First Look: 2 Derby preps + Nitrogen rolls into Azeri

Kentucky Derby season heats up with two preps this weekend, but the proven talent headlining Saturday's older division stakes might steal the show. The Santa Anita Handicap and Beholder Mile anchor a Grade 1 doubleheader in the West, and Oaklawn rolls out one of the deepest fields you'll see all winter in the Azeri.

Nitrogen headlines the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn after crushing the Bayakoa (G3) field in her 4-year-old debut last month. The Mark Casse-trained filly now faces several familiar faces looking to turn the tables on her, including Bayakoa third-place finisher Quietside, Acorn (G1) winner La Cara and Breeders' Cup Distaff third Regaled.

With 11 stakes at three tracks this weekend, horseplayers have no shortage of wagering opportunities to kick off a loaded month of racing.

Saturday

Azeri (G2), Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Nitrogen romped by 2 3/4 lengths in the Bayakoa at Oaklawn on Feb. 7, earning a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form. The Mark Casse-trained 4-year-old scored in the Alabama (G1) and posted runner-up finishes in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and Spinster (G1). Quietside finished third in the Bayakoa but won the Fantasy (G2) and Honeybee (G3) over this course last spring before a sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). La Cara was ninth in the Kentucky Oaks but rebounded to capture the Acorn (G1) at Saratoga, then faded to fifth as the favorite in the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) on Jan. 24. Majestic Oops rallied to take the American Beauty at Oaklawn on Jan. 13. Regaled closed for third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff and returns from a three-month layoff.

Hurricane Bertie (G3), Gulfstream Park, 6 1/2 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

R Disaster has never finished worse than second in 13 career starts, a streak that includes a 3 1/2-length romp in the Gallant Bloom (G2) at Aqueduct, where she earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 5-year-old most recently chased home Hillerito by a neck in the Dream Supreme at Churchill Downs on Nov. 8.

Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Santa Anita, 1 1/4 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Skippylongstocking uncorked a devastating rally from ninth to score by 1 3/4 lengths in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 7-year-old rebounded from a difficult summer, also capturing the Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) in December and the Gold Cup Stakes (G2) last May.

Beholder Mile (G1), Santa Anita, 1 mile, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Bless the Broken rallied from 10th to finish third, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last year at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old filly then ran fourth in the Acorn (G1) at Saratoga before a seven-month freshening. She returned to win a Fair Grounds allowance on Jan. 9 by two lengths.

San Felipe (G2), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Boyd built a 2-for-2 record capped by a commanding Ed Brown Stakes victory at Churchill Downs, drawing clear by 2 1/2 lengths. Brant scored a one-length victory in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) before finishing a solid third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Secured Freedom broke his maiden impressively at Santa Anita in December but managed only third in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) on Feb. 7. So Happy turned heads with a sharp rally to win the San Vicente Stakes (G2) by two lengths at Santa Anita in his second career start.

Kilroe Mile (G2), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, 4-year-olds and up

A consistent graded-stakes performer on turf, Astronomer recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar on Nov. 29 and the San Gabriel (G3) at Santa Anita on Dec. 28 before running fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

Hillsborough (G2), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/8 miles, turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Warming rallied to finish second in a handicap at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24, a sharp turnaround from a dull seventh in the Bayakoa at Del Mar. The Graham Motion-trained 4-year-old captured the Autumn Miss (G3) at Santa Anita in October and tested Grade 1 company in the Belmont Oaks Invitational at Saratoga in July.

Tampa Bay Derby (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds, 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Further Ado returns after capping his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29, dueling through the upper stretch and edging clear for trainer Brad Cox. He broke his maiden at Keeneland in October over 1 1/16 miles and has two wins from four career starts.

Florida Oaks (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, turf, fillies, 3-year-olds

Noble Annie graduated at 34-1 in a maiden claimer at Tampa on Dec. 24, rallying from mid-pack to win by a neck. Claimed out of that victory, she was overmatched when jumping to an allowance optional-claiming event on Feb. 13, finishing seventh as the longest shot on the board at 54-1.

Challenger (G3), Tampa Bay Downs, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Just a Touch fell a neck short in the Louisiana (G3) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. Brad Cox's 5-year-old also finished second in the Monmouth Cup (G3) and third in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) last year. Skippylongstocking won the last three runnings of the Challenger.

Sunday

Santa Ysabel (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, fillies, 3-year-olds, 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points

Super Corredora captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar but managed only fourth in the Las Virgenes on Feb. 8, beaten 6 3/4 lengths after pressing the pace. Forced Entry dominated her second career start with a 7 1/4-length maiden victory going a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 1 after a troubled turf debut. Bank Shot broke her maiden at Santa Anita on Jan. 2 and returned to finish third in the Las Virgenes, 4 1/2 lengths back.