Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: The buzz builds for Justify
The $500,000 son of Scat Daddy ran off to a 9 1/2-length win at Santa Anita Park, earning a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. That’s the fastest of any horse in the current crop, topping the two-turn effort in the Grade 1 FrontRunner last September that earned Bolt d’Oro a 103.
Already, Justify is down to 30-1 in odds listed by the Wynn Las Vegas. And that’s despite the old curse of Apollo working against him, with the only horse to win the Kentucky Derby having not raced at 2 accomplishing the feat…in 1882.
All of that goes without mentioning perhaps the most important of Justify’s connections: a confident Bob Baffert.
“It’s not too late,” the Hall of Famer said of the Derby trail. “I’ve got a plan.”
Baffert said he’ll be looking for a graded stakes race next for a colt that has “shown his brilliance in the morning” and began translating it to the afternoon Sunday. On a track deemed slow, Justify stopped the clock in 1:21.86 for seven furlongs.
Campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing, Justify joined a deep class of Derby hopefuls from the Baffert barn. McKinzie is unbeaten in three starts, Solomini finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and Mourinho will go as the favorite in Monday’s Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. That's not to mention a plethora of other maiden winners due for stakes starts.
Other well-regarded speed figures vary on their views of Justify’s first start.
Gold Town could be Derby-bound
An impressive winner of the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas last week at Meydan, Gold Town will be among late Triple Crown nominations, Godolphin.com confirmed Monday. His connections are pointing to the March 31 UAE Derby with aims of running the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.
“He has come out of the race very well,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He’s very straightforward to train, and he has already proved he can handle long-distance travel. He’s got a good brain, and a good temperament.”
A son of Street Cry, Gold Town won the 2000 Guineas in a romp to move his record to 2-for-2 at the Dubai Carnival. At age 2, he ran on turf and synthetic and has blossomed on dirt.
“I have discussed it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who believes Gold Town deserves a supplementary entry to the G1 Kentucky Derby,” Appleby said.
“Like everybody else, His Highness was impressed by what Gold Town was able to achieve in the UAE 2000 Guineas. He was visually impressive, winning by 10 and a half lengths, and that was backed up by the clock.”
Derby links
• There’s a “strong” possibility Bravazo will race in the March 24 Louisiana Derby, heading back to Fair Grounds for his final prep, trainer D. Wayne Lukas says. To add, Miguel Mena figures to keep the mount after picking it up on Risen Star day.
• Continuing a pattern of a workout every six days, Bolt d’Oro will breeze Tuesday with Victor Espinoza aboard, owner/trainer Mick Ruis reported. Javier Castellano will be in town next week for a gate drill ahead of the March 10 San Felipe.
• With Presidents’ Day upon us, the folks at KentuckyDerby.com pieced together a photo gallery of all the American leaders to attend the race over the years. Richard Nixon remains the only sitting president to see a Kentucky Derby.
• By the way, we're only 75 days out...
The works
Exclamation Point — The half-brother to champion Classic Empire won his Feb. 3 debut by 2 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Park and is looking to stretch out. Trainer Brad Cox sent the colt out for a half-mile breeze in his first work back, and he got it in 48.80 seconds (5/75) over a muddy track.
Higher Power — This Donnie Von Hemel trainee went easier over the off track at Oaklawn, with his four furlongs in 51 seconds flat. We could see him in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on March 17 off an allowance win, with about a week of training missed between starts due to illness.
Kanthaka — The Grade 2 San Vicente winner will travel East next out to go in the March 10 Gotham, a Grade 3 test around a one-turn mile. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee got back to work Monday with 4/8 in 50.80 seconds (48/56) at Santa Anita Park.
Reride — One of the many talented Steve Asmussen-conditioned colts who could soon hit the Derby trail, first up is Sunland Park’s Mind That Bird Derby, a prep for the Sunland Derby. The son of Candy Ride will ship from Fair Grounds, where he put in a final, easy half mile Monday in 52.20 seconds (27/28).
In case you missed it…
Sunday’s Derby Daily report focused on the fortunes of D. Wayne Lukas, still getting it done on the Derby trail with Risen Star winner Bravazo.
• Catch up with all the latest Derby news by reading past editions of HRN’s Derby Daily report.