Derby Alumni: 3 Kentucky Derby runners target Haskell

Photo: Churchill Downs

Three Kentucky Derby alumni are probable for the Grade 1 Haskell Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Taiba is scheduled to ship to the Jersey shore for his first start since finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby. White Abarrio, most recently second in the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 25, and Cyberknife, a last-out winner of the Matt Winn (G3) on June 12, also are expected to contest the Haskell.

DerbyHorseLast RaceNotes
1Rich Strike6th, Belmont StakesWorked 4f July 9 at Mercury Equine Center
2Epicenter2nd, PreaknessWorked 5f July 11 at Saratoga
3Zandon3rd, Kentucky DerbyWorked 4f July 16 at Saratoga
4Simplification6th, PreaknessWorked 5f July 16 at Gulfstream Park
5Mo Donegal1st, Belmont StakesSidelined with bone bruising
6Barber Road7th, Belmont StakesNo works since last race
7Tawny Port1st, Ohio Derby (G3)Worked 5f July 17 at Saratoga
8Smile Happy8th, Kentucky DerbyNo works since last race
9Tiz the Bomb9th, Belmont Derby (G1)Possible for Saratoga Derby (G1) Aug. 6
10Zozos10th, Kentucky DerbyNo works since last race
11Classic Causeway1st, Belmont Derby (G1)Possible for Saratoga Derby (G1) Aug. 6
12Taiba12th, Kentucky DerbyWorked 5f July 15 at Santa Anita
13Crown Pride (JPN)13th, Kentucky DerbyNo works since last race
14Happy Jack1st, Allowance optional claiming (June 19, CD)Worked 5f July 11 at Keeneland
15Messier15th, Kentucky DerbyWorked 4f June 18 at Santa Anita
16White Abarrio2nd, Ohio Derby (G3)Worked 4f July 10 at Gulfstream Park
17Charge It1st, Dwyer S. (G3)Possible for Travers (G1) Aug. 27
18Cyberknife1st, Matt Winn (G3)Worked 5f July 16 at Churchill Downs
19Pioneer of Medina19th, Kentucky DerbyWorked 4f July 15 at Belmont Park
20Summer Is Tomorrow20th, Kentucky DerbyNo works since last race
SCREthereal Road6th, Ohio Derby (G3)Probable for Jim Dandy (G2) July 30
SCRRattle N Roll7th, Indiana Derby (G3)No works since last race

Among the 2021 Kentucky Derby alumni, Dynamic One continues to prove he is even better as a 4-year-old than he was last year. He followed his victory in the Blame Stakes on June 4 with a gritty score in the Suburban (G2) at Belmont Park on July 9. It was his first graded-stakes victory after three previous money finishes in graded stakes.

Two other 2021 Derby alumni recently added stakes placings to their résumés. Helium chased home Mr. Wireless to finish second in the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes July 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Though he has not won since upsetting the 2021 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), he has finished second in all three starts this year. Brooklyn Strong rallied from last to take third in the Saginaw Stakes July 10 at Belmont.

DerbyHorseLast RaceNotes
1Medina Spirit2nd, Breeders' Cup ClassicDeceased
2Mandaloun4th, Stephen Foster S. (G2)Worked 4f July 16 at Churchill Downs
3Hot Rod Charlie2nd, Salvator Mile (G3)Worked 5f July 11 at Keeneland
4Essential Quality3rd Breeders' Cup ClassicStands for $75,000 at Darley America
5O Besos3rd, Commonwealth (G3)Worked 4f April 27 at Churchill Downs
6Midnight Bourbon5th, Dubai World Cup (G1)Deceased
7Keepmeinmind4th, Travers (G1)Worked 5f July 16 at Saratoga
8Helium2nd, Michael G. Schaefer Memorial StakesNo works since last race
9Known Agenda4th, 2021 Belmont StakesStands for $10,000 at Spendthrift Farm
10Highly Motivated1st, allowance optional claiming (BEL, May 28)Worked 4f July 16 at Belmont
11Sainthood5th, 2021 Belmont Derby (G1)No works since last race
12Like the King5th, Arlington (G3)Worked 5f July 14 at Woodbine
13Bourbonic7th, Queen's CountyWorked 3f July 15 at Churchill Downs
14Hidden Stash7th, Monmouth S. (G3)Worked 4f June 30 at Keeneland
15Brooklyn Strong3rd, Saginaw StakesNo works since last race
16Super Stock6th, Blame S.No works since last race
17Rock Your World9th, Twilight Derby (G2)Stands for $10,000 at Spendthrift Farm
18Dynamic One1st, Suburban Stakes (G2)No works since last race
19Soup and Sandwich4th, allowance optional claiming (CD, May 15)Worked 4f July 14 at Woodbine

Two horses from the 2020 Kentucky Derby recently ran in stakes company. Max Player attempted to repeat in the Suburban, a race he won in 2021. Close to the pace early, he came up empty with three furlongs remaining and finished fourth, 8 1/2 lengths behind Dynamic One. South Bend finished fifth behind Mr. Wireless in the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes, racing in range to midstretch but flattening out late.

DerbyHorseLast raceNotes
1AuthenticRetiredStands for $75,000 at Spendthrift Farm
2Tiz the LawRetiredStands for $35,000 at Ashford Stud
3Mr. Big News4th, allowance optional claiming (CD, Sept. 17)Worked 6f July 13 at Churchill Downs
4Honor A. P.RetiredStands for $15,000 at Lane's End
5Max Player4th, Suburban Stakes (G2)No works since last race
6Storm The Court5th, allowance optional claiming (May 7, CD)Worked 4f July 17 at Santa Anita
7Enforceable8th, allowance optional claiming (April 15, KEE)Worked 4f June 19 at Woodbine
8Ny Traffic1st, Chocolate Town S.Worked 4f July 10 at Saratoga
9Necker Island2nd, allowance (July 2, CD)No works since last race
10Major Fed4th, allowance optional claiming (May 13, CD)No works since last race
11Sole Volante5th, Elkhorn (G2)No works since last race
12Winning Impression3rd, allowance (Nov. 12, 2020, CD)Deceased
13Money MovesRetiredMoney Moves was retired for retraining at New Vocations.
14Attachment Rate7th, allowance optional claiming (Feb. 21, OP)Worked 5f May 11 at Churchill Downs
15South Bend5th, Michael G. Schaefer Memorial StakesNo works since last race

Though it took Tax 17 months to return to the races after finishing tenth in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup (G1), trainer Danny Gargan had him fit and ready to go in the Battery Park Stakes on July 9. He bounced to the lead over the sloppy track and stayed on to hold off Ridin With Biden by two lengths.

DerbyHorseLast raceNotes
1Country HouseRetiredStands for $7,500 at Darby Dan Farm
2Code of HonorRetiredStands for $10,000 at Lane's End
3TacitusRetiredStands for $10,000 at Taylor Made
4ImprobableRetiredStands for $35,000 at WinStar Farm
5Game WinnerRetiredStands for $30,000 at Lane's End
6Master Fencer (JPN)4th, 2021 Hakusan Daishoten 
7War of WillRetiredStands for $25,000 at Claiborne Farm
8Plus Que Parfait10th, Jebel Ali Mile (G3) 
9Win Win WinRetiredStands for $5,000 at Ocala Stud
10Cutting HumorRetiredStands for $1,500 at McDowell Farm
11By My StandardsRetiredStands for $7,500 at Spendthrift Farm
12VekomaRetiredStands for $17,500 at Spendthrift Farm
13BodexpressRetiredStands for $5,000 at Barton Thoroughbreds
14Tax1st, Battery Park StakesNo works since last race
15Roadster7th, Oaklawn Mile (G3)Worked 4f July 5 at Delaware Park
16Long Range Toddy3rd, allowance (July 2, CD)Worked 4f July 16 at Churchill Downs
17Maximum SecurityRetiredStands for $15,000 at Ashford Stud
18Spinoff4th, 2021 Woodward (G1)No works since June 6, 2021
19Gray Magician4th, $12,500 claiming (June 5, SA)Worked 5f July 15 at Santa Anita

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