Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: The verdict’s out on Solomini
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.
Trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form that in last Saturday’s Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, Solomini “had every reason to stop running, and he kept on going” on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail.
Stuck down on the rail behind pace-setting Title Ready, the Curlin colt looked for room off the turn. There was none. Jockey Flavien Prat navigated him outward, but at that point Magnum Moon was gone for the win. Solomini held on for second.
“This weekend it was Solomini's turn to step up to the plate and stamp where he belongs amongst the 3-year-old crop,” said TVG’s Britney Eurton. “He’s a quirky horse who appears to have a bit of growing up to do, but overall not a poor effort off the bench. Unfortunately for him, he ran into the 'Justify' of the East Coast in Magnum Moon, who continues to impress and tackles his competition with the ultimate ease.”
Added Mike Hartnet of Louisville’s NBC affiliate, WAVE3: “Solomini…not a bad (3-year-old) debut race.”
Voters slotted Solomini seventh in the consensus poll, behind fellow West Coast-based colts Bolt d’Oro, McKinzie and Justify, but ahead of most everyone else. Next comes the Grade 2 Wood Memorial set for April 7 at Aqueduct, where certainly the Baffert horse will take money.
“Solomini ran just okay in his 3-year-old debut,” said Churchill Downs’ Darren Rogers, “and much better was expected as most Baffert-trained horses are ready to fire off a layoff.”
The New York Racing Association’s Maggie Wolfendale added that, “Solomini, while maybe he needed a start, to me looked as though he didn’t really physically mature.”
Wolfendale will get an up-close look next time out. For now, the verdict’s out.
How does Magnum Moon measure up?
Brisnet’s Ed DeRosa said the Rebel Stakes victory “came back average performance-wise.”
Magnum Moon received a 100 Speed Rating and 119.9 Class Rating. The 104s posted by Enticed (Grade 3 Gotham) and Promises Fulfilled (Grade 2 Fountain of Youth) so far lead runners in “Championship Series” Kentucky Derby preps.
But it’s the other number that appears concerning, as DeRosa pointed out Magnum Moon is one of only two recent prep winners to not top a 120 Class Rating.
“Based on historical Derby-winning ratings, improvement is needed for the Malibu Moon colt,” DeRosa said.
| "Championship Series" Brisnet.com Ratings | |||
| Race | Winner | Speed | Class |
| Risen Star | Bravazo | 98 | 119.4 |
| Fountain of Youth | Promises Fulfilled | 104 | 120.8 |
| Tampa Bay Derby | Quip | 98 | 120.3 |
| Gotham | Enticed | 104 | 121.6 |
| San Felipe | Bolt d'Oro | 98 | 120.7 |
| Rebel | Magnum Moon | 100 | 119.9 |
Plans forming for Blended Citizen
The Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner totals 22 points, and trainer Doug O’Neill told DRF he’s unsure whether Blended Citizen will race again before the first Saturday in May. Traditionally, 22 points puts a horse on the bubble of qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.
“He always worked phenomenal on the dirt,” O’Neill told DRF, “but his best races have been turf or synthetic. So naturally we’re wondering, can he be the next Animal Kingdom?”
The son of Proud Citizen will be nominated late to the Triple Crown series at a cost of $6,000 (up from $600 for early nominations due back in January). That, O’Neill called “my bad.”
Luckily for connections, the Jeff Ruby Steaks (formerly the Spiral) falls when it does now on the calendar. The race’s last two winners, Oscar Nominated and Fast and Accurate, were supplemented to the Triple Crown for $200,000 to run in the Derby. The late nomination period runs through Monday.
Blended Citizen will remain in the Midwest, not returning to California. Presumably, he could cement himself as a Kentucky Derby contender in a race such as Keeneland’s Grade 3 Lexington Stakes on April 14. It, as with the Jeff Ruby, pays out points on a 20-8-4-2 scale to the Top 4 finishers.
Derby links
• What HRN writer Nick Costa refers to as the “Big Seven” preps begin Saturday with the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. He runs down the history of each race, delving into which ones typically produce the top contenders.
• Will a horse sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes? You can already bet on it. The Wynn Las Vegas set 2018 Triple Crown odds for 37 horses following the Rebel Stakes.
• King Zachary, from the Dale Romans barn, burst onto the scene Sunday with a romping win in maiden special weight company at Gulfstream Park. A horse who Romans calls “the deal deal” could be on to the Florida Derby next. We’ve got a replay of King Zachary’s race.
• Also, courtesy of Churchill Downs, a video update on the European Derby trail:
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