Kentucky Derby 2020 Radar: Three Technique now at Oaklawn

Trainer Jeremiah Englehart informed Oaklawn Park publicity this week that while he’ll still have horses over the winter at Belmont Park, his “nicer 3-year-olds” will call Arkansas home. That includes Three Technique, a winner of his last two races for Bill Parcells’ August Dawn Farm.

The son of Mr Speaker is on the grounds at Oaklawn and worked 3/8 of a mile in 37.60 seconds there Friday toward a 2020 Kentucky Derby trail start. Englehart has Three Technique targeting the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on opening day, Jan. 24.

“He’s a colt that’s kind of always showed a little promise,” Englehart said. “Hopefully, he gets on the Derby trail.”

The 1-mile Smarty Jones, which runs around two turns, offers Derby qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the Top 4 finishers. It precedes Oaklawn’s Feb. 17 Southwest (G3), March 14 Rebel (G2) and April 11 Arkansas Derby (G1).

When last seen on Nov. 20, Three Technique looked like a serious player for the preps, defeating fellow winners at Aqueduct when sweeping by four-wide off the turn. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had the $180,000 yearling purchase under wraps across the wire at 1-9.

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That marked the fourth start for Three Technique, who was second twice over the summer before uncorking a winning rally on Aug. 31 at Saratoga. Looking out of the race at one point, he responded with a swift turn of foot to win by 5 1/2 lengths and announce himself as one to watch.

Three Technique was scheduled to try the Oct. 5 Champagne Stakes (G1) — an early Derby points race — but reportedly missed the race due to a lung infection. Instead, he returned to clear his first allowance condition and head into Oaklawn as one of the top sophomores-to-be.

The NFL Hall of Famer Parcells and Englehart, a 43-year-old, second-generation trainer, are both aiming to qualify for their first Kentucky Derby with Three Technique.

Among Englehart’s biggest career wins is the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Ria Antonia. His only previous Oaklawn starters were Bridget’s Big Luvy (2015 Arkansas Derby) and Tiz He the One (2019 Razorback Handicap), with this the first year in which he’s overseeing a string of horses in Hot Springs, Ark. Large purses are luring horsemen from New York and California for the upcoming meet, among them names such as Shug McGaughey and Doug O'Neill.