Did the better 2018 Kentucky Derby prospects finish behind Enticed?

Churchill Downs' Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes did not disappoint with several horses entering the race undefeated. It came down to the wire Saturday to decide the winner in a photo finish between Enticed and Tiz Mischief.

Enticed got there by a head to take the winner's share of a $200,000 purse and the 10 points toward a possible start in the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

While Enticed looks like an enticing one to watch going forward, the winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes isn’t necessarily the best racehorse. Recent years' results indicate a future superstar may have finished somewhere other than first under the Twin Spires.

Last year, Kentucky Jockey Club winner McCraken went on to do well in his 3-year-old season. He won the Sam F Davis (G3), Matt Winn (G3), and was second in the Haskell (G1). The second-place finisher, Wild Shot, went on to finish 3rd in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and win the Pat Day Mile (G3).

In 2015, Airoforce looked like a promising young horse making a switch from turf to dirt, but the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes marked the final win of his career. The runner-up was Mor Spirit, who went on to be a serious Kentucky Derby contender after winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) and the Robert B. Lewis (G3). He came back in 2017 to finished 2nd in the San Antonio (G2) and the Met Mile with one of the most visually impressive efforts of the year (G1). 

The third-place finisher in 2015 was Mo Tom (Uncle Mo), who went on to win the Lecomte (G3), the Ohio Derby, and finished 3rd in the Risen Star (G3). The fourth-place finisher turned out to be the best of the bunch: Gun Runner, whose career needs little introduction. The likely 2017 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male has as a 4-year-old alone won the Stephen Foster Handicap, the Whitney, the Woodward and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In 2014, while not as star-studded, the race produced winner El Kabeir, who went on to win the Jerome (G3), Gotham (G3), and finish 2nd in the Withers (G3) and 3rd in the Wood Memorial (G1). The third place finisher was Eagle, who went into 2015 to finished 2nd in the Mineshaft Handicap (G3), 3rd in the New Orleans Handicap (G2), win the Ben Ali (G3), and then finished second in both the Alysheba (G2) and the Stephen Foster (G1). In 2017, Eagle finished second in both the Ben Ali (G3) and the Philip Iselin Handicap (G3).

The fourth place finisher was International Star, who went on to win the Lecomte (G3), Risen Star (G2), and the Louisiana Derby (G2). Finally, in fifth place, you had Lord Nelson (Pulpit), who went on to win the San Vicente (G2) at 3 and place 2nd in the Bay Shore (G3) and 3rd in the Malibu (G1). At four, Lord Nelson won three Grade One events: the Triple Bend, the Bing Crosby, and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. He was a major player in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint before injury forced his retirement.

Other winners of the race include Tapiture (2013), Gemologist (2011) and Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (2009). Overall, the best talent might be behind the winner of the race. This year, the top five of the race were Enticed, Tiz Mischief, Promises Fulfilled, High North, and Lone Sailor.

Do you think the most promising horse won the 2017 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes?