Kentucky Derby 2018 Daily: Updated look at prospective field
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.
After a blockbuster Saturday on the 2018 Kentucky Derby trail, it’s more apparent as to which 20 horses will line up to race May 5 at Churchill Downs.
Winners Vino Rosso (Wood Memorial), Good Magic (Blue Grass Stakes) and Justify (Santa Anita Derby) each punched their tickets in major preps coast to coast. Behind them, also-rans such as Flameaway and Free Drop Billy should also be on to the first leg of the Triple Crown series.
Only next weekend’s Arkansas Derby (100-40-20-10 points to the Top 4) and Lexington Stakes (20-8-4-2) remain on the Derby trail.
Updated Derby Top 20:
1. Good Magic (134)
2. Audible (110)
3. Noble Indy (110)
4. Vino Rosso (107)
5. Bolt d’Oro (104)
6. Enticed (103)
7. Mendelssohn (100)
8. Justify (100)
9. Flameaway (70)
10. Bravazo (54)
11. Promises Fulfilled (52)
12. Magnum Moon (50)*
13. Runaway Ghost (50)
14. Quip (50)*
15. Free Drop Billy (44)
16. Lone Sailor (42)
17. Hofburg (40)
18. Firenze Fire (39)
19. Solomini (34)*
20. Gronkowski (Euro)
* Probable to run in the Arkansas Derby
So, where does that leave us?
Forty points should be enough to run. But a scenario exists where they aren't. My Boy Jack is 21st on the leader board with 32 points and runs again. Combatant is 24th with 22 points and going in the Arkansas Derby. Title Ready is another horse with points going at Oaklawn.
Of the Top 20 horses, Hofburg seems most likely to be the horse who has the points but doesn’t have connections interested. He is trained, after all, by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who’s notably conservative.
According to Churchill Downs’ latest leader board update, there will not be a Japanese horse in this year’s field. Two horses who were possible to accept an invitation were off the board in last weekend’s UAE Derby.
More from the trail
For recaps and replays from Saturday’s races…
• Justify lives up to the hype in Santa Anita Derby
• Good Magic runs like a champion in Blue Grass Stakes
• Vino Rosso out-duels Enticed in Wood Memorial
Derby links
• Originally possible for the Arkansas Derby leaving his narrow Louisiana Derby defeat, My Boy Jack is instead pointing to Keeneland’s Grade 3 Lexington in hopes of nabbing more qualifying points. He has 32 already, with a win in the Lexington worth 20 that would lock the Keith Desormeaux trainee in the field.
• Justin Zayat touted the Grade 2 Wood Memorial as a nice hometown spot for Solomini’s final prep. But changes to the Bob Baffert barn’s lineup mean the colt’s headed back to the Arkansas Derby, which also feels like home for an ownership group that has won the race twice beforehand. Zayat talked Solomini’s chances.
• Oaklawn’s publicity department detailed the whirlwind 24 hours that had Quip, an entry in the Blue Grass Stakes, reroute for the Arkansas Derby. The colt worked Friday morning at Keeneland and was walking the shed row after an overnight van ride by Saturday morning at Oaklawn.
In case you missed it…
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