The Derby Dispatch
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The Derby Dispatch Contacts: Darren Rogers (502) 636-4461(o), (502) 345-1030 (m) or [email protected] @DerbyMedia Kevin Kerstein (502) 635-4712 (o), (610) 420-6971 (m) or [email protected] @HorseRacingKK _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY Lecomte favorite, and sixth-placer Shashashakemeup also CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON BEGINS will return in the first division. Those making their stakes debut in the first division include WITH SPLIT DIVISIONS OF Blackberry Wine, who registered the top last-out Brisnet GRADE II, $400,000 RISEN STAR Speed rating (95) when capturing an allowance on the Lecomte undercard; Farmington Road, a last-out maiden winner at LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020) – The Road Gulfstream Park for Todd Pletcher; and Ready to Roll, who to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series is set to kickoff romped by 7 ½ lengths over maiden foes at Oaklawn for Bret Saturday in New Orleans with split divisions of the $400,000 Calhoun. Risen Star (Grade II) at Fair Grounds. In the second division, Anneau d’Oro has shipped from Over the next nine weekends, 3-year-old Thoroughbreds Northern California to face 11 foes. An eight-length maiden will continue their quest for points in select races to secure a winner on turf, the son of Medaglia d’Oro recorded an berth in the starting gate for the 146th running of the $3 million excellent head second when making his second start in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Blaine Wright-trainee exits a Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs. neck second in the Dec. 7 Los Alamitos Futurity (GII), and Due to an oversubscribed field, each division of the Risen Anneau d’Oro will add blinkers and Joel Rosario for the Star will be awarded its original $400,000 purse and the Top 4 Risen Star. finishers will receive points on a 50-20-10-5 scale for the Finnick the Fierce will look to improve upon a fourth in Kentucky Derby. the Lecomte after receiving a less-than favorable trip, and Since the point series was adopted in 2013, it has taken an trainer Rey Hernandez will remove the blinkers on the average 26 points to make the field of 20 for the Kentucky confirmed closer. Mailman Money tries stakes competition in Derby. good form for Calhoun, rolling to a 5 ¾-length allowance Also, the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season will triumph at Fair Grounds on Jan. 12. culminate this weekend with Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Two turns is the big question for Liam’s Lucky Charm, Real Derby (Listed) over the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate who invades from South Florida off a 5 ½-length tally in the Fields and Monday’s $750,000 Southwest Stakes (GIII) at seven-furlong Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs. Ny Traffic returns Oaklawn Park. Both races will award the Top 4 finishers to stakes company after posting a 6 ¾-length triumph over points on a 10-4-2-1 scale. entry-level allowance rivals at Gulfstream in his first start for Saffie Joseph Jr. ANNEAU d’OR, ENFORCEABLE HEAD DIVISIONS Last-out maiden winners Major Fed, Modernist and AS POINT VALUES INCREASE IN RISEN STAR – Truculent are also part of the second division. – James Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) runner-up Anneau d’Or and Scully/TwinSpires.com Lecomte (GIII) winner Enforceable are the top draws, and Saturday’s Risen Star (GII) at Fair Grounds has split into SATURDAY’S EL CAMINO REAL, MONDAY’S divisions after receiving 23 entries. Both divisions retain the SOUTHWEST CLOSE ROAD TO KENTUCKY original $400,000 purse, which means each will yield 85 DERBY PREP SEASON – The Road to the Kentucky qualifying points (50-20-10-5 scale) toward a Kentucky Derby Derby Prep Season is set to come to a close following berth. Saturday’s $100,000 El Camino Real Derby (Listed) at Golden The Risen Star, which has been lengthened to 1 1/8 miles Gate Fields and Monday’s $750,000 Southwest Stakes (GIII) at this year, is the first of 16 Championship Series races in the Oaklawn. Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Both races will award 10 points to the winner, four to Enforceable will meet 10 challengers in the first division, second, two to third and one for fourth. which brings back five of the top six placings from the Jan. 18 In Saturday’s El Camino Real, $100,000 Sham Stakes (GIII) Lecomte. Trained by Mark Casse, who won last year’s Risen runner-up Azul Coast will lead 10 rivals in Golden Gate’s 1 Star with eventual Preakness (GI) hero War of Will, 1/8-mile marquee race. Two other Triple Crown-nominated Enforceable earned his first stakes win with a 1 ½-length horses are in Saturday’s field: maiden winner Czechmight and decision last time, and the late-running son of Tapit will retain recent allowance winner The Stiff. the services of Julien Leparoux. Post time for the El Camino Real Derby is 6:45 p.m. ET. Silver State finished a rallying second in the Lecomte for Monday’s Southwest is expected to include $500,000 Smarty Steve Asmussen, and the Hard Spun colt drew better in post Jones winner Gold Street along with $400,000 Springboard 2 Saturday for a ground-saving trip. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides. Mile runner-up Answer In. Entries will be drawn Friday Lecomte third-placer Mr. Monomoy, a half-brother to 2018 afternoon. Kentucky Oaks winner and champion 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl, is back for Brad Cox. Scabbard, fifth as the UPCOMING ROAD TO THE DERBY RACES – it’s a long road to get there. You have to earn your way in Date Race Track Top 4 Points We just want to keep Enforceable sound. We’re looking Feb. 15 Risen Star (Division 1) FG 50-20-10-5 forward to the race and seeing where we stand.” David Feb. 15 Risen Star (Division 2) FG 50-20-10-5 Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. Feb. 15 El Camino Real Derby GG 10-4-2-1 Feb. 17 Southwest OP 10-4-2-1 Feb. 23 Hyacinth# Tokyo 30-12-6-3 #9 Mr Monomoy: “I thought he ran a good race in the Feb. 28 Patton* Dundalk 20-8-4-2 Lecomte and was able to pass horses like we saw in his debut. Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth GP 50-20-10-5 He was able to gallop out well with Enforceable.” – trainer March 4 Road to the Kentucky Derby* Kempton 20-8-4-2 Brad Cox March 7 Gotham Aqu 50-20-10-5 March 7 San Felipe SA 50-20-10-5 March 7 Tampa Bay Derby Tam 50-20-10-5 Risen Star Division 2: March 14 Jeff Ruby Steaks TP 20-8-4-2 March 14 Rebel OP 50-20-10-5 #3 Mr Big News: “He’s had some education with his last race March 21 Louisiana Derby FG 100-40-20-10 March 22 Sunland Derby Sun 50-20-10-5 when he was stuck in traffic. He’s bred to run further and is March 28 UAE Derby Meydan 100-40-20-10 developing nicely every day. I think he’ll like the distance. He March 28 Florida Derby GP 100-40-20-10 was stuck behind a slower pace last out and he came home March 28 Fukuryu# Nakyama 40-16-8-4 very well. It looks like he’s peaking right now.” - Calhoun April 2 Cardinal Condition* Chelmsford 30-12-6-3 April 4 Wood Memorial Aqu 100-40-20-10 April 4 Blue Grass Kee 100-40-20-10 #7 Major Fed: “He’s a big, good looking horse. We knew he April 4 Santa Anita Derby SA 100-40-20-10 had some talent from the start. We sprinted him first time out April 11 Arkansas Derby OP 100-40-20-10 and he was just kind of green and ran into some really nice April 11 Lexington Kee 20-8-4-2 horses. He got some good schooling in his maiden win and # Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby * European Road to the Kentucky Derby he’s just figuring things out.” – Travis Foley, assistant to trainer Greg Foley QUOTABLE #8 Anneau d’Or: “Our number one factor coming to Fair Notable quotes provided by owners, trainers and jockeys to Grounds was the spacing between the Risen Star and Santa track officials: Anita Derby. It allows us to travel across the country, come back and still get six weeks in between races. Those are the Risen Star Division 1: two races we’ve targeted and hopefully the horse keeps doing what it takes to get us where we want to go. … In my opinion, #1 Digital: “He’s a horse that is a little lighter physically. He we were a head and neck away from winning an Eclipse needs a little more time between works and races. … (His last Award. We have to find a way to get past horses. Joel Rosario race) was his first time going two turns and the horse that won flew up (to Northern California), worked him last week, and (Blackberry Wine) had some experience going two turns got to know him. Hopefully the changes will work to our already as well as more race experience in general.” – trainer advantage.” – trainer Blaine Wright Bret Calhoun #9 Lynn’s Map: “We’re throwing out the (Smarty Jones) at #3 Ready to Roll: “We got behind on him a little bit and Oaklawn.