Derby alumni shine at Saratoga, Gulfstream and beyond
The Derby Alumni tracker checks in with the horses who raced in the Kentucky Derby this year and in previous years, keeping up with what they have done since they ran for the roses.
2023 Kentucky Derby
A pair of Kentucky Derby alumni returned for the West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer on Aug. 6. Though the day belonged to Red Route One, the better performance from a Kentucky Derby alumnus came from Raise Cain. Sent off the 8-5 favorite, he tracked midfield, bid on the far turn but flattened to fourth in the field of 10. Lord Miles, who also took a mid-pack spot, weakened in the lane and finished sixth.
Two more Kentucky Derby entrants have been in the news recently for being off the racetrack either temporarily or permanently. WinStar Farm will stand second-place Two Phil's, who was retired after coming out injured from his Ohio Derby (G3) victory; his stud fee is pending. David Grening of Daily Racing Form reported that third-place Angel of Empire will get the rest of the year off, though trainer Brad Cox intends to bring him back in 2024.
| Derby | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mage | 2nd Haskell (G1) | Worked 6f Fri. at SAR |
| 2 | Two Phil's | 1st Ohio Derby (G3) | Standing at WinStar for 2024 |
| 3 | Angel of Empire | 3rd Jim Dandy (G2) | Off for the rest of 2023 |
| 4 | Disarm | 4th Jim Dandy (G2) | Worked 5f Mon. at SAR |
| 5 | Hit Show | 5th Jim Dandy (G2) | No works since last race |
| 6 | Derma Sotogake (JPN) | 6th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| 7 | Tapit Trice | 5th Haskell (G1) | Worked 4f Thu. at SAR |
| 8 | Raise Cain | 4th West Virginia Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 9 | Rocket Can | 9th Kentucky Derby | Worked 4f July 4 at SAR |
| 10 | Confidence Game | 10th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| 11 | Sun Thunder | 11th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| 12 | Mandarin Hero (JPN) | 12th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| 13 | Reincarnate | 1st Los Alamitos Derby | Worked 6f Fri. at DMR |
| 14 | Kingsbarns | 2nd Pegasus | Worked 4f July 7 at SAR |
| 15 | King Russell | 7th Matt Winn (G3) | No works since last race |
| 16 | Verifying | 1st Indiana Derby (G3) | Worked 5f Sat. at SAR |
| 17 | Jace's Road | 17th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| 18 | Cyclone Mischief | 18th Kentucky Derby | No works since last race |
| SCR | Continuar | 3rd UAE Derby (G2) | Worked 4f April 26 at CD |
| SCR | Forte | 1st Jim Dandy (G2) | Worked 4f Thu. at SAR |
| SCR | Lord Miles | 6th West Virginia Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| SCR | Practical Move | 1st Santa Anita Derby (G1) | Worked 3f Sun. at DMR |
| SCR | Skinner | 2nd Los Alamitos Derby | Worked 6f Fri. at DMR |
2022 Kentucky Derby
Three runners from the 2022 Kentucky Derby returned Aug. 5 at Saratoga for the Whitney (G1). Sent off at 10-1 in a field of six, White Abarrio earned his second career Grade 1 win in stalk-and-pounce fashion, drawing off to win by 6 1/4 lengths. Zandon is still looking for his first win since the 2022 Blue Grass (G1), but after tracking the pace he kept on for his third second-place finish in as many starts this year. Charge It, behind everyone but favored Cody's Wish early, missed show by a head to that foe.
After sending him out to Royal Ascot in June, Kenny McPeek has continued to campaign Classic Causeway in Europe. He most recently raced Saturday at Haydock in the Rose of Lancaster (G3), where he pressed the pace and weakened to finish last of seven.
Summer is Tomorrow, the second-place finisher in the 2022 UAE Derby (G2) who set the wickedly fast early pace in the Kentucky Derby before fading to last, was catastrophically injured in an accident in October of last year. According to Joe Nevills of Paulick Report, trainer Bhupat Seemar said he fractured both hips after rearing up, slipping and falling. The Kentucky Derby was his final career race.
| Derby | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rich Strike | 5th Alysheba (G2) | No works since last race |
| 2 | Epicenter | DNF Breeders' Cup Classic | Stands for $45,000 at Ashford |
| 3 | Zandon | 2nd Whitney (G1) | No works since last race |
| 4 | Simplification | 5th Ghostzapper | No works since last race |
| 5 | Mo Donegal | 1st 2022 Belmont | Stands for $20,000 at Spendthrift |
| 6 | Barber Road | 4th Blame (G3) | Worked 4f June 25 at KEE |
| 7 | Tawny Port | 5th Bowling Green (G2) | Worked 4f Sun. at SAR |
| 8 | Smile Happy | 5th Stephen Foster (G1) | No works since last race |
| 9 | Tiz the Bomb | 6th Lure | No works since last race |
| 10 | Zozos | 1st Hanshin | Worked 5f Sat. at CD |
| 11 | Classic Causeway | 7th Rose of Lancaster (G3) | No works since last race |
| 12 | Taiba | 8th Saudi Cup (G1) | Worked 4f Mon. at DMR |
| 13 | Crown Pride | 2nd Teio Sho | No works since last race |
| 14 | Happy Jack | 5th Kelly's Landing | Worked 4f July 22 at KEE |
| 15 | Messier | 4th San Pasqual (G2) | Worked 5f July 1 at WO |
| 16 | White Abarrio | 1st Whitney | No works since last race |
| 17 | Charge It | 4th Whitney | No works since last race |
| 18 | Cyberknife | 6th Pegasus World Cup (G1) | Stands for $30,000 at Spendthrift |
| 19 | Pioneer of Medina | 6th Blame (G3) | Worked 3f Sun. at CD |
| 20 | Summer Is Tomorrow | 20th 2022 Kentucky Derby | Deceased |
| SCR | Ethereal Road | 5th Alw OC (Nov. 4 at KEE) | Worked 5f July 30 at CD |
| SCR | Rattle N Roll | 2nd Stephen Foster | Worked 4f Sat. at SAR |
2021 Kentucky Derby
O Besos made his 5-year-old debut July 22 at Ellis. In the 6 1/2-furlong Jeff Hall Memorial at Ellis, he got a spot range early on. O Besos made a gritty rally in the final furlong to threaten Here Mi Song but missed by a neck in the end. Given that it was his first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last year, O Besos has room to move forward.
| Derby | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandaloun | 4th San Diego Handicap (G2) | Stands for $25,000 at Juddmonte |
| 2 | Hot Rod Charlie | 6th Breeders' Cup Classic | Stands for ¥2 million at Shadai Stallion Station |
| 3 | Essential Quality | 3rd 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic | Stands for $75,000 at Darley America |
| 4 | O Besos | 2nd Jeff Hall Memorial | Worked 4f Wed. at CD |
| 5 | Midnight Bourbon | 5th Dubai World Cup (G1) | Deceased |
| 6 | Keepmeinmind | 3rd Woodward (G1) | Stands for $6,500 at Sequel N.Y. |
| 7 | Helium | 2nd AlwOC (Aug. 3, DEL) | No works since last race |
| 8 | Known Agenda | 4th 2021 Belmont | Stands for $10,000 at Spendthrift |
| 9 | Highly Motivated | 2nd Philip H. Iselin (G3) | Stands for $7,500 at Airdrie |
| 10 | Sainthood | 5th 2021 Belmont Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 11 | Like the King | 3rd AlwOC (July 16, WO) | Worked 5f Wed. at WO |
| 12 | Bourbonic | 5th Salvator Mile (G3) | No works since last race |
| 13 | Hidden Stash | 3rd Chorleywood | No works since last race |
| 14 | Brooklyn Strong | 11th Commentator | Worked 4f Sat. at GP |
| 15 | Super Stock | 2nd AlwOC (Feb. 11 at OP) | No works since last race |
| 16 | Rock Your World | 9th 2021 Twilight Derby (G2) | Stands for $10,000 at Spendthrift |
| 17 | Dynamic One | 6th Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) | Worked 3f March 24 at FAI |
| 18 | Soup and Sandwich | 10th Alw OC (Oct. 23 at WO) | No works since last race |
| 19 | Medina Spirit | 2nd 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic | Deceased |
2020 Kentucky Derby
Two runners from the 2020 Kentucky Derby raced in allowance company at Ellis Park recently. Mr. Big News, third in the 2020 run for the roses, finished seventh in a second-level allowance-optional claiming turf route on July 30. It was the Bret Calhoun trainee's second start back from a 21 1/2-month layoff. Major Fed had a rough trip in a second-level allowance-optional claiming dirt mile at the pea patch on July 23 but showed good interest late to close for sixth, beaten only 4 3/4 lengths.
| Derby | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Authentic | 1st 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic | Stands for $70,000 at Spendthrift |
| 2 | Tiz the Law | 6th 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic | Stands for $30,000 at Ashford |
| 3 | Mr. Big News | 7th AlwOC (July 30, ELP) | No works since last race |
| 4 | Honor A. P. | 4th 2020 Kentucky Derby | Stands for $15,000 at Lane's End |
| 5 | Max Player | DNF AlwOC (Feb. 25, OP) | Worked 4f May 5 at CDT |
| 6 | Storm The Court | 5th Tokyo City Cup (G3) | Worked 5f Aug. 6 at SAR |
| 7 | Enforceable | 8th AlwOC (April 15, 2022, KEE) | Worked 4f June 19, 2022 at WO |
| 8 | Ny Traffic | 4th John Morrissey Handicap | Worked 4f Sun. at SAR |
| 9 | Necker Island | 1st Mighty Beau | Worked 4f Wed. at CD |
| 10 | Major Fed | 6th AlwOC (July 23, ELP) | No works since last race |
| 11 | Sole Volante | 10th AlwOC (Jan. 28, GP) | No works since last race |
| 12 | Winning Impression | 3rd Alw (Nov. 12, 2020, CD) | Deceased |
| 13 | Money Moves | 1st Alw OC (Oct. 23, 2020, BEL) | Retrained at New Vocations. |
| 14 | Attachment Rate | 7th Alw OC (Feb. 21, 2022 at OP) | Worked 3f Dec. 17 at OP |
| 15 | South Bend | 5th, Harlan's Holiday (G3) | No works since last race |
2019 Kentucky Derby
Long Range Toddy returned to winning form July 16 at Gulfstream Park, his first outing since moving from the barn of Dallas Stewart to that of Victor Barboza Jr. Getting a class break after a ninth-place finish in the Commonwealth (G3), the 7-year-old returned in a conditioned allowance at seven furlongs on the dirt. Despite having his head turned at the start, he made a smart rally on the far turn and opened up to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The victory was his fifth lifetime but his first since the 2019 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn.
| Derby | Horse | Last race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country House | 1st 2019 Kentucky Derby | Stands for $7,500 at Darby Dan |
| 2 | Code of Honor | 5th 2021 Cigar Mile | Deceased |
| 3 | Tacitus | 4th 2021 Lukas Classic (G3) | Stands for $10,000 at Taylor Made |
| 4 | Improbable | 2nd 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic | Stands for $25,000 at WinStar |
| 5 | Game Winner | 1st 2019 Los Alamitos Derby (G3) | Stands for $30,000 at Lane's End |
| 6 | Master Fencer | 4th 2021 Hakusan Daishoten | |
| 7 | War of Will | 9th 2020 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | Stands for $25,000 at Claiborne |
| 8 | Plus Que Parfait | 10th 2022 Jebel Ali Mile (G3) | |
| 9 | Win Win Win | 1st 2020 Forego (G1) | Stands for $5,000 at Ocala Stud |
| 10 | Cutting Humor | 5th 2020 Mineshaft (G3) | Stands for $1,500 at McDowell Farm |
| 11 | By My Standards | 5th 2021 Whitney (G1) | Stands for $5,000 at Spendthrift |
| 12 | Vekoma | 1st 2020 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) | Stands for $15,000 at Spendthrift |
| 13 | Bodexpress | 1st 2020 Clark (G1) | Stands for $5,000 at Barton Thoroughbreds |
| 14 | Tax | 2nd Challenger (G3) | Worked 4f May 27 at SAR |
| 15 | Roadster | 8th 2022 Buckland | No works since last race |
| 16 | Long Range Toddy | 1st AlwOC (July 16, GP) | Worked 5f Aug. 5 at GP |
| 17 | Maximum Security | 5th 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic | Stands for $10,000 at Ashford |
| 18 | Spinoff | 4th 2020 Woodward (G1) | No works since June 6, 2021 |
| 19 | Gray Magician | 4th AlwOC (July 29, CBY) | No works since last race |