First Look: See 2 Ky. Derby points races, 1 Oaks prep

This weekend brings points preps for the Kentucky Derby at Aqueduct and Santa Anita, plus a Kentucky Oaks points prep that was rescheduled for Sunday.

The schedule is a little light on graded stakes, so this week’s First Look includes ungraded stakes that might be of interest.

Here’s an early look at the likely fields.

Saturday

Jerome (listed), Aqueduct, 1 mile, 3-year-olds, 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Arctic Arrogance has a record of 4: 2-2-0 and finished second last out to Dubyuhnell in the Remsen (G2). It took seven tries, but General Banker broke his maiden last out in the black-type New York Stallion Series Stakes. Neural Network scored by five lengths in his only start, a seven-furlong event here on Nov. 17.

Dania Beach (listsed), Gulfstream Park, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-olds

Seven 3-year-old turf horses have entered Saturday's Dania Beach. Pilgrim (G2) winner Major Dude is the only graded-stakes winner in the field. The Todd Pletcher trainee hopes to bounce back from a ninth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Congruent, for Antonio Sano, is the only other stakes winner by virtue of winning the off-turf Laurel Futurity; he was third in the Pulpit in his only turf try so far. Barzini has won both of his starts for Michael Trombetta since switching to grass but stretches to two turns for the first time.

California Cup Derby (restricted), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds

Passarando has a 7: 4-2-0 record and is coming off a win in the black-type Gold Rush at Golden Gate. Giver not a Taker is 3-for-5 and won the black-type King Glorious last out by a head over Crypto Ride, also expected here.

California Cup Oaks (restricted), Santa Anita, 1 mile (turf), 3-year-old fillies

Four of the five runners in the Soviet Problem could return here, led by the winner, 3-for-3 Cast Member. She also won the Golden State Juvenile Fillies over Cholly, Fun Money and Sell the Dream, all of whom also are possible here.

Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, Santa Anita, 6 1/2 furlongs (turf), fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Eddie’s New Dream, winner of the California Distaff Handicap two starts ago, is coming off an eighth-place finish in the Matriarch (G1). Taming the Tigress was 3-for-7 last year and lost by a head last out in the black-type Betty Grable.

Sunday

Sham (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, 3-year-olds, 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Bob Baffert nominated nine here, and all of them are either probable or possible. Speed Boat Beach bounced back from his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile defeat to win the Cecil B. Demille (G3) for his third win in four starts. Havnameltdown is 3-for-4, with his only loss a second to Cave Rock in the Del Mar Futurity (G1). He and Newgate finished 1-2 in the Bob Hope (G3) last out. One in Vermillion has two wins and a second, all at Turf Paradise at 6 1/2 furlongs or less.

Santa Ynez (G2), Santa Anita, 7 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies, 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks points

This race was rescheduled because of a rainout Sunday at Santa Anita Park. The probables listed are the fillies who had been entered. The race will be redrawn on Thursday. Justique is 2-for-3 and comes off a win in the Desi Arnaz Stakes, where she beat three others possible here. Lily Poo broke her maiden last out at Del Mar after two second-place efforts.