First Look: Kentucky Derby preps land at Remington, Los Al

They may not have produced Kentucky Derby winners, but two regional stakes this week in California and Oklahoma carry the cachet of points preps and opportunities to get to Churchill Downs on May 3.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has won eight of the 10 runnings of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity, including last year with Wynstock. He also won six times when the race’s antecedent was run at Hollywood Park, most notably with eventual 1998 Derby victor Real Quiet.

Friday night’s Remington Springboard Mile brings Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen back to a race in which he has trained a record seven winners with Otto the Conqueror joining the list in 2023.

The coming weekend also brings four stakes that put spotlights on breeding in New York, Louisiana and California.

The week’s top races start on closing night at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Friday

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

Speed King has raced only once, but his winning debut Nov. 1 in a six-furlong race at Churchill Downs earned him an 82 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. That made him the 3-1 morning-line favorite for this Kentucky Derby points prep. Jolly Samurai is 3-for-3 and Mister Omaha 3-for-4, all at Remington Park with two stakes wins apiece. First run in 2001 and made a Derby points prep in 2017, the Springboard Mile has sent only six horses to run for the roses. There have not been any such graduates since Long Range Toddy six years ago, and none has finished better than fifth in the Derby.

Saturday

Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), Los Alamitos, 1 1/16 miles, 2-year-olds, Kentucky Derby 10-5-3-2-1 points race

Counting six times at Hollywood Park, Baffert has 14 wins in this race. He said he would decide on his entrants for the Los Al Futurity after Monday workouts. Of his five nominees listed by the track’s racing office as possible starters, Grade 3 winner Getaway Car stands out. The $700,000 Curlin colt owned by the familiar SF Racing partnership looked like he was a threat to steal the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile from his stablemate Citizen Bull before he flattened to finish fourth. Outside the Baffert barn, Bullard looms large for trainer Michael McCarthy. The $675,000 Gun Runner colt primarily owned by Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable is 2-for-2 with a victory last out Nov. 17 in the seven-furlong Bob Hope (G3) at Del Mar.

New York Stallion Stakes Series, Great White Way Division, Aqueduct, 7 furlongs, New York-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings

With a 3-for-3 record, Sacrosanct looks like he is on the verge of graduating into open company when he turns 3. The Honest Mischief colt from the ever-deepening stable of Brad Cox always has been the betting favorite. He won a pair of stakes against state-breds this fall in the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. First came a 12-length runaway in the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard followed by a last-out victory at 2-5 odds in the one-mile, $200,000 Sleepy Hollow. Sacrosanct cost Lady Sheila Stable, Net Birdie and Schwing Thoroughbreds $260,000 last year. He already has made back $228,250.

New York Stallion Stakes Series, Fifth Avenue Division, Aqueduct, 7 furlongs, New York-sired 2-year-old fillies

Boston’s Phinest trudged through the sales ring three times before her first race. She finally went for $190,000 to Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson’s ERJ Racing and Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables. The daughter of Honest Mischief landed in the stable of Chad Brown, who trained her to a maiden-breaking win on second asking in a six-furlong race Sept. 20 during the Belmont at the Big A meet. Boston’s Phinest then finished second in her stakes debut last out Oct. 27, beaten only by odds-on favorite With the Angels in the Maid of the Mist at Aqueduct against state-bred fillies.

Louisiana Champions Day Classic, Fair Grounds, 1 1/8 miles, Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds and up

Touchuponastar bids for a three-peat in this $150,000 feature on a day that showcases Louisiana-bred horses. Former NFL quarterback Jake Delhomme and his Set-Hut partners own this 5-year-old Star Guitar gelding who cost $15,000 at a 2020 sale in Texas. Trained by Delhomme’s older brother Jeff, Touchuponastar would become a millionaire with a win Saturday. Touchuponastar is 18: 12-4-2 overall with a Fair Grounds record of 5: 3-2-0. He is coming off a troubled third-place finish last month in the $100,000 Delta Mile at Delta Downs. Jerry Delhomme, the father of the two brothers, trains Cosmic Train. The 5-year-old gelding closed from last to win by a head Nov. 23 in the Jacob V. Morreale Memorial Stakes covering one mile and 70 yards at Fair Grounds.

Sunday

King Glorious, Los Alamitos, 1 mile, California-bred 2-year-olds

Peter Miller has trained the last two winners of this traditional closing-day feature at Los Alamitos. If he extends the streak, it may be with two-time winner R Heisman. The $70,000 Far From Over gelding owned by Gary Barber already has raced seven times, getting his first stakes victory in the Graduation going 5 1/2 furlongs against state-breds Aug. 9 at Del Mar. He finished a close second last month in the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar. R Heisman has gone a two-turn mile before, but that was on the Santa Anita turf two months ago when he finished fifth in the Zuma Beach (G3).