Kentucky Derby 2020 Radar: Thousand Words gets new target
Thousand Words, the Bob Baffert-trained winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), was originally expected back at the races this spring when last seen on Dec. 7.
Connections, however, have decided to run the son of Pioneerof the Nile earlier on the 2020 Kentucky Derby trail, making Santa Anita Park’s Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) their new target.
“He came back from the race so well that Bob said we can’t hold him in the barn that long,” Jason Loutsch, racing manager for Albaugh Family Stables, relayed Tuesday. “He’s doing well, so we’ll run him.”
A $1 million purchase campaigned in partnership with Spendthrift Farm, Florida-bred Thousand Words went from Oct. 26 debut winner to serious Derby hopeful when he eked out a neck victory in the Futurity over Anneau d’Or, also a close second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Under jockey Flavien Prat, Thousand Words looked as if he may come up short stretching out from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. But once headed by Anneau d’Or, Prat guided his mount out. Through some thick-cut blinkers Thousand Words saw his foe, reengaged and won.
“He’s probably going to cut him back on the blinker,” Loutsch said of Baffert’s plans moving forward.
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The 1 1/16-mile Robert B. Lewis pays out Derby qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to its Top 4 finishers. Baffert has won the race a record seven times, including last year with Mucho Gusto.
Thousand Words shows three works since improving his record to 2-for-2. In Monday's latest breeze, the colt clocked a half mile in 47.40 seconds at Santa Anita, after which Loutsch asked Baffert if it’s safe to buy a plane ticket out for the Lewis. Yep.
“He’s only run two times,” Loutsch said. “He needs a little more conditioning.”
Other southern California preps include the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) and April 4 Santa Anita Derby (G1).
Aside from Thousand Words, the Baffert barn’s big names are Eight Rings and Authentic. Given their matching ownership, the colts figure to separate in March, with Authentic a candidate for the San Felipe and Eight Rings likely to go out of town for Oaklawn’s Rebel Stakes (G2).
Baffert may have another Derby trail player in Grade 3 winner High Velocity, who was third in the Los Alamitos Futurity after setting the pace. He could resurface Feb. 9 going seven furlongs in the San Vicente Stakes (G2).
As for Lewis rivals for Thousand Words, there are unknowns to consider. Trainer Peter Eurton told the Daily Racing Form that Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court is unlikely to be ready in time. Honor A. P., who could have gone favored in the Sham Stakes (G3) last Saturday, was said to be off in his right-front with no word yet on his longterm condition.
On Dec. 28, opening day at Santa Anita, trainer Richard Mandella saw Tizamagician graduate at sixth asking. The colt, also owned in part by Spendthrift Farm, figures to become a stakes candidate.