'Nice, developing' Dunph to hit Kentucky Derby 2019 trail

Three Diamonds Farm and Joseph Besecker’s undefeated 2-year-old colt Dunph will attempt to land his third career victory in next Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs – a race that awards 10 points to the winner on the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail.

“It would be nice to get him started on the Derby trail,” said Maker, who began training Dunph following his scintillating 8 ½-length victory on Sept. 15 at Penn National. “I ended up getting this horse because my owner was friends with the original owner (Besecker) and bought into him.

"The original owner was able to keep a percentage of the horse and the deal has really worked out so far. That race at Penn National was very impressive. He’s a nice, developing colt.”

Following Dunph’s debut score at Penn National, the Temple City colt cruised to a 7 ¾-length win in the $300,000 Spendthrift Juvenile Stallion Stakes at Churchill Downs on Oct. 28.

The Kentucky Jockey Club is the centerpiece of Stars of Tomorrow II on Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs – a day that features 12 2-year-old races that has launched the careers of many Grade 1 winners and champions including 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and 2012 Clark Handicap hero Shackleford.

The 1 1/16-mile race awards points to the Top 4 finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale for the 2019 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 4.

The probable entrants, according to Assistant Racing Secretary and Stakes Coordinator Dan Bork: Blue Steel (trainer Dale Romans); Current (Todd Pletcher); Dunph (Maker); Kentucky Allstar (Maker); King for a Day (Todd Pletcher); Manny Wah (Wayne Catalano); Mick’s Star (Tom Amoss); Plus Que Parfait (Brendan Walsh); Roiland (Amoss); Royal Urn (Michelle Nihei); Signalman (Kenny McPeek); and Synthesis (Keith Desormeaux).