Courvoisier certainly has a pedigree to get one excited. Saturday, at soggy and foggy Aqueduct, Courvoisier gave his connections a performance to perhaps start getting excited about as well.
Courvoisier, under Jose Ortiz, overtook the pace-setting Hagler just above the eighth pole and persevered to the wire to win Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over a late-running Smarten Up. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Cooke Creek, the 7-5 favorite, in third.
Erik Johnson has his eyes on the prizes these days.
His regular job as defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche finds him pursuing a Stanley Cup. His other job, fully invested horse owner, could have him headed down the Kentucky Derby trail if Mackinnon, named for a teammate, center Nathan MacKinnon, can transfer his sharp turf form to dirt Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes.
The one-mile Sham, for 3-year-olds, offers 17 points overall and 10 to the winner toward a berth in the May 7 Derby. It is race 7 of 10.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While the Jerome Stakes hasn’t had a history of producing top Kentucky Derby prospects, three of the race’s last four winners – Firenze Fire, Mind Control and Independence Hall – did go on to become multiple graded stakes winners.
Saturday’s 152nd Jerome at Aqueduct drew a field of eight 3-year-olds, some with the pedigree and talent to suggest they could join that list. Whether they turn out to be Kentucky Derby contenders is something that likely won’t be known until later on.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla – Seven 3-year-olds will take their first step on the road to the $1 million Florida Derby on April 2, Gulfstream Park’s marquee event, when they square off at a mile in Saturday’s $150,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes.
The Mucho Macho Man is the last of five stakes on Saturday’s card, all for 3-year-olds, and the first of three major 3-year-old preps here prior to the Florida Derby. The others are the Grade 2 Holy Bull (Feb. 5) and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth (March 5).
Rockefeller, the winner of the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 7, and Mackinnon, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5, are part of an expected small field in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.
The $100,000 Sham Stakes at a mile is the first race for 3-year-olds at the track’s winter spring meeting. The 3-year-old series leads to the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On New Year’s Day 2020, trainer Michael Trombetta won the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct with a 3-year-old son of Constitution named Independence Hall. On New Year’s Day 2022, Trombetta try to pen some more Jerome history in the 152nd running of the race with another 3-year-old son of Constitution, named Mr Jefferson.
Listed, $98,000 Gun Runner Stakes, Fair Grounds, Dec. 26, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Epicenter, by Not This Time
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 87
ARCADIA, Calif. – Seven of the last 10 horses to finish first in the Kentucky Derby spent the bulk of their winter racing or training at Santa Anita, and this year’s crop of locally based Derby prospects offers similar possibilities, with a deep group underscored by uncertainty of the plans for some of the marquee names.
Listed, $401,200 Springboard Mile, one mile, Remington Park, Dec. 17, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 0 for third, 0 for fourth)
Winner: Make It Big, by Neolithic
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Red Oak Stable
Beyer Speed Figure: 84
Grade 2, $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity, 1 1/16 miles, Los Alamitos, Dec. 11, 2021
(10 Derby qualifying points for first, 0 for second, 0 for third, 1 for fourth)
Winner: Slow Down Andy, by Nyquist
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
Owner: Reddam Racing LLC
Beyer Speed Figure: 85
