Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Next preps’ fields coming together

The first two horses to lock up a spot in the 2018 Kentucky Derby field: Bravazo and Promises Fulfilled, just like we all predicted…

The trail to Churchill Downs is looking like a winding one, with Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes the latest twist. Trainer Dale Romans called the 3-year-old picture “muddy water right now” after Promises Fulfilled went wire to wire, scoring at Gulfstream Park at 18-1 odds.

“But it’ll start clearing itself up,” Romans said. “This round of preps and the next round are the two where they all come together. Right now there’s nobody just running away from the crop and that makes it exciting.”

Going back to September, when the season’s first Derby points race ran, only two horses have won twice on the trail: Firenze Fire and McKinzie. And only McKinzie has won consecutive preps.

The last six Kentucky Derbys — and all five in the points era — have been won by colts undefeated in their 3-year-old seasons. It’s looking increasingly unlikely we’ll have many, if any, qualified to continue the trend heading to Churchill Downs in May.

Next prep fields shaping up

It’ll be a giant week on the Kentucky Derby trail with three preps set to run domestically Saturday. After checking in with stakes coordinators around the country, here’s who’s running where…

Trainer Bob Baffert could challenge Bolt d’Oro with as many as three contenders and as few as one in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. McKinzie, who put in a final work Sunday, will stay in California while Solomini will wait for the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn, where owner Zayat Stables has had success with American Pharoah and Bodemeister.

It’s unknown who the other two contenders could be. Restoring Hope, a recent maiden winner, makes sense, while Justified, he of the 104 Beyer Speed Figure on debut, has been a name floated as a possible runner in the San Felipe rather than the Grade 3 Sunland Derby later this month.

Untamed Domain, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up, will join previous Tampa Bay Downs stakes winners Flameaway and World of Trouble in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Vino Rosso, a late-running third for the Todd Pletcher barn in the Sam F. Davis, will also run back here.

The Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct appears wide open, with previous Derby trail winners Firenze Fire, Enticed and Free Drop Billy all probable to meet up in New York going around the one-turn mile.

Derby links

• Promises Fulfilled is likely to see Strike Power again in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 31, as trainer Mark Hennig declared that a “good possibility” after his horse came out of a Fountain of Youth runner-up effort well. “If he belongs in the Derby,” Hennig said of Strike Power, “he’ll earn his way, and we’re going to give him that opportunity.”

• As for the Fountain of Youth’s third-place finisher, Good Magic, trainer Chad Brown told the Daily Racing Form his charge came out of the race “a little tired.” Keeneland’s Grade 2 Blue Grass should be his final stop before the Kentucky Derby. "I'm disappointed he didn't win,” Brown said, “but happy with how he came back." 

• So, what to make of Promises Fulfilled? Trainer Dale Romans said he could be undefeated were it not for an injury suffered in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November. And the horse still ran third. “That’s why we were a little late getting him going" to start 2018.

Race of note

Both making their debuts in Gulfstream Park’s fourth race Sunday, Show Me The Bucks and Almithmaar battled to the wire going 6 1/2 furlongs. While the latter was edged, he set the pace and showed fight to battle back when challenged in the stretch. Kiaran McLaughlin conditions Almithmaar, a $625,000 purchase for Shadwell Stables. Show Me The Bucks got away as a 16-1 shot for Bill Mott. The final time was 1:19.42 after Almithmaar went through the opening half mile in 46.58 seconds.

Later, in the 12th race, 8-5 favorite Biblical, last seen in the Grade 2 Remsen, dropped down to allowance optional claiming company running for a $75,000 purse. He didn't disappoint, rallying from last in a field of seven and forced to re-route from a rail charge, taken outside when the pace collapsed. He got up to top fellow Pletcher runner Regal Quality in the final strides. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:46.57. Perhaps Pletcher has another for the Florida Derby...

In case you missed it…

Comments from the Good Magic camp following his third-place effort in the Fountain of Youth headlined Saturday’s Derby Daily report, along with a slew of workers for upcoming preps.

• Catch up with all the latest Derby news by reading past editions of HRN’s Derby Daily report.