Grade 3, $98,500 Sham Stakes, Santa Anita, Jan. 8, 2023
(10 qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, 1 for fifth)
Winner: Reincarnate, by Good Magic
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet
Beyer Speed Figure: 95
Distance - time: 1 mile - 1:35.87
Win margin: Neck
$250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 1, 2023 (10 qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth)
Winner: Victory Formation, by Tapwrit
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Owner: Spendthrift Farm and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations
Beyer: 91
Distance - time: 1 mile – 1:38.14
Win margin: 3 lengths
Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Keeneland, Nov. 4, 2022 (30 qualifying points for first, 12 for second, 9 for third, 6 for fourth, and 3 for fifth)
Winner: Forte, by Violence
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr
Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Beyer: 100
Distance – time: 1 1/16 miles – 1:43.06
Win margin: 1 1/2 lengths
Woodford Reserve, the bourbon brand sold by Brown-Forman, has reached an agreement with Churchill Downs Inc. to extend its presenting sponsorship of the Kentucky Derby through 2027, the companies announced on Wednesday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – A pair of party crashers face a tough task at Santa Anita on Sunday when they try to wrest the Grade 3 Sham Stakes from a stable that practically owns the race for 3-year-olds.
At a mile on dirt, the Sham presents multiple challenges for romping maiden sprint winner Spun Intended and graded turf winner Packs a Wahlop. One is unproven at two turns, the other unproven on dirt, both might be outclassed, and they definitely are outnumbered.
Derma Sotogake won his third consecutive start, and first stakes, in Wednesday’s $529,000 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at a mile for 2-year-olds at Kawasaki Racecourse in Japan, earning 20 qualifying points for the 2023 Kentucky Derby on May 6.
Derma Sotogake, finished a head in front of Omatsuri Otoko, who was a length in front of the previously unbeaten Perriere in a field of 14.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The mutuel field, the 40th or “all others” option, was the 4-5 favorite when Pool 2 of the 2023 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Sunday evening following a four-day betting window.
Forte (10-1), Extra Anejo (13-1), and Loggins (19-1) were the lowest odds among the individually listed betting interests. Combined handle (win and exacta) totaled $162,112.
This is the first year for 40 betting interests in the Future Wager, which previously had been limited to 24 interests since Churchill Downs began offering parimutuel futures in 1999.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Officials at Churchill Downs announced Friday a series of slight modifications to the points system governing entry into the Kentucky Derby and Oaks in coming years, including toward next May, when both classics will be renewed. The series of preps toward the 2023 runnings were to begin Saturday with two Grade 3 races, the Iroquois and Pocahontas at Churchill.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The parallel roads to the 2023 Kentucky Derby and Oaks will both open Saturday when a pair of longstanding fixtures for 2-year-olds anchor an 11-race program at Churchill Downs.
The Iroquois, for 2-year-olds, and Pocahontas, for 2-year-old fillies, are part of an all-stakes pick five wager (races 7-11) that closes out the day. They are the first qualifying races toward their respective classics next May, each worth 17 points on a 10-4-2-1 basis.
Keen Ice will forever be remembered for an upset victory, as he ran down Triple Crown hero American Pharoah to win the 2015 Travers Stakes, stunning an enthusiastic crowd at Saratoga as he returned $34 for the win.
Rich Strike said, ‘Dad, hold my mint julep.’
Rich Strike, from the first crop of Calumet Farm stallion Keen Ice, pulled off the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history on Saturday evening at Churchill Downs, shocking a full house as he overhauled favored Epicenter in the final stages and returning $163.60.
