The status of Blue Grass third-place finisher Blazing Sevens will be monitored quite closely by those on the outside of the Kentucky Derby picture looking in, but don’t expect a decision on that colt’s status for a few weeks.
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DRF Past Performances
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Lexington Stakes on Saturday often serves as a prep for the Preakness, not the Kentucky Derby. And that would most definitely apply in the case of Arabian Lion, one of 11 3-year-olds confirmed for the final qualifying race toward the May 6 Derby.
Arabian Lion, trained by Bob Baffert, lacks sufficient qualifying points for the Derby, helping to make that a moot point. But the May 20 Preakness remains in play, especially if the Justify colt runs big in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington at Keeneland.
Lord Miles
Curlin – Lady Esme, by Majestic Warrior
Bred in Kentucky by Vegso Racing Stable
With all the major Kentucky Derby prep races in the books, the biggest newcomer on this week’s Daily Racing Form Derby Watch is Lord Miles, who returned $120.50 for his nose victory in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on Saturday at Aqueduct. While he will again be a long price in the Derby, he brings classic credentials from a pedigree standpoint.
WHO’S HOT
Tapit Trice produced a career-best performance Saturday at Keeneland, where he won the Blue Grass Stakes by a neck. The win lifts Tapit Trice from borderline participant in the Kentucky Derby to legitimate contender. Tapit Trice is the 5-1 second choice on the Derby Watch early odds line by David Aragona; Forte is the 3-1 favorite.
Kenny McPeek can keep everybody else jammed up if he wants. There’s no looming timetable as to when the veteran trainer must decide whether Sun Thunder will be entered in the May 6 Kentucky Derby, and he can take pretty much all the time he needs.
Sun Thunder, a no-factor fourth by 6 1/2 lengths as a 13-1 shot last Saturday in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, is in the Derby if so desired. Owned by R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine, the son of uber-sire Into Mischief is 14th on the list of qualifiers with 54 points, safely above the 20-horse cutoff.
Wild On Ice emerged from his first work since his Sunland Park Derby victory in good order and is now being pointed for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Joel Marr said Tuesday. Wild On Ice arrived at Churchill Downs on Sunday.
“We’re in Kentucky,” Marr said. “We trained yesterday and today and so far everything is going smoothly.”
Wild On Ice worked last Friday at Sunland Park, going a half-mile by himself in 49.40 seconds. The horse’s regular rider, Ken Tohill, was aboard for the move, said Marr.
$750,000 Wood, April 8, 2023 [100 qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 30 for third, 20 for fourth, and 10 for fifth]
Winner: Lord Miles, by Curlin
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Owner: Vegso Racing Stable
Distance / time: 1 1/8 miles / 1:51.17
Win margin: Nose
Beyer: 93
Grade 1, $751,500 Santa Anita Derby, April 8, 2023
(100 qualifying points for first, 40 for second, 30 for third, 20 for fourth, and 10 for fifth)
Winner: Practical Move, by Practical Joke
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
Owner: Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Amestoy, and Roger Beasley
Distance / time: 1 1/8 miles / 1:48.69
Win margin: Nose
Beyer: 100
Sun, 04/09/2023 - 13:48
ARCADIA, Calif. – Practical Move will head to the Kentucky Derby with the top figures in the field, while the two-three finishers he narrowly defeated Saturday in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby need help to crack the Kentucky Derby lineup at Churchill Downs.
Practical Move earned a 100 Beyer defeating the surprising Japan shipper Mandarin Hero by a nose; Skinner finished a half-length back in third and earned a 99 Beyer.