Midwest scouting report: 28 Kentucky Derby hopefuls to know

The Midwest division of the 2021 Kentucky Derby trail includes races run in Kentucky, Louisiana and Arkansas.

So far, four Kentucky Derby preps races have been run in that territory, with the most recent being the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Nov. 28 at Keeneland.

Here's a look at where the current contenders stand (Circa Sports odds where available - sire - trainer - owner - Derby qualifying points)

The Leader

Essential Quality (8-1 - Tapit - B. Cox - Godolphin - 30) – The overall leader in Kentucky Derby points after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for Brad Cox. Before that race, he won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in October. 

Since the Breeders’ Cup, Essential Quality has not worked, heading to Fair Grounds for the winter after the fall meet at Churchill Downs ended in late November. 

Cox told the Blood-Horse that he intends to start racing the colt in February. Essential Quality finished at 8-1 in the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager pari-mutuel pool.

First tier

Keepmeinmind (19-1 - Laoban - R. Diodoro - Cypress Creek LLC and Arnold Bennewith - 18)

The third-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club, Keepmeinmind will arrive at Oaklawn for the winter between Christmas and New Years Day.

Robertino Diodoro, his trainer, said he had not mapped out a course that might lead to the Derby, but he said will most likely will not race in the Jan. 22 Smarty Jones Stakes, the first Derby points race of the year at Oaklawn, as it is shorter than his liking.

Mandaloun (B. Cox - Into Mischief - Juddmonte Farms) 

Mandaloun, who has yet to run in a stakes race, is 2-for-2 so far in his young career, with the latest victory coming in an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28.

The Juddmonte Farms homebred likely will be pointed toward the Lecomte (G3) on Jan. 16.

Smiley Sobotka (27-1 - D. Romans – Brody’s Cause - Albaugh Family Stables - 4)

Last time out, the Dale Romans-trained colt finished second in the Kentucky Jockey Jockey Club. It took him two tries to break maiden at Churchill Downs.

Señor Buscador (T. Fincher - Mineshaft - Joe R. Peacock Jr.)

In any previous year, Señor Buscador would have Derby Points to his record already. However, because he was on Lasix, he did not earn those offered by the Springboard Mile.

Trainer Todd Fincher said he will come off Lasix for the Derby trail.

Second tier

Cowan (Kantheros - S. Asmussen – B. & C. Heiligbrodt - 4)

The second-place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint moved to dirt for the Springboard Mile, where he also finished second.

Founder (Upstart - C. Brown - J. Drown and D. Rachel.)

Founder finished in fifth place at the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 3. Since then, the $600,000 colt has raced once, a third-place effort at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28.

Hidden Stash (Constitution - V. Oliver - BBN Racing)

Hidden Stash beat out Scarred in a Nov. 28 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs, winning by half a length. The Constitution colt has not worked since Nov. 24.

King Fury (60-1 - K. McPeek - Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm)

King Fury won the Street Sense Overnight Stakes on Oct. 25 at Churchill Downs. Since then, he has not been as impressive, finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and most recently coming in seventh in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

He has not worked since the Kentucky Jockey Club.

Midnight Bourbon (59-1 - Tiznow -  S. Asmussen - Winchell Thoroughbreds - 6)

The second-place finisher in the Iroquois, who also finished third in the Champagne, has moved to Fair Grounds for the winter. He last worked on Monday, going five furlongs on the dirt in 1:01.2.

Prate (Into Mischief - B. Cox - Juddmonte Farms)

The Brad Cox trainee broke his maiden sprinting in his first time out at Fair Grounds on Dec. 19. He earned a 90 Beyer speed figure for the 6-furlong race.

Proxy (Tapit - M. Stidham - Godolphin)

Trained by Michael Stidham, Proxy moved to 2-for-3 in his career on Saturday, winning a 2-year-old allowance race at Fair Grounds. The race had a four-horse field. He survived a disqualification review to earn the win over Good First.

Quick Tempo (Tapizar - C. Davis - Dare To Dream Stable)

Quick Tempo won the Sugar Bowl on Saturday at Fair Grounds, his first career stakes victory. Before that, he had finished second in the Nyquist at Keeneland on Nov. 6 and had an allowance win at Parx on Oct. 20.

Scarred (49-1 - Into Mischief - S. Asmussen - Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt)

After winning a 7-furlong maiden race on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs, Scarred returned to the Louisville track on Nov. 28 and finished second in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race behind Hidden Stash. The $380,000 colt has moved to Oaklawn Park for the winter.

In his first Oaklawn work on Dec. 19, Scarred went four furlongs in 51.80.

Sittin On Go (68-1- Brody’s Cause - D. Romans – Albaugh Family Stables – 10)

The winner of the first 2021 Kentucky Derby prep race, the Iroquois, Sittin On Go finished off the board in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Jockey Club.

The Dale Romans-trained colt was a part of the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager, where he closed at 68-1.

Super Stock (99-1 - Dialed In - S. Asmussen – E. Woolsey and K. Asmussen – 4)

Super Stock is a stakes winner, scoring at Lone Star in the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity on Aug. 11. In his last race, the Street Sense Overnight at Churchill Downs on Oct. 25, he finished second.

Others to watch

Arabian Prince (Mshawish – D. Stewart – West Point Thoroughbreds and W. Sandbrook – 2)

The third-place finisher in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), Arabian Prince is now at the Fair Grounds, last working Dec. 17.

Caddo River (27-1 – Hard Spun – B. Cox – Shortleaf Stable)

Another Cox runner, a Shortleaf Stable homebred, broke maiden going one mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 15. He last worked on Dec. 11 at Churchill Downs.

Dyn O Mite (Goldencents – Keith Desormeaux – B. Allshouse)

The Goldencents colt has won his last two races, including a one-mile allowance at the Fair Grounds his last time out on Dec. 4. He previously tested stakes company, finishing fifth in two Grade 1s on the West Coast, the American Pharoah and the Del Mar Futurity.

Ethical Judgement (Honor Code – B. Walsh – Phoenix Thoroughbred)

The $170,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling sale broke his maiden last time out at Keeneland, going 1 1/6 miles on the main track. He last worked Dec. 8 at Churchill Downs.

Fire At Will (30-1 – Declaration of War – M. Maker – Three Diamonds Farm)

The winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf for trainer Mike Maker, Fire At Will would have to move to dirt to get on the Derby trail. He closed the first Future Wager pool at 30-1.

Good First (Carpe Diem – J. Graham – KRA Stud Farm)

After breaking his maiden at Indiana Grand on Oct. 12, the son of Carpe Diem out of Abraquat, by Smart Strike, finished second last time out in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Fair Grounds, coming in second to Proxy.

Laker Mamba (Nyquist – M. Casse – G. Barber)

The $235,000 purchase broke his maiden easily going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Churchill Downs on Oct. 28, winning by 4 1/4 lengths. In his previous start, he finished third in a one-mile maiden on the main track behind Arabian Prince and Keepmeinmind. He has since moved to Fair Grounds, where he last worked on Dec. 19.

Leblon (Broken Vow – P. Lobo – Bonne Chance Farm)

The Bonne Chance Farm homebred broke his maiden on his fourth attempt going 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. He has not worked since.

Santa Cruiser (Dialed In – J. Graham – Calumet Farm)

A Nov. 15 maiden winner race going one mile at Churchill Downs, he is now at the Fair Grounds. He last worked Dec. 19 for trainer James Graham.

Sound the Charge (Will Take Charge – D. Von Hemel – N. Stockseth and T. Dunn)

Sound the Charge won his only start, going 7 furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 18. He is currently at Oaklawn Park, where he last worked on Dec. 20.

Warrior in Chief (Kantharos – K. McPeek – Three Chimneys, et al.)

Warrior in Chief broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28, beating out Dolder Grand by a half-length. He last worked at Churchill Downs on Dec. 5.

Whiskey Double (Into Mischief – S. Asmussen – Phoenix Thoroughbreds III and Winchell Thoroughbreds)

Whiskey Double is 1-for-1 in his young career, breaking his maiden going 6 furlongs on the main track at Churchill Downs on June 27. Since then he has not raced, but he last worked on Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds.

Here is the remaining Midwest Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule:

Lecomte — Fair Grounds — Jan. 16

John Battaglia Memorial — Turfway Park — Feb. 6

Risen Star Division — Fair Grounds — Feb. 13

Southwest — Oaklawn Park — Feb. 15

Rebel — Oaklawn Park — March 13

Jeff Ruby Steaks — Turfway Park — March 20

Louisiana Derby — Fair Grounds — March 20

Blue Grass — Keeneland — April 1

Arkansas Derby — Oaklawn Park — April 10

Lexington — Keeneland — April 10