2022 Derby trail: Fountain of Youth, San Felipe and more

Three more tickets to the 2022 Kentucky Derby field can be punched Saturday afternoon.

Aqueduct’s Gotham Stakes (G3), Gulfstream Park’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita’s San Felipe Stakes (G2) all pay out Kentucky Derby points Saturday on a 50-20-10-5 scale to their top four finishers. Fifty points have been more than enough to make the Derby field each year since Churchill Downs began the points system in 2013.

In addition to those three Kentucky Derby qualifiers, Turfway Park hosts the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Saturday night. That race offers its runners Derby points on a 10-4-2-1 scale.

Here is a look at all four points-paying Kentucky Derby preps that will take place Saturday. Visit Horse Racing Nation's free past performances page for more information on some of Saturday's graded stakes.

5:27 p.m. – $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3), one mile, Aqueduct, FS2

Morello (3-1) aims to deliver trainer Steve Asmussen a second win this season in a Kentucky Derby prep that pays 50 points to the winner. Asmussen saddled Derby points leader Epicenter to such a victory Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds in the Risen Star Stakes (G2).

The Classic Empire colt Morello is 2-for-2, with both his previous wins at Aqueduct. Jockey Jose Lezcano retains the mount on the winner of the Feb. 6 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes.

Dean’s List (7-2) is also undefeated in two lifetime starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, including a Jan. 8 allowance win at Gulfstream Park. He ships north for the Gotham rather than staying in Florida for Saturday’s Fountain of Youth.

Rockefeller (4-1), runner-up in Santa Anita’s Sham Stakes (G3) on New Year’s Day, is ineligible for this race’s Kentucky Derby points due to trainer Bob Baffert’s Churchill Downs suspension. Bill Mott trains Bold Journey (6-1), second Feb. 12 in the local Gander Stakes. Fromanothamutha (6-1) runs here after breaking his maiden on sixth asking Jan. 13 at Aqueduct for trainer Raymond Handal.

The Gotham follows the Remsen Stakes (G2), Jerome Stakes and Withers Stakes (G3) as points-paying preps on Aqueduct’s Kentucky Derby trail. The New York preps culminate April 9 with the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2).

Secretariat in 1973 became the first and only Gotham Stakes runner to win the Kentucky Derby. No Gotham graduate has hit the board in the Derby since 2000, when Aptitude finished second in both races.

Here is the field for the 2022 Gotham Stakes (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Runninsonofagun (John Toscano Jr., Jalon Samuel), 30-1

2. Glider (Mark Casse, Antonio Gallardo), 8-1

3. Golden Code (Todd Pletcher, Kendrick Carmouche), 12-1

4. Fromanothamutha (Raymond Handal, Dylan Davis), 6-1

5. Dean’s List (Todd Pletcher, Manny Franco), 7-2

6. Life Is Great (Robert Klesaris, Eric Cancel), 15-1

7. Noneedtoworry (Herold Whylie, Silvestre Gonzalez), 30-1

8. Bold Journey (Bill Mott, Jorge Vargas Jr.), 6-1

9. Morello (Steve Asmussen, Jose Lezcano), 3-1

10. Rockefeller (Bob Baffert, Trevor McCarthy), 4-1

TimeformUS’ pace projections show Dean’s List showing early speed under jockey Manny Franco, with favorite Morello taking position near the rear of the field.

5:30 p.m. – $400,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2), 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita, TVG

Forbidden Kingdom (8-5) emerged as a Kentucky Derby candidate Jan. 29 when taking the local San Vicente Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs. He adds another 1½ furlongs of distance here while starting in his first points-paying prep.

Richard Mandella trains the son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, while jockey Juan Hernandez stays aboard.

Doppelganger (9-5) looks to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in the San Vicente. He and stablemate Armagnac (5-1) are both ineligible for the San Felipe’s Derby points due to Baffert’s Churchill Downs suspension.

George Papaprodromou trains Cabo Spirit (5-1), who has already made eight lifetime starts and was second Feb. 6 in the local Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3). Happy Jack (8-1), who was fifth in the Lewis, leads a pair of entries for trainer Doug O’Neill.

Saturday’s San Felipe is the fourth of Santa Anita’s five points-paying Kentucky Deby preps, following the American Pharoah Stakes (G1), Sham Stakes and Robert B. Lewis and preceding the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9.

Authentic (2020), California Chrome (2014) and Fusaichi Pegasus (2000) have all pulled off the San Felipe Stakes-Kentucky Derby double since 2000. 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed and Hall of Fame member Sunday Silence are among other notable San Felipe heroes.

Here is the field for the 2022 San Felipe Stakes (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Happy Jack (Doug O’Neill, Abel Cedillo), 8-1

2. Worse Read Sanchez (Doug O’Neill, Mario Gutierrez), 20-1

3. Armagnac (Bob Baffert, John Velazquez), 5-1

4. Beautiful Art (Simon Callaghan, Mike Smith), 12-1

5. Doppelganger (Bob Baffert, Flavien Prat), 9-5

6. Forbidden Kingdom (Richard Mandella, Juan Hernandez), 8-5

7. Cabo Spirit (George Papaprodromou, Victor Espinoza), 5-1

TimeformUS’ pace projections show favorite Forbidden Kingdom going out to the early lead under Hernandez.

5:42 p.m. – $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park, TVG

Simplification (5-2) is the only runner who finished in the money Feb. 5 in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) that is returning for the Fountain of Youth. Holy Bull winner White Abarrio is waiting for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on April 2, while third-place finisher Mo Donegal scratched out of the Fountain of Youth and will point toward the Wood Memorial.

Antonio Sano trains the Not This Time colt Simplification, who was last out of the gates in the Holy Bull but recovered for runner-up honors. Jockey Jose Ortiz will be up.

Pletcher scratched Mo Donegal but still has a short-priced entrant in Emmanuel (3-1). That colt steps onto the Kentucky Derby trail after a Tampa Bay allowance win Jan. 30.

In Due Time (6-1) makes a stakes debut for trainer Kelly Breen off a local allowance score Feb. 4. Kenny McPeek trains Rattle N Roll (8-1), who returns from a layoff that dates to an Oct. 9 top-level score in Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1). The Mott-trained High Oak (8-1) also returns off a lengthy break, his dating to a fourth-place finish on Labor Day at Saratoga in the Hopeful Stakes (G1).

The Fountain of Youth is the second of Gulfstream’s three points-paying Derby preps, tucked in between the Holy Bull and the Florida Derby.

Three horses in the last 50 years have won both the Fountain of Youth and the Kentucky Derby: Spectacular Bid (1979), Thunder Gulch (1995) and Orb (2013). For Spectacular Bid, this event was the ninth of what became 26 wins over 30 starts during a Hall of Fame career.

Here is the field for the 2022 Fountain of Youth Stakes (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Markhamian (Juan Carlos Avila, Marcos Meneses), 20-1

2. Simplification (Antonio Sano, Jose Ortiz), 5-2

3. Howling Time (Dale Romans, Joe Talamo), 15-1

4. In Due Time (Kelly Breen, Paco Lopez), 6-1

5. Dean Delivers (Michael Yates, Miguel Vasquez), 15-1

6. Rattle N Roll (Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr.), 8-1

7. A. P.’s Secret (Saffie Joseph Jr., Tyler Gaffalione), 15-1

8. Emmanuel (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez), 3-1

9. High Oak (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado), 8-1

10. Giant Game (Dale Romans, Corey Lanerie), 15-1

11. O Captain (Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano), 30-1

12. Mo Donegal, SCR

13. Galt (Bill Mott, Joel Rosario), 15-1

TimeformUS’ pace projections show High Oak making an early lead under jockey Junior Alvarado to set a fast pace, just ahead of favorite Simplification.

8:14 p.m. – $125,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, 1 1/16 miles (all-weather), Turfway Park, TVG

Tiz the Bomb (5-2) tried dirt Feb. 5 in the Holy Bull and managed only a seventh-place finish. The Hit It a Bomb colt remains on the Kentucky Derby trail, but switches to Turfway’s synthetic surface for his next start.

McPeek trains Tiz the Bomb, a Grade 2 winner who was runner-up last November at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Jockey Alex Achard will pilot the morning-line favorite.

Stolen Base (7-2), who was seventh in the Juvenile Turf, is out to snap a five-race losing streak for trainer Mike Maker. Brad Cox trains Bloodline (7-2), an allowance winner who was second Jan. 30 at Sam Houston in the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile Stakes. His stablemate Erase (5-1) won Turfway’s Leonatus Stakes on Jan. 22.

The Battaglia serves as a prep for the $600,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on April 2. The latter race produced Kentucky Derby winners Lil E. Tee (1992) and Animal Kingdom (2011).

Here is the field for the 2022 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes (trainer and jockey in parentheses) with morning-line odds:

1. Goldeneye (William Morey, Albin Jimenez), 20-1

2. Rich Strike (Eric Reed, Sonny Leon), 20-1

3. La Belleza Negra (Rey Hernandez, Edgar Morales), 15-1

4. Stolen Base (Mike Maker, Gerardo Corrales), 7-2

5. On Thin Ice (Mark Casse, Chris Landeros), 15-1

6. Legendary Lore (William Morey, Rafael Bejarano), 15-1

7. Droppin G’s (Jerry Antonuik, Malcolm Franklin), 30-1

8. Erase (Brad Cox, Ry Eikleberry), 5-1

9. O P Firecracker (Robert Medina, Emmanuel Esquivel), 12-1

10. Tiz the Bomb (Kenny McPeek, Alex Achard), 5-2

11. Bloodline (Brad Cox, Marcelino Pedroza Jr.), 7-2

12. Grael (Brendan Walsh, Adam Beschizza), 20-1

AE, 13. Amicable (Charlie Livers, Thiago Canuto), 30-1

AE, 14. Winter Son (James Chapman, Gabriel Lagunes), 30-1

TimeformUS’ pace projections show Erase leading a three-way battle for the early lead under jockey Ry Eikleberry and setting a fast pace, with favorite Tiz the Bomb settling mid-pack.

Road to the Kentucky Derby top 10

1. Epicenter, 64

2. Un Ojo, 54

3. Smile Happy, 30

4. Ethereal Road, 20

5. Barber Road, 18

6. Classic Causeway, 16

7. Pappacap, 14

8. Zandon, 14

9. White Abarrio, 12

10. Mo Donegal, 12

Related: Flatter: McPeek makes ‘weighty’ point, but there is a rebuttal | HorseCenter: Kentucky Derby Top 10 and Derby trail picks | Aye or nay? Weight allowances in Kentucky Derby qualifiers

Other Saturday stakes

Here is a look at other stakes races taking place on a loaded calendar Saturday across the U.S. All post times are EST.

1:10 p.m. – $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (G3), 4-and-up, 1 1/16 miles (turf), Gulfstream Park, TVG

Never Surprised (4-5) drops in class after finishing as runner-up Jan. 29 over the same Gulfstream surface in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Todd Pletcher trains the 4-year-old Constitution colt, a stakes winner who will have jockey Luis Saez up. Chad Brown trains Mouillage (7-2), a French-bred stakes winner who makes his North American debut. Clear Vision (6-1) won the local Tropical Turf Stakes (G3) two starts back Jan. 8 for trainer Matthew O’Connor.

1:52 p.m. – $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3), 4-and-up, six furlongs, Aqueduct, TVG

Chateau (4-5) aims for a second straight Tom Fool victory after winning the race’s 2021 edition. Rob Atras trains and Kendrick Carmouche rides the 7-year-old Flat Out gelding, winner of Aqueduct’s Gravesend Stakes on Dec. 19. Saffie Joseph Jr. trains Officiating (3-1), who took Gulfstream Park’s Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) two starts back Dec. 11. Repo Rocks (4-1) was second Feb. 5 for trainer Juan Vazquez in the local Toboggan Stakes (G3).

2:10 p.m. – $150,000 The Very One Stakes (G3), 4-and-up fillies and mares, 1 3/8 miles (turf), Gulfstream Park, TVG

Virginia Joy (2-1), a Group 3 winner in Germany, runs for her first U.S. graded score in her fourth start for Brown’s barn. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will pilot the 5-year-old Soldier Hollow mare who makes her first start since July 11, when she was second at Belmont Park in the River Memories Stakes. Graham Motion trains Harajuku (7-2), runner-up on New Year’s Eve in the local Via Borghese Stakes. Beautiful Lover (4-1) took Gulfstream’s La Prevoyante Stakes (G3) on Jan. 29 for trainer Christophe Clement.

2:40 p.m. – $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2), 3-year-old fillies, one mile, Gulfstream Park, TVG

Girl With a Dream (3-1) owns 10 Road to the Kentucky Oaks points dating to her Feb. 5 win for trainer Brad Cox in the local Forward Gal Stakes (G3). With Saez up, the Practical Joke filly will try to add to that total in a prep that pays Oaks points on a 50-20-10-5 scale. Pletcher trains Classy Edition (7-2), who puts a 3-for-3 record on the line in her first start since winning Aqueduct’s Key Cents Stakes on Nov. 21. Sweet Dani Girl (4-1) was third last out Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs in the Fern Creek Stakes for trainer Carlo Vaccarezza.

4:10 p.m. – $150,000 Honey Fox Stakes (G3), 4-and-up fillies and mares, one mile (turf), Gulfstream Park, TVG

Alms (7-2), twice a Grade 3 winner, runs for her first win since February 2020. Michael Stidham trains and Joel Rosario gets the call on the 5-year-old City Zip mare, runner-up Jan. 29 in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G3). Brian Lynch trains Gift List (4-1), a Grade 2 victor who was fourth in the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf. Fellow Grade 2 winner Jouster (9-2) returns off a layoff dating to an eighth-place run July 23 at Saratoga in the Lake George Stakes (G3).

Related: Joseph trio leads 11 fillies and mares in Honey Fox

4:28 p.m. – $200,000 San Carlos Stakes (G2), 4-and-up, seven furlongs, Santa Anita, TVG

Cezanne (5-2), a Grade 3 winner who sold for a whopping $3.65 million in 2019, aims to improve on his lifetime earnings of $147,000 as morning-line favorite in this race. Bob Baffert trains and Flavien Prat rides the 5-year-old son of Curlin, third-place runner Jan. 29 in the local Palos Verdes Stakes (G3). Baffert also trains Eight Rings (3-1), who cuts back by a quarter-mile in distance after running third Feb. 5 at Santa Anita in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2). Brickyard Ride (3-1) won the 2021 San Carlos and enters off a win in the local Tiznow Stakes on Feb. 21 for trainer Craig Lewis.

4:40 p.m. – $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2), 4-and-up, one mile, Gulfstream Park, TVG

Speaker’s Corner (5-2) runs for another Gulfstream stakes score after taking the Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) on Jan. 29. Mott trains the 4-year-old Street Sense colt who will have jockey Junior Alvarado aboard. Pletcher trains Fearless (3-1), the 2021 Gulfstream Mile winner who was second in the Hooper. Ny Traffic (9-2) tries to finally make the grade for Joseph in his first start since winning Belmont’s Hudson Handicap on Oct. 30.

4:57 p.m. – $250,000 Busher Invitational Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, one mile, Aqueduct, FS2

Radio Days (7-5), runner-up Feb. 5 in the Forward Gal, makes her second Kentucky Oaks trail start in this event that pays points on a 50-20-10-5 basis. Shug McGaughey trains the Gun Runner filly, who will have jockey Dylan Davis up. Rudy Rodriguez trains Magic Circle (3-1), who earned 10 Kentucky Oaks points Jan. 23 by winning the local Busanda Stakes. Venti Valentine (7-2) makes her first start of 2022 for trainer Jorge Abreu after ending 2021 by running second Dec. 4 in the local Demoiselle Stakes (G2).

Related: Oaks prep: Rodriguez seeks third Busher win with Magic Circle

4:58 p.m. – $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes (G2), 4-and-up fillies and mares, one mile (turf), Santa Anita, TVG

Going to Vegas (3-1) makes the first start of her 5-year-old season here for trainer Richard Baltas. Prat will pilot the Goldencents mare, a Grade 1 winner who was 11th on Nov. 6 at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Phil D’Amato trains Leggs Galore (7-2), who takes on graded flight after winning the local Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes on Jan. 15. Mucho Unusual (4-1), a four-time graded stakes winner, was third New Year’s Day at Santa Anita in the Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3) for trainer Tim Yakteen.

5:10 p.m. – $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2), 4-and-up, 1 3/8 miles (turf), Gulfstream Park, TVG

Abaan (8-5) enters on a three-race winning streak for Pletcher, including a W.L. McKnight Stakes (G3) victory Jan. 29 at Gulfstream. Saez rides the 5-year-old Will Take Charge gelding. Mike Maker trains Temple (9-2), a stakes winner who ran second in the McKnight. Stakes victor Shamrocket (6-1) steps up in class off a third-place run Jan. 22 for Pletcher in the local Sunshine Turf Stakes.

6:12 p.m. – $125,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3), 3-year-old fillies, one mile (turf), Gulfstream Park, TVG

Opalina (7-2) runs for a second straight Gulfstream Park stakes win after taking the Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3) on Feb. 5. Saez gets the call on the Optimizer filly for trainer Roderick Rodriguez. Pletcher trains Beside Herself (4-1), a third-out local maiden winner Jan. 30 making a stakes debut. Lia Marina (9-2) won Gulfstream’s Wait a While Stakes on Dec. 3 in the final start of her 2-year-old season for trainer Christophe Clement.

7 p.m. – $500,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1), 4-and-up fillies and mares, one mile, Santa Anita, TVG

As Time Goes By (4-5) looks for her third straight victory and the first Grade 1 score of her career. Baffert will give a leg up to Prat on the 5-year-old American Pharoah mare, winner of the local La Canada Stakes (G3) on New Year’s Day. Kenny McPeek trains Envoutante (8-5), who won last out at Churchill Downs in the Falls City Stakes (G2) on Nov. 25. Miss Bigly (5-1) takes on Grade 1 company after winning the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) on Feb. 12 at Oaklawn Park for D’Amato.

7:29 p.m. – $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1), 4-and-up, one mile (turf), Santa Anita, TVG

Count Again (7-2), third in last year’s Kilroe Mile, aims to do two better Saturday for D’Amato and Prat. The 7-year-old Awesome Again gelding won Santa Anita’s Thunder Road Stakes (G3) on Feb. 5. Richard Mandella trains Subconscious (5-1), a Grade 2 winner who was second in the Thunder Road. Space Traveller (5-1) remains in Grade 1 flight for trainer Brendan Walsh after running third Jan. 29 at Gulfstream in the Pegasus Turf.

8 p.m. – $650,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), 4-and-up, 1¼ miles, Santa Anita, TVG

Express Train (8-5), runner-up in the 2021 Big ‘Cap, takes a two-race winning streak into the event’s 2022 renewal for trainer John Shirreffs. Jockey Victor Espinoza stays aboard the 5-year-old son of Union Rags after booting him home to Santa Anita victories Dec. 26 in the San Antonio Stakes (G2) and Feb. 5 in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2). Ed Moger Jr. trains Stilleto Boy (5-2), who runs for a fifth straight time against Grade 1 competition, with a best finish at that level of second Oct. 2 in the local Awesome Again Stakes. Warrant (4-1) was third for Cox in Fair Grounds’ Louisiana Stakes (G3) on Jan. 22 behind Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon.

Related: DeRosa’s thoughts about the handicap in the Big ’Cap | Analysis: Can Express Train handle the Big ’Cap distance? | Express Train leads field of 8 in Santa Anita Handicap

8:46 p.m. – $125,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, one mile (all-weather track), Turfway Park, TVG

Marissa’s Lady (1-1), a William Morey-trained Violence filly, leads this event that pays Road to the Kentucky Oaks points on a 10-4-2-1 scale. She enters with a 4-for-4 record, including a local Valdale Stakes win Feb. 12, and will have jockey Rafael Bejarano up. Cox trains Bubble Rock (7-2), a Grade 3 winner who was second in the Valdale. The McPeek-trained Bhoma (5-1) makes her first start since winning a Churchill Downs allowance race Nov. 27.