23. That race will award points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.
WHO’S HOT
One can’t stop the feeling Timberlake’s reputation is growing. After winning his comeback Feb. 24 at Oaklawn, his first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Timberlake’s Derby Watch odds were lowered to 10-1 by linemaker David Aragona. Timberlake is now sol feeling that Timberlitary second choice behind Sierra Leone, the 8-1 Derby Watch favorite.
