First Look: Ky. Derby points races lead weekend calendar

Two points races for Kentucky Derby 2024 are on tap this weekend, one at Remington Park on Friday and the other at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

Wolfie’s Dynaghost and other familiar names are in the field for the Prairie Bayou at Turfway Park, and the New York State Stallion Series continues at Aqueduct.

Here is an early look at the likely fields.

Friday

Remington Springboard Mile, Remington Park, 1 mile, 2-year-olds 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points

Morning-line favorite Otto the Conqueror led at every call in breaking his maiden and then in a Churchill Downs optional-claiming allowance last out. After breaking his maiden at Del Mar on first try, Raging Torrent has run in three graded stakes and gone 0-for-3, most recently finishing fourth in the Grade 1 American Pharoah. Glengarry is 3-for-3, with his first two starts at Prairie Meadows and most recently a black-type stakes at Keeneland.

Bayakoa (G3), Los Alamitos, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Probables were not available for stakes at Los Alamitos, but Phil D’Amato told Horse Racing Nation that he plans to enter two and perhaps three. One of the probables is Desert Dawn, who was second in the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) and the Zenyatta (G2) before finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The other probable is Turnerloose, who has four starts with no wins for D’Amato 10-month layoff. Cliquish, whom D’Amato said is possible, is coming off an optional-claiming allowance win at Santa Anita.

Bob Baffert nominated 24 to this one. Muth has a record of 4: 2-2-0, with a win in the American Pharoah (G1) and a second last out in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Nysos is 2-for-2, with a win in a field of four for the Bob Hope (G3) last out. D’Amato said he would enter Stronghold, second in the Bob Hope after breaking his maiden on Oct. 1.

NYSSS Great White Way (restricted), Aqueduct, 7 furlongs, 2-year-olds

Since breaking his maiden in July, Antonio of Venice is 0-for-2, with both starts in black-type stakes. B D Saints also is winless since breaking his maiden, but he closed strongly to finish second last out after being checked at the start. Brick Ambush broke his maiden going one mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 17, his second try.

NYSSS Fifth Avenue (restricted), Aqueduct, 7 furlongs, 2-year-old fillies

My Perfect Mistake broke her maiden in her first start, going six furlongs at Aqueduct on Nov. 10. My Shea D Lady is 0-for-3 since breaking her maiden, finishing fourth last out in the black-type Key Cents Stakes at Aqueduct. Soloshot led all the way in winning her first two starts before finishing fifth in the Key Cents.

Prairie Bayou (listed), Turfway Park, 1 1/16 miles (synthetic), 3-year-olds and up

Wolfie’s Dynaghost has won four of seven starts this year, and he led at every call to win the Autumn (G2) by 4 1/2 lengths last out at Woodbine. After winning five of his first seven starts as a 2- and 3-year-old, Tiz the Bomb is 0-for-12, finishing no higher than fourth. Runaway Storm has won three of his last four, all at different tracks, including the Bryan Station (G2) at Keeneland last out.