Kentucky Derby 2015: Where Are They Now?
The upcoming Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park and Saratoga’s Jim Dandy (G2) signal the return to serious competition in the three-year-old division. The 2015 crop of sophomores was heralded as one of the best in many years as they prepared for the Triple Crown. Let’s take a look at the three-year-olds using the Kentucky Derby field as a reference point to answer the question: Where are they now? Here is the latest news about the 18 runners in order of finish.
1- American Pharoah did what no other horse was able to do for 37 years when he became the 12th Triple Crown winner. The Zayat Stables superstar is headlining the Haskell.
2 - After his seventh place finish in the Preakness (G1), on the rain soaked Pimlico Race Track, Firing Line returned to the West Coast, but foot issues have put the Kentucky Derby fourth choice on the sidelines for the rest of the year. Trainer Simon Callaghan said Firing Line will race as a four-year-old.
3 – Millionaire Dortmund returned to the Bob Baffert barn after his fourth place Preakness run. He is back to work with recorded breezes on July 21 and 27 at Del Mar. Baffert has stated that when Dortmund returns to the races that he will not be running against the Triple Crown winner.
4 – After skipping the Preakness Frosted ran a great race to finish second behind American Pharoah’s historic Triple Crown victory. A Saratoga campaign is planned for Frosted with the Jim Dandy (G2) as a prep for the Travers (G1).
5 – Danzig Moon followed his sixth place in the Preakness with his ill-fated run in the Queen’s Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine. The Mark Casse runner broke down on the backstretch and had to be euthanized on the track.
6 – Materiality ran a disappointing eighth and last place in the Belmont Stakes where he contested American Pharoah in second place for about a mile. The Todd Pletcher runner is being prepared for the Jim Dandy.
7 – Keen Ice followed his Derby performance with a solid third place finish in the Belmont (G1) at 17-1. Keen Ice is heading to the Haskell to face American Pharoah.
8 – Mubtaahij improved upon his Derby performance with a fourth place in the Belmont Stakes. He ran in third most of the race just falling behind Keen Ice at the wire. After the Belmont, Mubtaahij returned to Michael de Kock’s barn at Fair Hill’s training center in Maryland.
9 – After the Derby, Itsaknockout skipped the Preakness to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, but was sidelined before the race and has not breezed since May 23rd.
10 – The much heralded Carpe Diem did not run again after the Derby and was retired in July with a bone chip in the right knee. This Todd Pletcher runner won four of six career starts and over $1.5 million.
11 – Frammento was another Derby also ran that skipped the Preakness to take a shot at the Belmont. This Nick Zito runner could not spoil the Triple Crown party and ended up in fifth place. Frammento is back at Saratoga and will prepare for the Travers (G1).
12- Bolo was pulled up and vanned off after the Belmont Derby (G1) on July 4.
13 – Mr. Z will cut back in distance after his second place finish in the Indiana Derby (G2), the goal is the King’s Bishop at Saratoga on August 29. He has run three times since the Derby.
14 – Ocho Ocho Ocho finished fourth in the May 30th Penn Mile (G3) on the turf. He just returned to the work tab with a three-furlong breeze at Del Mar on July 26.
15 – Far Right stayed on the Derby circuit with sixth place finishes in both the Ohio Derby and the Indiana Derby.
16 – After the Run for the Roses War Story returned to finish fourth in the Ohio Derby at Thistledown. He has accepted an invitation to challenge American Pharoah in the Haskell.
17 – Tencendur is out with a fractured front left sesamoid after his second place Ohio Derby finish.
18 – After running last in the Derby, Upstart was given a few weeks off at the farm. He returned to training at Aqueduct and most recently posted a nice five furlong work at Saratoga with an eye on the Jim Dandy. "He's been perfect. We gave him a few weeks off at the farm and he hasn't missed a beat since coming back," trainer Rick Violette said. "Whatever happened in the Derby stays in the Derby, because he didn't run. He didn't pick up his feet."