Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: O’Brien stars UAE Derby-bound

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 5 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

Europe’s road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby ends March 30 with Newcastle’s Burradon Stakes, but trainer Aidan O’Brien will head to what’s likely a tougher proving ground with three horses who we could see at Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May.

Each of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Mendelssohn, Threeandfourpence and Seahenge are considered likely by the Dubai Racing Club to appear a day later in the Group 2 UAE Derby, a 1 3/16-mile test O’Brien has used in the past as a Kentucky Derby prep.

The trio ran first through third, respectively, last out in the Patton Stakes at Ireland’s Dundalk Stadium. In an extensive “stable tour” with AtTheRaces.com, O’Brien this week outlined the latest for each.

Mendelssohn: “He came out of Dundalk well, and the plan is to run him in the UAE Derby at Meydan next. We’ll learn more about him there, particularly about how well he stays, as he’s a strong traveller and you couldn’t be sure how well he’ll stay. If all goes well there, he’d go on to the Kentucky Derby if he got in there.”

Threeandfourpence: “He ran a very good race at Dundalk. It probably wasn’t ideal to make the running on him and he was green enough, so he should improve from it. We are looking at the UAE Derby at Meydan for him and we are hopeful he’ll stay a mile-and-a-quarter, but we can’t be sure of it until we try him over it.”

Seahenge: “He ran a good race at Dundalk and just didn’t help himself by being slowly away. We are looking at going to Dubai with him and while he has an option in England, too. If he is going to go to the Kentucky Derby afterwards then Dubai is probably the better stepping stone for him. We always thought that he’d stay a mile-and-a-quarter and he’s a big rangy horse that should improve with age.”

O’Brien’s charges will face opposition in Dubai from local favorite Gold Town, who romped in the UAE 2000 Guineas last out. Steve Asmussen-trained Reride will ship in off a victory in the Mine That Bird Derby. And horses who have run well on Japan’s Derby trail, Ruggero and Taki Ferveur, may also enter the UAE Derby.

The race awards qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale, worth as much as America’s major remaining preps. Speaking of, check out those prospective fields via Horse Racing Nation’s Stakes Tracker:

• Grade 1 Florida Derby (March 31)

• Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby (April 7)

• Grade 2 Wood Memorial (April 7)

• Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes (April 7)

• Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (April 14)

• Grade 3 Lexington Stakes (April 14)

Focus on this weekend

Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby also follows the 100-40-20-10 points distribution, while Sunday’s Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby awards them on a 50-20-10-5 basis. With both fields set, it’s time to handicap.

Louisiana Derby analysis | Free past performances

Sunland Derby analysis | Free past performances

Bolt d’Oro getting back to work

Owner and trainer Mick Ruis says Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes winner (via disqualification) Bolt d’Oro will have his first workout since the March 10 race on Monday.

“That way he’ll be on schedule for the Santa Anita Derby,” Ruis said, “working this Monday, again next Sunday, April 1, and then race the following Saturday.”

Regular workout rider Agapito Delgadillo will be up for the half-mile breeze in company.

Ruis booked Javier Castellano for a return to California in the Santa Anita Derby — he was up for the first time in the San Felipe — and has said Victor Espinoza could inherit the mount should Castellano look elsewhere for the Kentucky Derby.

A multiple Grade 1 winner at age 2, Bolt d’Oro leads the current Derby points leader board with 64.

Derby links

• HRN’s HorseCenter crew of Brian Zipse and Matt Shifman gave a detailed Louisiana Derby preview — with past race replays — on this week’s show.

• Our Super Screener handicapping system has zoned in on a few horses you can toss from your Louisiana Derby bets.

• Candice Curtis delved into the pedigrees of three new names to the Derby trail, wondering about the big question: Do they want 1 1/4 miles?

In case you missed it…

Get the scoop with recent editions of the Derby Daily Report!

Wednesday | Tuesday | Monday | Sunday | Saturday |