The Road to the Kentucky Derby

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Selected Major and Minor Stakes Races Leading to the Kentucky Derby
Pre- and Post-Race Coverage

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Read about The Downey Profile^®

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Click to go to race; click back to return

Feb. 4
1 1/16 Mile, Grade III WITHERS STAKES, Aqueduct ($200,000)
1 1/16 Mile, Grade II ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES, Santa Anita ($200,000)
1 1/16 Mile, Grade III SAM F. DAVIS STAKES, Tampa Bay Downs ($250,000)
1 Mile, WEBN STAKES, Turfway Park ($50,000)

Feb. 9
About 1 Mile (1,600 Meters), Group 3 UAE 2000 GUINEAS, Meydan Racecourse ($250,000)

Feb. 11
7 Furlongs, Grade II HUTCHESON Stakes, Gulfstream Park ($150,000)

Feb. 18
1 1/8 Mile, Grade III EL CAMINO REAL DERBY, Golden Gate Fields ($200,000)

Feb. 19
7 Furlong, Grade II SAN VICENTE STAKES, Santa Anita ($150,000)

Feb. 20
1 Mile, Grade III SOUTHWEST STAKES, Oaklawn Park ($250,000)

Feb. 25
1 1/16 Mile, Grade II RISEN STAR STAKES, Fair Grounds ($300,000)

Feb. 26
1 1/16 Mile, Grade II FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH STAKES, Gulfstream Park ($400,000)

March 3
1 1/16 Mile, JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL STAKES, Turfway Park ($75,000)
1 1/16 Mile, Grade III GOTHAM STAKES ($400,000)

March 10
1 1/16 Mile, Grade II TAMPA BAY DERBY, Tampa Bay Downs ($350,000)
1 1/16 Mile, Grade II SAN FELIPE STAKES, Santa Anita ($300,000)
About 1 3/16 Mile (1,900 Meters), AL BASTAKIYA, Meydan Racecourse ($250,000)

March 11
1 1/8 Mile, Grade III PALM BEACH STAKES, Gulfstream Park ($150,000)

March 17
1 1/16 Mile, Grade II REBEL STAKES, Oaklawn Park ($500,000)

March 24
1 1/8 Mile, Grade III VINERY RACING SPIRAL STAKES, Turfway Park ($500,000)

March 25
1 1/8 Mile, Grade III SUNLAND DERBY, Sunland Park ($800,000)

March 31
1 1/8 Mile, Grade I FLORIDA DERBY, Gulfstream Park ($1,000,000)
About 1 3/16 Mile (1,900 Meters), Group 2 UAE DERBY, Meydan Racecourse ($2,000,000)

April 1
1 1/8 Mile, Grade II LOUISIANA DERBY, Fair Grounds ($1,000,000)

April 7
1 1/8 Mile, Grade I RESORTS WORLD NEW YORK CASINO WOOD MEMORIAL, Aqueduct ($1,000,000)
1 1/8 Mile, Grade I SANTA ANITA DERBY, Santa Anita ($750,000)
1 1/8 Mile, Grade III ILLINOIS DERBY, Hawthorne Race Course ($500,000)

April 14
1 1/8 Mile, Grade I TOYOTA BLUE GRASS STAKES, Keeneland ($750,000)
1 1/8 Mile, Grade I ARKANSAS DERBY, Oaklawn Park ($1,000,000)

April 21
1 1/16 Mile, Grade III COOLMORE LEXINGTON STAKES, Keeneland ($200,000)
1 Mile, Grade II JEROME, Aqueduct ($200,000)

April 28
1 Mile, Grade III THE CLIFF'S EDGE DERBY TRIAL, Churchill Downs ($200,000 added)

PREVIOUS ROAD RACES

Jan. 29
1 Mile, Grade III HOLY BULL STAKES, Gulfstream Park ($400,000)

 

Feb. 4: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade III WITHERS STAKES
Aqueduct ($200,000)
http://www.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html

Saturday, Race 9
Grade III Withers Stakes
Aqueduct
Purse: $200,000
Distance: 1 1/16 Mile
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 4:05 ET

Post	Horse		ML	Jockey	Wt	S	M	Trainer
1	Hakama (KY)		5-1	J. Pimentel	118	C	L	M. Trombetta
2	Speightscity (KY)		20-1	D. Cohen	118	R	L	G. Contessa
3	Swag Daddy (NY)		SCR	J. Alvarado	120	C	L	R. Dutrow Jr.
4	King Kid (KY)		4-1	M. Luzzi	116	C	L	D. Romans
5	How Do I Win (KY)		10-1	C. Velasquez	116	R	L	T. Pletcher
6	Tiger Walk (KY)		6-1	H. Karamanos	118	C	L	I. Correas IV
7	Alpha (KY)		1-1	R. Dominguez	120	C	L	K. McLaughlin

Owners: 1 - Meyerhoff, Harry C. and Tom O.; 2 - Team Stallion Racing Corp. and McConnell Racing

Stable; 3 - Fein, Eric; 4 - McKee, Ronald, E.; 5 - Repole Stable; 6 - Sagamore Farm; 7 - Godolphin

Racing LLC

Breeders: 1 - Claiborne Farm; 2 - WinStar Farm LLC, Polo Green Stable,Piacentino Farms, LP &

Shannon Potter; 3 - Sugar Maple Farm; 4 - McKee Stables, Inc.; 5 - Russell L. Reineman Stable, Inc;

6 - River Bend Farm, Inc.; 7 - Darley

Nominees' Past Performances.

Several to Test Withers Waters Against Alpa
On Saturday at Aqueduct, seven starters will try each other out in the Grade III Withers Stakes, a newly-installed fixture in the Winter meeting.

Dick's Picks: Might Take Some Swagger
The Grade III Withers Stakes adds spice to the dead-of-winter Triple Crown Trail in New York. In the spirit of things, Downey looks for a horse to upset Alpha.

Horse Profiles: Speightscity, Swag Daddy, King Kid, How Do I Win, Alpha

 

 

Feb. 4: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade II ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES
Santa Anita ($200,000)
http://www.santaanita.com

Saturday, Race 6
Grade II Robert B. Lewis Stakes
Santa Anita
Purse: $200,000
Distance: 1 1/16 Mile
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 6:05 ET

Post	Horse		ML	Jockey	Wt	S	M	Trainer
1	Isn't He Clever (KY)		6-1	C. Nakatani	118	G	L	H. Dominguez
2	Liaison (KY)		9-5	R. Bejarano	123	C	L	B. Baffert
3	Groovin' Solo (KY)		12-1	V. Espinoza	118	C	L	M. K. Cho
4	I'll Have Another (KY)		12-1	M. Gutierrez	118	C	L	D. O'Neill
5	Sky Kingdom (KY)		6-1	M. Garcia	118	C	L	B. Baffert
6	Rousing Sermon (CA)		5-2	J. Talamo	118	C	L	J. Hollendorfer
7	Empire Way (KY)		6-1	J. Rosario	118	C	L	M. Harrington
8	Chips All In (KY)		6-1	A. Quinonez	118	C	L	J. Mullins

Owners: 1 - J. Kirk & Judy Robison; 2 - Arnold Zetcher, LLC; 3 - M. K. Cho Stables, LLC; 4 - Reddam
Racing, LLC; 5 - Westrock Stables, LLC; 6 - Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams; 7 - Heinz Steinmann;
8 - Everest, O'Brian, Valdez, Et Al

Breeders: 1 - Monticule; 2 - William A. Carl Estate; 3 - Cho Myung Kwon; 4 - Harvey Clarke; 5 - Jim J.
FitzGerald; 6 - Mr. & Mrs. Larry D. Williams; 7 - Palides Investments N.V., Inc.; 8 - Adena Springs

Early-Bird Nominations; Nominations. Early Bird Past Performances; Past Performances.

Robert B. Lewis Pits Baffert vs. Hollendorfer
Bob Baffert sends two into the Grade II Robert B. Lewis on Saturday -- an established star and a horse that could be on the serious improve.

Commish: Robert B. Lewis More Than A Two-Horse Race
It seems like yesterday when this race starting taking shape, and right from the get-go, it looked like a two-horse race. But hold on, partner. There’s plenty of talented prospects in the wild, wild, west these days.


Looking Good: Robert B. Lewis Draws Eight
From the rail out: Isn't He Clever (Worth Watching), Liaison (Looking Good), Groovin' Solo (Worth Watching), I'll Have Another (Just In Case), Sky Kingdom (Looking Good), Rousing Sermon (Looking Good), Empire Way (Worth Watching) and Chips All In (Worth Watching).

Feb. 2 Quotes
“They’re doing well, and we want to win the race. They’re going into the race very well-prepared, so we expect them to run pretty well. I just want them to have a good race. They’ve had a few starts now where they’ve got enough foundation, and they’ve done well. You just want them to stay healthy.”--Bob Baffert disussing Liaison and Sky Kingdom

 

 

Feb. 4: 1 1/6 Mile, Grade III SAM F. DAVIS STAKES
Tampa Bay Downs ($250,000)
http://www.tampabaydowns.com

Saturday, Race 11
Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes
Tampa Bay Downs
Purse: $250,000
Distance: 1 1/16 Mile
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 5:10 ET

Post	Horse		ML	Jockey	Wt	S	M	Trainer
1	State of Play (KY)		4-1	A. Garcia	122	C	L	G. Motion
2	Holy Highway (FL)		20-1	A. Serpa	116	C	L	D. Ryan
3	Battle Hardened (KY)		12-1	J. Leparoux	116	C	L	E. Kenneally
4	Ecabroni (KY)		7-2	J. Castellano	116	C	L	T. Pletcher
5	Moroccan Brew (FL)		30-1	R. Feliciano	116	C	L	D. Ward
6	Neck 'N Neck (KY)		5-1	J. Lezcano	116	C	L	I. Wilkes
7	Fox Rules (NY)		30-1	H. Villa-Gomez	116	G	L	M. Ferraro
8	Ravelo's Boy (KY)		15-1	J. Sanchez	116	C		M. Azpura
9	Burning Time (FL)		12-1	L. Goncalves	120	C	L	D. Fawkes
10	Reveron (KY)		3-1	F. Jara	120	C		A. Bezara
11	Prospective (KY)		6-1	Luis Contreras	120	C	L	M. Casse

Owners: 1 - Team Valor International; 2 - Liam Benson; 3 - Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John
Magnier; 4 - St. George Stable LLC; 5 - Vic Carlson; 6 - A. Stevens Miles, Jr.; 7 - Deborah
and Dennis Petrisak; 8 - Korina Stable; 9 - Harold L. Queen; 10 - Stipa Racing Stable, Inc.;

11 - John C. Oxley

Breeders: 1 - Stone Farm & Dell Hancock; 2 - Liam Benson & Mayo West Farm; 3 - Lakeside
Farm LLC; 4 - St.George Stables LLC.; 5 - Jessica Nicole Wynn; 6 - A. Stevens Miles Jr.;
7 - Dennis Petrisak & Deborah Petrisak; 8 - Stonewall Farm Stallions; 9 - Harold Queen;
10 - Cabotaba Partnership; 11 - Spendthrift Farm

Horse Profiles: Burning Time (Worth Watching), Ecabroni (Worth Watching), Neck 'N Neck (Worth Watching), Prospective (Worth Watching), Reveron (Worth Watching), State of Play (Worth Watching).

Dick's Picks: Sam F. Davis Full of Winning Angles
The Grade III Sam F. Davis looks like a wide-open affair going in, so let's see if we can winnow out some angles.

Fat Or Fit? Opinions May Vary
Assistant trainer Heather Craig says she'll be sending out a fit horse in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, so she doesn’t care if anyone thinks he looks fat.
Entry Chart, Morning Line, Horse Profiles

Feb. 4: 1 Mile, WEBN STAKES
Turfway Park ($50,000)
http://www.turfway.com

Saturday, Race 10
WEBN Stakes
Turfway Park
Purse: $50,000
Distance: One Mile
Surface: Synthetic
Post Time: 5:31 ET

Post	Horse		ML	Jockey	Wt	S	M	Trainer
1	Sunday Mass (KY)		30-1	P. Ouzts	118	G	LA	M. Roberts
2	Phantom Fury (KY)		5-2	R. Prescott	118	G	LA	M. Lauer
3	Texas Josh (KY)		15-1	T. Pompell	118	C	L	C. Cook
4	Antique Wedding (KY)		20-1	M. Pedroza	120	C	LA	K. Gorder
5	Hand I Was Dealt (KY)		12-1	L. Martinez Jr.	118	C	LA	S. Kintz
6	Magical Season (KY)		9-2	V. Lebron	118	G	LA	M. Maker
7	Tiz Tee Time (KY)		6-1	B. Creed	118	G	LA	P. Sims
8	Tigerdude (KY)		12-1	C. Roman	118	C	LA	J. Thornbury
9	Frankie Is Rock (KY)		10-1	J. Felix	118	C	LA	R. Flores
10	Mr. Prankster (KY)		2-1	J. McKee	122	C	LA	M. Maker

Owners: 1 - M. C. Roberts Racing Stable (Merrill C. Roberts); 2 - Smokey Lynne Bare and Ira P. Mersack;

3 - Michelle Y. Brown; 4 - Nina Hahn; 5 - James E. Hunt; 6 - William Butler; 7 - Nelson McMakin;

8 - Ann Lorenson-Lynch; 9 - Rafael I. Flores; 10 - F. Thomas Conway and Michael J. Maker

Breeders: 1 - H. Allen Poindexter; 2 - Dr. Ira P. Mersack & Anita Mersack; 3 - Lucky Shamrock Partners, LLC;

4 - Lochness Inc.; 5 - Bob Horton, Rae Horton &Charles Middleton; 6 - Lee R. Christian & Ben Kerrigone;

7 - Nelson McMakin; 8 - Ann Lorenson Lynch; 9 - Forging Oaks LLC; 10 - Colby Fields LLC, Greg Scherr

&Valorie Scherr

 

Commish: WEBN Stakes: Long Road to Derby from Here
It is generally hard for me to get too excited about some of the top prospects in this years’ running of the WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park, but hey, you never know. Even a long road to Churchill is still a road.

 

Mr. Prankster Seeks Second-Leg Win in WEBN Stakes
Mr. Prankster will try for his second stakes win in a row when he lines up for the WEBN Stakes Saturday at Turfway.

Nominees' Past Performances.

Horse Profiles: Mr. Prankster (Just In Case), Phantom Fury (Just In Case), Tiz Tee Time (Just In Case)

 

Feb. 9: About 1 Mile (1,600 Meters), Group 3 UAE 2000 GUINEAS
Meydan ($250,000)
http://www.meydan.ae/#index

U.A.E. Derby Draws 136 Nominations
A number of horses based in the U. S. were nominated to the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby, led by 15 submitted by Bob Baffert.

List: Complete Nominations for Dubai World Cup Day, incl. the U.A.E. Derby

Feb. 11: 7 Furlong, Grade II HUTCHESON STAKES
Gulfstream Park ($150,000)
http://www.gulfstreampark.com

Pletcher Duo Pointed to Hutcheson
Todd Pletcher has eight nominated for the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes on Feb. 11, with two likely to run.

Feb. 18: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade III EL CAMINO REAL DERBY
Golden Gate Fields ($200,000)
http://www.goldengatefields.com

Feb. 19: 7 Furlong, Grade II SAN VICENTE STAKES
Santa Anita ($150,000)
http://www.santaanita.com

Feb. 20: 1 Mile, Grade III SOUTHWEST STAKES
Oaklawn Park ($250,000)
http://www.oaklawn.com/racing

Feb. 25: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade II RISEN STAR STAKES
Fair Grounds ($300,000)
http://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com

Feb. 26: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade II FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH STAKES
Gulfstream Park ($400,000)
http://www.gulfstreampark.com

March 3, 1 1/16 Mile, Grade III GOTHAM STAKES
Aqueduct ($400,000)
http://www.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html

March 3: 1 1/16 Mile, JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL STAKES
Turfway Park ($75,000)
http://www.turfway.com

March 10: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade II TAMPA BAY DERBY
Tampa Bay Downs ($350,000)
http://www.tampabaydowns.com
 

March 10: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade II SAN FELIPE STAKES
Santa Anita ($300,000)
http://www.santaanita.com
 

March 10: About 1 3/16 Mile (1,900 Meters), AL BASTAKIYA
Meydan Racecourse ($250,000)
http://www.meydan.ae/#index

March 11: 1 1/8 Mile (T), Grade III PALM BEACH STAKES
Gulfstream Park ($150,000)
http://www.gulfstreampark.com
 

March 17: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade II REBEL STAKES
Oaklawn Park, $500,000
http://www.oaklawn.com/racing

March 24: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade III VINERY RACING SPIRAL STAKES
Turfway Park ($500,000)
http://www.turfway.com

March 25, 1 1/8 Mile, Grade III SUNLAND DERBY
Sunland Park ($800,000)
http://www.sunland-park.com

March 31: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade I FLORIDA DERBY
Gulfstream Park ($1,000,000)
http://www.gulfstreampark.com

March 31: About 1 3/16 Mile (1,900 Meters), Group 2 UAE DERBY
Meydan Racecourse ($2,000,000)
http://www.meydan.ae/#index

April 1: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade II LOUISIANA DERBY
Fair Grounds ($1,000,000)
http://www.fairgroundsracecourse.com



April 7: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade I RESORTS WORLD NEW YORK CASINO WOOD MEMORIAL
Aqueduct ($1,000,000)
http://www.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html

April 7: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade I SANTA ANITA DERBY
Santa Anita ($750,000)
http://www.santaanita.com

April 7: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade III ILLINOIS DERBY
Hawthorne Race Course ($500,000)
http://www.hawthorneracecourse.com

April 14: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade I TOYOTA BLUE GRASS STAKES
Keeneland ($750,000)
http://www.keeneland.com/default.aspx

April 14: 1 1/8 Mile, Grade I ARKANSAS DERBY
Oaklawn Park ($1,000,000)
http://www.oaklawn.com/racing

April 21: 1 1/16 Mile, Grade III COOLMORE LEXINGTON STAKES
Keeneland ($200,000)
http://www.keeneland.com/default.aspx

April 21: 1 Mile, Grade II JEROME STAKES
Aqueduct ($200,000)
http://www.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html

April 28: 1 Mile, Grade III THE CLIFF'S EDGE DERBY TRIAL
Churchill Downs ($200,000)
http://www.churchilldowns.com

PREVIOUS ROAD RACES

Jan. 29: 1 Mile, Grade III HOLY BULL STAKES
Gulfstream Park ($400,000)
http://www.gulfstreampark.com

Algorithms Runs Down Hansen in Holy Bull
Algorithms took aim at the front-running Hansen and ran him down in the stretch to win the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.